Kate stared out the window of the cafe, watching people walk around the farmer’s market, laughing, carefree. Her throat tightened. She was vaguely aware of the man, sitting next to her on the overstuffed couch, talking to her, but she couldn’t follow the conversation. Her mind kept wandering back to a girl called Alice. Alice, whose family had to spend Christmas without their beloved daughter, and if it’s was enough, they didn’t even know who was responsible for their misery. All be-cause of her incompetence. It’s been four weeks, and the investigation came to a halt. After finding the mysterious Tommy and clearing her from all suspicion, they went back to all their previous leads, questioned the dead girl’s family over and over again, but to no avail.

She rested her forehead on her propped up arm and closed her eyes. This was clearly a stupid idea. She shouldn’t have listened to Ben. Yesterday started out like any normal Friday at the station, but then she and Ben got summoned into Lieu-tenant Mendosa’s office. “Robbins, what is this fuck up?” The lieutenant snapped at her as soon as she entered. The con-versation did not improve after that. Kate felt knackered by the time she returned to her desk.

Ben gave her a pat on the back. “Don’t take it personally. He’s under a lot of pressure from the Chief.”

“I know,” Kate replied. “But he’s right. I don’t know what to do. Chris keeps calling me every other day, and I have to tell him every time that I have no bloody clue who killed his sister.”

Ben shook his head. “I used to be like you. But you have to stop, otherwise this job will eat you alive. You need a break, Kate. I’m serious.” When she just rolled her eyes at him, he continued. “You need a distraction. Why don’t you go out this weekend? Reuben from the DA’s office has been trying really hard to get your attention for the past few weeks. He seems like a nice guy, maybe you should give him a shot.”

Kate had no idea when Reuben stopped talking, she just became aware of the lull in the noise. The dimples on his face deepened as he smiled at her. “Kate Robbins, where’s your mind wandering?”

She forced herself to smile back. “I’m sorry, it’s just… I’m not a good company right now. I shouldn’t have come.”

The chocolate coloured eyes softened and she felt his warm hand slip into hers, squeezing at her cold fingers. “I’m here if you want to talk about it. I know it must be hard for you. Ben said –“ he suddenly cut off and looked away. “Not that I’m talking about you with him all the time. But we are both worried about you.”

“Well, don’t be!” Kate said wrenching her hand away, and realized too late how bitter she sounded. Reuben’s face closed up and she felt like something was squeezing her temples. Her own misery was more than enough, she didn’t want to be the one making others feel horrible as well. It never helped. She was just thinking about a reasonable excuse to leave when her phone rang. She did not recognize the number.

“Robbins,” she said as she picked up. As she rose she cast a glance at Reuben over her shoulder. A worried expression fur-rowed his brows.

“Detective Robbins,” said the unknown voice on the other end. “It’s Sheriff Connolly from the Elbert County Sherriff’s De-partment. I think I’ve got something that might interest you.”

Kate frowned. “How so?”

“Our officers made a traffic stop last night. First we didn’t think much of it, drunk driver, you know, the usual. Then one of the dogs got a bit agitated so we took his car. Found something very interesting in the back of it.”

Kate’s hand tightened on the phone. “Sheriff Connolly, I don’t understand –“

“We found traces of blood and hair in the trunk.” The sheriff continued, unfazed. “Imagine our surprise when we realized the samples were a match for a case from a month ago, led by a Detective Robbins.”

“Alice Draper,” Kate whispered.

“That’s right.”

“So you have the guy in custody?” Kate gripped the phone, her palms sweaty, her pulse throbbing behind her eyes.

Sheriff Connolly harrumphed. “You ain’t that lucky.”

“What do you mean?” Heads turned toward her and she took a breath before she continued, trying to control her voice. “The guy who drove the car, isn’t he…?”

“Sorry to be a disappointment, detective, but he told us he bought the car recently. We went through the paperwork and it checks out. But I can give you the name of the previous owner.”

*

It was so tranquil. The sweet scent of the ancient pines filled the air, and Ben let out a slow breath. He picked up the steaming cup from where he left it when he came out to admire the deep forest from the porch. The cinnamon was sweet on his tongue and the white pepper warmed him from inside. Far from the rush of the city he finally felt at piece. Ben was not one to run away from his problems, but he had to admit, Kate was not the only one in need of a break.

The door cracked open behind her.

“The fire is all set. You should come inside before you catch the cold.”

He didn’t turn around. “It’s so beautiful here.”

A light hand on his shoulder, slowly running down his back, settled around his waist.

*

Her chest tightened. “Why didn’t you start with that?” Kate snapped. She pressed a hand into her throbbing eye. The sheriff gave out a noncommittal snort, so she continued. “I’m sorry, Sheriff. It’s been a stressful week. Who is it?”

“The name’s Peter Meyers, resident of Pine Creek. Ring any bells?”

Kate felt nauseated. “Yes it does. Thanks, Sheriff Connelly.”

“Any time, Detective,” he answered and hung up.

Kate gripped the back of a chair, her mind working furiously. She nearly dropped her phone when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

“Are you all right?” Reuben asked, searching her face. “What’s wrong?”

She let out a laugh, somewhat more hysterical than she liked it. “Nothing! Nothing’s wrong. In fact, I need to call my boss!”

Kate let herself being led back to their couch while she dialled Lieutenant Mendosa’s number. He picked up after the third ring.

“Better be good news, Robbins.” His voice was more annoyed than usual. “I’m at my mother-in-law’s birthday lunch, so as you can imagine I’m not in a good mood.”

