Chapter 1

     “Glen, what in the hell are you doing here? I thought you’d be out playing SWAT games,” laughed Bill, slapping Glen across the back.
     “Hell no, tonight’s my night to relax and enjoy myself.”
     Glen slid his chair back to stand for proper introductions. Bill’s voice boomed throughout the entire restaurant, making Glen’s table the center of attention. But that was Bill; he enjoyed being noticed when he entered a room.
     “How’d you rate two dates?”
     “You remember my wife, Debbie. And this is Maggi Morgan.”
     Bill quickly planted himself in the extra chair at their table without an invitation. He studied both women intently, making them uncomfortable.
     Debbie, a beautiful blond with sparkling blue eyes, had a figure to complete the package. Maggi was striking with her black wavy hair bouncing below her shoulders complimenting her piercing dark eyes.
     In contrast to Glen’s gentle manner, sandy brown hair and soft green eyes, Bill was bald, overweight and overbearing. He oozed with a confidence that somehow made him likeable, despite his peculiarities.
     He obviously had his eye on Maggi. Everyone at the table was aware of his attraction. By now, so was everyone in the restaurant.
     Glen sampled his prime rib dinner, while Debbie and Maggi attempted to ignore their uninvited guest. The waiter returned to their table.
     “Would you like a menu, sir?”
     “Nah, just bring me whatever Glen’s eating. So, Glen, where have you and Debbie been hiding Maggi all of my life?”
     Oh brother, thought Maggi, this guy is so original.
     “Maggi and I have been working together for years.”
     “Yeah? Doing what? I can tell by looking at her she’s not on the force. She’s too beautiful for police work.”
     “Actually”…began Glen, when Maggi interrupted.
     “I kill people for a living and Glen helps me.”
      Debbie chuckled quietly to herself as she watched shock and confusion surface on Bill’s face.
      Maggi loves the reaction when she explains to people that she’s a killer.
      Glen nearly choked, trying to swallow and laugh simultaneously. He picked up immediately on Maggi’s lead.
      “I’m not sure telling Bill is such a good idea. He works homicide.”
     Maggi offered Bill her wrists to handcuff. “If you must arrest me, I understand.”
     Debbie chuckled loudly while Glen burst into a hearty laugh. The glamorous Maggi sat stone-faced, waiting for Bill’s reaction.
    “Okay, I give. What’s the joke?”
      Bill, accustomed to being the jokester, grew uncomfortable in the new position of being the butt of a joke.
     Maggi put her hands down and looked flirtingly at Bill with a smile. She resumed eating. Debbie, not wanting Bill to know she was amused, took a bite of her roll. Bill turned to Glen.
    “Maggi’s a mystery writer. She kills people in her books. I help her with police protocol. We’ve been friends with Maggi for, oh, I don’t know…over ten years now, isn’t it?”
    He glanced at Debbie who nodded with a teasing sparkle in her eye. She enjoyed a good joke.
     Debbie and Glen have seen Maggi through the success of her books and the failure of her marriage. They have been good friends to her. Maggi feels she can talk to them about anything.
     The waiter returned with Bill’s meal. He pretended to be starved, devouring his food without a word.
     Glen felt sorry for him. He kept the conversation flowing to override the obvious discomfort at the table.
     Maggi had no sympathy for him; she felt he had it coming. Bitterness toward men still radiated from her every pore. She had no intention of pursuing a relationship. She was successful and happy with whom she had become. If she had to spend the rest of her days with only her two dogs, Bailey and Bridgette, writing and traveling, she would be content. The anger she felt from her divorce helped fuel the passion she needed to push her characters to the edge, to the point where they would commit murder. Much like an actress, she pulled emotions from deep within to add realism.
     Just as the waiter arrived with their dessert, Maggi’s cell phone rang. She turned from the table while she spoke with Teddi, her personal assistant.
     “I’d better run. I have an early flight tomorrow. I guess we’re off to Germany in the morning. I’ll be gone about three weeks. I’ll call you two when I get back. It was nice meeting you, Bill.”
     Bill nodded. Glen rose as a polite gesture, but Bill remained seated. Debbie escorted her to the door and waited while the valet retrieved her car. Maggi honked and waved as she disappeared into the night.