Like that ever happens, she thought. “Sir, it is great news!” Kate said and ran through the details she just found out.

For once there was no moan, no grumble. “All right, Robbins, this is indeed good news. I’ll call the judge and get an arrest warrant. My wife’s going to hate this.” He sounded energized by the prospect of annoying his spouse.

“Sir?”

“What?”

“You think we can get it tonight? I’d like to head over to Pine Creek right away.”

“Listen, Robbins,” the lieutenant said after an exasperated sigh, “it’s Saturday, I’m sure the judge has better things to do, so it might take a while. He owes me one, but don’t make your hopes up. You call Petersen, and head over to the Pine Creek station, and I’ll get them to send the warrant there.”

Kate punched the air and did not miss the curious look from Reuben. “Thank you, Sir!”

“And Robbins?”

“Yes, Sir?”

“Don’t do anything stupid.”

“I won’t, Sir,” she replied but the line was already dead.

*

The crackling fire painted dancing shadows across the walls in the small log cabin. The wine made his thoughts fuzzy. Her fingers running through his hair sent shivers down his spine and he closed his eyes. It’s been a long time since he was touched by a woman this way. Ben had almost forgotten the soothing effect of the soft fingers on his skin, the warm breath on his neck. Part of him wanted to get up and just leave. Run back to Montclair and just lock himself away, spend the rest of the weekend alone. His own words rang inside his head. Maybe you should give it a shot. How bad can it be, after all? As her fingers caressed his face, he felt the tension slowly slip away.

When his wife betrayed him five years ago, Ben promised himself he’ll never let anyone close to him. It went quite well, all the shallow and boring women he met made it so easy. He had fun with them, but always left before anything could turn serious. Maybe Kate was right, and he was not meant to be alone forever. But until a few weeks ago he hadn’t known any-one who could touch something so deep inside him.

He grabbed the hand stroking his shoulder and planted a kiss in her palm. The corners of the cornflower eyes crinkled as she smiled at him. “I’m glad you came.”

“Me too,” Ben said, and covered Sadie’s lips with his own.

Neither of them noticed the vibrating cell phone on the kitchen counter.

*

Kate dropped her phone in her jacket pocket rather forcefully. “Damn it!”

Reuben looked at her. He didn’t need to say the question out loud.

“I can’t reach Ben,” Kate said. “But I need to go. Now. I’ll try him again on the way.”

“I really don’t think you should run off like this,” he said, shaking his head.

Kate new Reuben was trying to be helpful, but damn, he annoyed her with this fussing. “I’ll be fine. I’m really sorry I had to cut this short.”

As she rose Reuben’s hand clasped around her wrist and she turned back to face him. He cocked his head on side and gave her a half smile. “Next time you won’t get away so easily!”

Kate felt a pang of guilt for her frantic behavior. Reuben was nothing but kind to her for the past weeks, ever since he got involved in the case, and did not deserve to be treated like this. “I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

“Be careful!” She heard him say as she rushed past the crowd, out in the cold afternoon.

*

Ben liked to be on the move, climb mountains, ride a bike, to do things, let the adrenaline rush through his system and dis-tract his mind. This time it was different. Here he was, sitting in this cozy cabin, holding the hand of this woman for hours, getting lost in her eyes as she spoke, telling him about her past, her present; the story of Sadie. He caught himself laughing at her stories, even though told by any other person it would have made anyone cry. But Sadie’s optimism didn’t know limits. He admired how strong she was, and yet she remained a kind and caring person, always there to look after others, even when she was in a deep and dark place.

“When my husband died,” she said, “I wanted to die with him. There was nothing left for me to live for. Or so I thought. When I found out I was pregnant I knew I must continue, and I have to get out of the darkness. My daughter was hope, and in her I can still see him every time I look at her. I’ve never really been with anyone since I lost him, and I wanted you know it before we… you know…”

Ben felt his chest tighten and he pulled Sadie into his arms. “We go as slow as you like,” he whispered, caressing her hair.

*

The traffic was light and Kate drove past the Pine Creek sing in just a bit under two hours. As the police station came into view she slowed down.

“Screw it,” she said, and drove past without stopping. She punched in the number of the station on her phone.

“Pine Creek Police Station, how may I help?”

“Officer Simmons?” Kate asked when she thought she recognized the voice.

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“Listen, Officer, I was supposed to receive an arrest warrant. Have you seen it?”

“Negative, Ma’am. Your Lieutenant called us, but the paperwork has not arrived yet. Do you want –?”

“You call me as soon as it’s in, and meet me at the Meyers house.”

“Yes, Ma’am. Where are you now?”

Kate hung up.

She tried to call Ben again as she pulled up in front of the Meyers house. No luck. She pulled her jacket tighter as she got out of her car. The place seemed deserted, not a single light on inside. She knocked on the door anyway. When there was no answer, she slowly turned the corner, and carefully started around the house. It was dark and she couldn’t make out the unfamiliar surroundings. The house had a back door but she found it closed. She cursed under her nose. When she was back at the front entrance she called Ben again. When it went to voicemail, she started speaking as she paced up and down the driveway.”

“Ben, where the hell are you? Call me back as soon as you get this and move your ass to Pine Creek. This is big. I got a call from another station. They found new evidence in the case. I’m just waiting for the papers to come through, but we got him. He won’t get away with –“

She heard leaves rustling behind her and muffled footsteps. It was all wrong. Too fast. Kate turned but it was like moving through a dream. The cold, white ground was rushing up to her face. So very wrong. A thought flickered through his mind: the snow is bleeding.

Then there was only darkness.