                                            ***
     Early the next morning, Teddi arrived to pick up Maggi. Jean, Maggi’s friend and neighbor, arrived at the same time to collect Bridgette and Bailey. She took excellent care of the dogs whenever Maggi had to travel. Jean, an animal lover, considered it more of a privilege than a chore to take care of the two beautiful Bernese mountain dogs. She never tired of playing with the two gentle giants; their thick, luxurious coats were strikingly marked with black, rust and white. Maggi paid her handsomely for this favor. Jean hesitated to take money, but Maggi insisted. People who know Maggi wonder if she could ever be as close to another human being as she is to her dogs.
     Teddi loaded the luggage while Maggi smooched all over her dogs saying good-bye. This was the only time she saw tears in Maggi’s eyes.
     On the way to the airport, she read Maggi’s itinerary to her.
     “Stop, oh please, stop. I don’t want to hear any more. I can’t believe Warren wants me to be in so many places in such a short amount of time. It’s not him who has to sleep in a strange bed every night.” She paused ... “Well, maybe he does, but not for the same reason.”
     They laughed.
     “I know fame can be tough at times, I’m just grateful I can see the world right along with you.”
     The next three weeks in Germany were a blur. Motels, restaurants, shaking hands and signing books filled the hours and the days. One bookstore morphed into the next. The evenings ended with nice dinners, but total exhaustion. For several meals they ordered room service just to be able to relax in their pajamas.
     “Two more days to go. Is there anything you’d like to see while we’re here?” asked Teddi.
     She hoped that Maggi would go sightseeing with her. She grows exhausted carrying Maggi’s books, setting them up and selling them, and then promoting Maggi’s talents to her devoted fans. She easily understood her boss’s pressure during public appearances. However, she thought it would be nice if Maggi noticed how hard she worked.
     Teddi lacked the confidence and independent nature that was part of the mystique of Maggi Morgan. Uneasy about sightseeing alone, she stayed in when Maggi refused to venture out.
     The final day before their return to the United States, Peter, a friend of Maggi’s, entered the bookstore. Maggi introduced him to Teddi. Peter was tall and muscular with pre-maturely gray hair.   He offered to take the two women on a tour of the city ending with dinner at an elegant restaurant.
     Teddi held her breath. She longed to spend more time in the presence of this handsome man.
     “Thanks, Peter, but I’m beat. It’s been a long three weeks. We’re heading home tomorrow afternoon. I could really use the time to relax.”
     Teddi sighed. She was not surprised.
     “How about you, Teddi? Would you like to be my guest for the day? We can compare stories about how terrible Maggi is to work with,” he chuckled.
Maggi tossed back her shiny black hair flirtatiously.
     “Lies, lies, nothing but lies. Don’t believe a word he has to say. I used to work for him at the newspaper office years ago. He’s the one who’s difficult to get along with.”
     Teddi smiled nervously. She wanted desperately to go with Peter, but Maggi was not giving her any signals to take him up on the offer.
     Peter pressed, “Are we on or not?”
     Maggi looked at Teddi.
     “Oh, go on, Teddi, he won’t bite. Have some fun for a change.   Learn to live a little.”
     Teddi agreed. She told Peter their hotel and room number. He promised to pick her up as soon as the morning book signing was over.
     He arrived promptly at one o’clock and took her to lunch. She could barely eat in his presence. Maggi called on her cell phone to ask where her chocolates were packed. Before the meal was finished, Maggi called a second time to check their departure schedule for the following day.
     Peter took the phone away from Teddi after the second call. He turned it off and placed it into his pocket.
     “That might not be a good idea. She may need me.”
     “Today is your day. Remember, she said to have some fun, so let’s go.”
     Magical was the best way to describe the day. Peter transformed a mundane business trip into the most exciting, memorable day of Teddi’s life. She was sad they were returning to the States in a matter of hours.
     Peter kept her out until two o’clock in the morning. He walked her to her door where he kissed her goodnight. There was no discussion of seeing one another again.
     Sleep was impossible. She relived every moment of their day together. Teddi suddenly realized they hadn’t exchanged last names or phone numbers.
     The remainder of the stay and the journey home were filled with conversation about Peter. Teddi began to annoy Maggi with her many questions. Since Maggi felt telling her about her brief affair with Peter would be hurtful; she kept that tidbit to herself.
     Maggi was relieved when her house came into view. Bridgette and Bailey bounced on her front lawn. No matter whose car she was in, they always knew when she approached. Telepathy plays a large role in the relationship between humans and animals.
Teddi unloaded Maggi’s luggage.
     “Do you need me for anything today?”
     Not wanting to answer more questions about Peter, Maggi replied, “I’m beat. Let’s take the next couple of days off.”
                                           ***
     The following day Maggi kept her promise to Glen and Debbie by inviting them to dinner. Glen, involved with a case, could not break away so Debbie joined her without him. Never having been to Germany, Debbie had several questions. She was always amazed that, with so many opportunities, Maggi did not take time to enjoy herself. She had a knack for taking the excitement out of her travels. If Glen and Debbie had the time and the finances, they would travel the world together, visiting every out-of-the-way spot they could find. Adventurous would be the word to describe the Karsts if they could squeeze time away from their busy schedules.
     Maybe that’s it, thought Debbie. I have Glen. Maybe Maggi does not, or cannot, enjoy herself without a man to share it with. Is that why she’s such a workaholic?
     Debbie is trapped between a close friend and a husband and neither of them know how or when to relax. There are many things in life they are missing, but they are too busy to notice.
    “Oh, I almost forgot. I bought something for you.”
     This was one part of Maggi’s travels that Debbie liked the most. Maggi always returned with the most wonderful gifts. This time she brought bottles of the most delightful German wine she could find, or rather, had Teddi find.
     The two friends stayed up late into the night. Conversation flowed with the wine and cheese. The sound of the doorbell startled them.
     “Who could be at your door so late at night?”
     “You mean early in the morning. It’s two-thirty.”
     The dogs barked, running ahead to the door. Maggi always felt safe with the dogs, each topping the scale at over one hundred pounds. Of course, that was one hundred pounds of marshmallow. Neither of them had an aggressive nature, but the menacing sound of their barks told anyone on the other side of the door that large dogs were waiting inside.
     Maggi peered through the peephole.
     “Uh oh, are you in trouble now.”
     Debbie joined her at the door. There was Glen, holding her cell phone in his hand. The look on his face told both of them he was worried about Debbie.
     “Glen, what are you doing here?”
     “I went home and you weren’t there. I called your cell phone and it rang in the bedroom. I guess you forgot to take this with you again,” he said angrily.
     “Why didn’t you just call on Maggi’s phone?”
     “I did, but there was no answer. I thought something happened to both of you.”
     Debbie turned to Maggi, who was sporting a sheepish grin.
     “I didn’t want to be disturbed for a couple of days, so I turned off my ringer to let the voice mail pick it up in silence. Sorry, Glen.”
     “Really, Glen. Why do you think the worst every time you can’t find me?”
     “Debbie, if you had to see what I see on a daily basis, you’d worry too. Denver, late at night, is not the safest place to be. Have you totally forgotten the case I’m working on with the serial rapist? It’s hard to separate the two worlds when the women being raped are no different than you and Maggi. Those victims are taken from their homes and their cars, blindfolded, driven to a secluded area, then beaten and raped. Two of the women were so badly injured they died. This guy is slick. We don’t have one solid lead. Would you care to hear more or do you get my point?   Certainly the amount of blood or how he abuses them would interest you …” Glen added, gruffly.
     Debbie could tell Glen’s reaction was one of love and concern. She felt badly that she put him through the stress. She stroked his face and rubbed his neck.
     “I’m sorry, honey, I really am. I’ll try to remember to keep that phone with me at all times.”
     “Yeah, Glen, I’m sorry too. I didn’t mean to keep her here so late. It was selfish of me to turn off my phone.”
     “Both you girls deserve a good spanking.”
     Glen tried to lighten the mood, embarrassed about his overreaction.
     “How about a glass of bourbon?” asked Maggi.
     “Sounds good to me.”
     Good bourbon, such as Buffalo Trace, was one of Glen’s vices.
     “Did you fill Debbie in with all the details of your trip abroad?”
     “I sure did and I filled her with liters of German wine, too.”
     Debbie offered a glass to Glen, but he refused.
     “Tell us more about this rapist. I haven’t seen much in the paper.”
     “There’s not a lot of publicity. We can’t give out too many details. One, because we don’t have many leads, and two, because we can’t show our cards yet. And no, you can’t use the story for one of your books.”
     “Glen, you know me better than that. I can’t write about women, children or animals being abused.”
     She appeared offended.
     “Yeah, right, Maggi. You have no problem killing women in your books.”
    “Oh, I know, but I don’t torture them or put them through any emotional trauma. I just kill them and the body shows up, clean and simple.”
     “Boy, the world is a better place knowing you’re not on the other side of the law. You could be one hard criminal to trap. You know too much and are far more clever than the average perp on the street.”
    “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
     “Debbie, I need some sleep. Are you about ready to head home? I’ll follow you in my car.”
     “It’s been fun, as always, Maggi, even if you did get me into trouble. Thanks for the wine. Give me a call when you feel you’re finished secluding yourself from society.”
Maggi waved good-bye as they drove away.
                                            ***
     Glen put in long hours over the next few days. He went to the office on his day off. It was fall. He and Debbie missed much of the summer. They recently managed to get away one weekend to go boating. There had been a time when they went every weekend. Glen wondered why things were so different now. Were his cases more difficult, were there more of them, or was he growing more dedicated to his work as the years progressed?
     Sometimes, Debbie feels she is losing him to the job. It’s hard for her to share in his excitement about qualifying for the SWAT team. Every day, when he leaves for work, she has to convince herself he will return home safe and sound. His new position adds more danger to his day.
     Glen tries to reassure her that working on the SWAT team is actually safer than other police work. Training is more intense, but you are with other well-honed police officers who work as a well-oiled team. Your back is always covered. You know the situation you are entering before you suit up. Not the case with regular duty, if you get called into a burglary in progress or a domestic dispute where weapons are involved, you stand a better chance of catching a bullet.
     Debbie made lunch plans with Maggi. Glen made it a point to join them. He felt he had been neglecting Debbie too much lately. They met Teddi and Maggi at Stuart Anderson’s.
     Maggi was about to leave town. She had a lodge in the mountains where she disappeared to write. She warned everyone, unless it was a death in the family, not to bother her. Teddi prepared to keep things working smoothly with her agent and publisher while she was in seclusion.
     “What’s this book about?” asked Glen.
     “Oh, Detective Karst, you’ll be one of the first to know. I’ll email some chapters for your approval. Just be patient,” she teased.
     “Really, Maggi, don’t you go crazy locked up like that without anyone to talk to?” asked Debbie.
     “Actually, it’s talking to people that makes her crazy,” laughed Teddi. “She does much better in solitary confinement.”
     “She’s right. People are far too distracting. When I feel like I’ve been caged up too long, it’s time to take the Berners for a romp in the snow. I’m not sure who has the better time, them or me.”
     “How long will you be gone this time?” asked Glen.
     “As long as it takes,” she answered.
     “Can I at least talk you into taking your cell phone, in case you need help?” he asked.
     “Nope, that’s the whole point. I need to be out of contact with everyone. I’ll email Teddi every few days to let her know I’m still alive. I go to the lodge office occasionally to use the Internet. I never watch television or open the newspaper. I choose to live totally in the new world I create for myself. My characters are my only friends. We live together and interact until the story is finished.”
     “I know, but I have to agree with Glen. That rapist is a pretty scary guy,” said Debbie. “I think this trip you should take extra precautions.”
     She wished Maggi would let Glen teach her to shoot and handle a gun. Debbie is accomplished with a handgun, and that sense of security is comforting with Glen frequently away.
     “I’ve got Bridgette and Bailey. That should stop him from coming after me. The dogs will bark up a storm. If that doesn’t work, they’ll knock him down licking him to death, giving me an opportunity to run for it.”
     Teddi looked at Glen and Debbie, raising her shoulders in a display of helplessness. She knew how strong-willed Maggi could be. She learned years ago to just agree while trying her damnedest to keep up with her.
     Maggi looked at her watch. “If I’m going to get there before dark, I’d better take off. I still have to pick up the dogs. Wish me luck! I hope by the next time I see you, I’ll have completed book nine!”
     Teddi stayed behind to visit with Glen and Debbie. After a few minutes passed, Glen excused himself to return to work.
Teddi was dying to tell Debbie about Peter. She relived every detail, stopping mid-sentence to disappear into her own world of thought. Debbie knew this guy had made a huge impression on her friend.
     “Are you going to see him again?”
     “I’m not sure. We never discussed it.”
     “Do you have a way to reach him?”
     “No. Well, possibly. Maggi knew him from before. She used to work for him at some newspaper office.”
     “Is he still with the paper?”
     “I don’t know.”
     “You spent twelve hours with Mr. Wonderful and you don’t know his last name or where he works? How about where he lives?”
     Teddi shrugged her shoulders.
     “I can’t believe you didn’t ask him.”
     “There just didn’t seem to be time. We walked and talked about the city, he seemed infatuated with the history and he made it all so interesting. I could’ve listened to him all night; I guess I did. He was so romantic. I think he liked me; he gazed into my eyes a lot. He always had his arm around me or held my hand. He’s one of those touchy-feely kind of men, but a perfect gentleman. I didn’t want to seem pushy by pressing him for personal stuff but I thought he’d bring up something before the night was over. The next thing I knew we were at my door and I didn’t have the nerve to ask. Deep inside I hoped he’d show up at the airport to see us off. He did ask about our flight schedule.”
     “Maybe something detained him.”
     “Yeah, maybe.”
     “Didn’t he ask you anything about where you lived or how to reach you?”
     “He asked a little about how I knew Maggi and if we worked together on a daily basis. I told him that she disappears to write. I thought maybe if he knew I’d be alone, he’d want to contact me.”
     “Did you tell him you’d be alone or with Maggi?”
     “I’m not sure. I don’t remember what I told him.”
     “You nut. Hey, I’ve gotta run. Let me know if he finds you.”
                                               ***
      Maggi and the dogs arrived at the cabin as the sun was setting. The sky glowed the most beautiful shades of orange and pink. The dogs bounced at her feet while she leaned against her car to take in as much of the sky as she could before moving her things into the cabin. The dogs busied themselves with noses to the ground, totally unaware of the breathtaking sight above.
     After the car was unloaded, Maggi unpacked the food. She gave each of the dogs a treat then plopped down on the bed to soak in the silence. Bridgette nudged her, gently waking her. She was surprised to see total darkness; she must have been more tired than she thought. It was ten in the evening when she turned on the lamp. The dogs were hungry and needed to be let out. When she led them to the door, she realized she neglected to lock it. Glen would scold her if he knew of her carelessness after his warning.
     She unpacked a jacket then followed the dogs outside. Bailey sniffed around, exploring. Bridgette, as always, stayed at her side. Suddenly, Bailey sounded his warning bark. Maggi strained her eyes, trying to see in the dark. It was hopeless. She had not taken time to search her bags and boxes for the flashlight she brought. Bailey continued his barking, soon joined by Bridgette. Maggi felt the hair stand up on the back of her neck. She leaned against the wall of the cabin. Having her body pressed into the prickly logs somehow made her feel safer.
     She waited in silence for the dogs to cease barking. Finally, she called them to her. It was obvious whatever caused them to bark was not going away. Bridgette returned immediately, but Bailey took a little more encouragement. Once she had her fingers slipped inside their collars, she let them guide her back inside. She quickly closed the door behind her, securing all three locks.   Next, she went to check the windows. This was probably unnecessary. The lodge management was usually thorough with their security measures. She felt the need to double check for her own peace of mind. She was shocked to see that two of the windows were not locked.
     She turned on all of the lights and closed the shutters. Maggi Morgan, the rock of courage, was having a weak moment. She fed the dogs before she sat down to eat. Both dogs left their dishes, dashing to the door to bark. Maggi jumped. She told them to be quiet, but Bailey persisted. Maybe she should have taken Glen up on his advice to bring her cell phone.
     It was time to close down the cabin for the night. She decided to wait until morning to finish unpacking. She set her dishes in the sink, re-checked all of the locks and prepared for bed. She sat up, trying to read. After thirty minutes, she realized she was still on the same page and that she might as well try to sleep. She turned off the lights. The dogs jumped into bed with her. She let them stay, since being snuggled between two large dogs gave her comfort.
     It was a long, sleepless night. Maggi dozed off just before dawn. With the shutters closed, the morning sun stayed away. It was nine o’clock before the dogs awakened her. She quickly dressed and took them outdoors.
     The normally quiet surroundings, her main reason for being there, were abuzz with people. One of the ladies from another cabin went for a walk under the stars last evening, but never returned. An officer searching the grounds, asked, “Excuse me, ma’am, you didn’t happen to see anyone last night, did you?”
     “No, I didn’t see anyone, but around ten my dogs heard something over there.” Maggi pointed to the wooded area behind her cabin. “They wouldn’t stop barking.”
     “Thank you,” he said, as he walked in that direction.
     Her eyes followed him until he disappeared into the brush.
     She turned her attention to the man speaking to the police officers. He appeared quite shaken. He must be the husband, she thought.
     A voice coming from behind her cabin sent everyone scrambling.
     “I found her! Over here!”
     Maggi and the dogs followed everyone in the direction of the voice. There, on the ground, lay the body of a woman in her early forties. The two policemen were discussing their find and calling it in when the man rushed to his wife. He dropped to his knees to cradle her limp body in his arms. He sobbed.
     It all happened too quickly or the police would have stopped him from approaching the scene and disturbing the evidence. The best they could do now was to escort him away until they could take photos and secure the area.
     Maggi knew the dogs must have heard what went on last night. She wondered if she could have done something to prevent the woman’s death.
     She was surprised at how relaxed the police were about the crime scene. She had worked with Glen enough to know they screwed up procedure. The first suspect would be the husband.    Now, his footprints will be at the scene as well as soil on his shoes matching the spot where his wife’s body was found. Was he distraught or covering his tracks? Maggi’s mind worked like a detective from working with Glen on police protocol for her novels.
     Her curiosity about the facts was overwhelming. She had the urge to interrogate the husband herself. If this had happened in Denver with her this close, she would have begged Glen mercilessly until he shared the details.
     Instead of writing that day, she hung out at the lodge lobby. She watched people, while listening to their conversations, memorizing every detail. She might learn something she could use in one of her books.
     There was speculation about the guilt of the husband. Others said they heard he didn’t arrive until this morning. He spoke to his wife on the phone last night before her walk and planned to join her for breakfast. When he didn’t find her in the cabin, he noticed it looked as though there had been a struggle, so he called the police.
     Maggi pretended to read the paper as she watched and listened. Maybe they had planned for him to arrive this morning, but he sneaked up last night and killed her. He could have gone back down the mountain only to return this morning to play the bereaved husband.
     Piecing the story together, Maggi learned the couple comes here every year. The management knows him well. He made it a point to stop at the front desk to check their cabin number, before joining his wife. If they stayed in the same cabin the same weekend every year, why would he have to ask for the number? Had he not talked to her on the phone the night before? Surely she would have told him if there was a change in housing arrangements.
     Guilty, she thought. He has to be guilty. She looked at her watch. It was time to fix lunch and let the dogs out. Maggi was confident she was right. She will have Glen check it out for her when she returns. She refrained from following the story in the newspaper; it would be too distracting for her.
     Maggi hiked the mile up the path to her cabin. The air felt cool and crisp. Her cheeks ached ever so slightly from the chill. Fall was her favorite season. She wondered why she chose that time of the year to lock herself away indoors to write. Why not the dead of winter or the heat of summer? Why ruin her favorite season by being indoors? Scheduling, that’s why. Deadlines must be met.
     Maggi realized this was the first time she was totally alone on the path at this time of day. Other guests use this path to return to the lodge restaurant at mealtime.
     Approaching her cabin, she searched her pockets for the keys. As she touched the doorknob to put the key into the lock, the door opened. Relieved to hear the dogs still shuffling around inside, she slowly entered, cautiously looking around. Her fear of someone stealing her dogs or accidentally turning them loose caused her to always double-check the lock before leaving.
Someone had been at the cabin while she was away.

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