Sabotaged (10 page)

The lights switched on, and the professor answered a few questions before dismissing the class.

Reef and Kirra headed against the flow of traffic, moving down the steps to the front of the auditorium as the rest of the students piled out the exit doors at the rear of the building.

“Professor Baxter,” Reef said.

The man turned from slipping his laptop into his briefcase. “Yes?”

“Can we talk to you for a moment?”

“My office hours are from two to four, Tuesday and Thursday.”

“This will only take a few moments of your time, and it's vitally important.”

“I appreciate your attempt at brevity, but when it comes to the state of the environment, believe me, there are no quick questions or answers for that matter.”

“This isn't about the environment.”

“Oh?” He frowned.

“We'd like to ask you about one of your students. Meg Weber.”

He slid his laptop in the case. “I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to discuss my students.”

“She's my cousin,” Kirra said, “and she's missing.”

“Missing?”

“Yes.”

“A lot of college students
appear
to be missing now and again, but they always turn up.”

How could the man be so nonchalant about such a topic?

“It's their first time away from home, their first taste of
real freedom, and when they embrace it, they are often assumed missing by overbearing, frantic parents whose need to control borders on the obsessive.”

Reef was guessing the man didn't have a college-age daughter or he'd probably view the situation very differently.

“No. She's definitely missing,” Kirra said, her voice tight.

His brows hiked up. “If that's the case, why aren't the police here?”

“It's a long story,” Reef said.

“I see.” He rocked back on his heels. “Well, I'm sure the police are doing what they can. Now, if you'll excuse me.” He stepped past them, heading for the door.

“Please, wait,” Kirra said. “She
is
missing and in danger. It's complicated, but if you could just tell us the last time you saw her, it could be of great help.”

He paused on a long exhale. “Who did you say your cousin is?”

“Meg Weber.”

“Meg Weber . . . Ah, young redhead.”

“Yes.”

“I think she was in my Friday lecture, but I can't be certain. You've seen the size of my classes.”

“She was supposed to leave Friday afternoon for Anchorage to see her father off in the Iditarod, but we believe she went elsewhere.”

“Such as?”

“We don't know. We spoke with her roommate, and she mentioned that Meg was really getting into fighting for the environment,” Reef said, hoping he worded his sentence in a way that would grab the professor's attention. As of yet, he seemed disinterested at best.

“And so you assume . . . what?”

“Her roommate didn't know the names of Meg's new friends, but she thought you might. She thought maybe they might have seen Meg last or known where she was headed.”

“Seems farfetched.”

“Right now it's our only lead.”

“Well, that's pitiful.”

“Can you help us?”

“I'm not going to give out student names, but I will tell you that the ROW group is meeting in the student union right now. The students that are currently on campus, at least.”

“And where would the rest of the group's members be?”

“At a Save the Whales rally in Seward.”

“Thank you, Professor Baxter. If you think of anything else that might be helpful—anything at all—would you give us a call?”

Kirra fished out a business card for Nanook Haven and scribbled her cell number on the back.

“Kirra Jacobs?” He tapped the card. “That name . . .”

Kirra shrunk back, nearly hiding behind Reef.

“She graduated from here,” Reef said. “Maybe she took one of your classes.” He looked to Kirra.

“No. I didn't.” She tugged Reef's arm. “Come on. We've taken up enough of Professor Baxter's time.”

“When did you graduate?”

“She graduated from the vet school two years ago,” Reef said as Kirra practically dragged him toward the door.

“Huh. Well, I'm sure it'll come to me . . . Kirra Jacobs.” His hand stilled. “Kirra.
You're
the one who . . .” Contempt oozed from his voice.

Kirra's shoulders dropped as her hand wrapped tight on the door handle.

“I suggest you wrap up your business and leave campus immediately.”

Leave?
Reef looked to Kirra, who looked mortified.

“If she's
your
cousin, I'm sure the circumstances surrounding her supposed disappearance have been greatly exaggerated,” Baxter said.

Reef turned, moving back for Baxter. “Excuse me? How dare you insinuate . . .”

“Come on, Reef.” Kirra tugged him through the door and shut it behind them.

“Be careful with that one,” Baxter hollered after them, his angry voice echoing down the long cinderblock hall. “When it comes to insinuation, she's a pro.”

Kirra's heart raced in her chest, her stomach swirling in a rapid pull that threatened to knock her to her knees.

“Why did you yank me out of there?” Reef asked. “He can't talk to you like that.”

She was shocked that's all Professor Baxter had said. She'd forgotten how close William and he had been—the mentor and mentee, now apparently colleagues in the same department. William had clearly covered his tracks by staging
his
version of the events with his mentor. She could just imagine the conversation, the lies William had told Baxter.

An icy chill shot through her and she pitched forward.

“Whoa!” Reef's strong arm wrapped around her waist. “You okay?”

She grabbed the wall for support, her head spinning. “I'm fine. Just need”—
to get
away from here
—“some fresh air.”

“You're shivering.” He pulled her into his embrace, and she fought the urge to simply collapse into his hold, but he wasn't her savior.

This was Reef McKenna, after all.

Despite the changes she'd witnessed in him, and the change in her feelings toward him, she couldn't throw caution to the wind. Couldn't trust him to keep her safe or to be the man she'd been praying for. This was Reef—irresponsible, playboy, and risk taker. Far too much like William.

“Hey, relax.” Reef rubbed her arm, trying to warm her. “I've got you.”

“Can we go please?”

“To meet with the ROW group?”

Ugh
. She couldn't leave. Not until she'd followed every possible lead. Her cousin's life hung in the balance.

“Yeah,” she said, trying to compose herself and feeling like an utter fool for letting Reef see her fall apart. Maybe she really was the drama queen William claimed her to be. The thought reduced her to tears, but she quickly covered them with a false sneeze.

Reef appraised her. “Are you . . . ?”

“Sneeze made my eyes water.” She inhaled and swiped at her eyes, shouldering her strength for the next step—visiting the ROW group. “Let's go. Baxter said they're meeting now. We don't want to miss our opportunity.”

Reef followed after her, his worried expression saying he wasn't buying any of it.
Great
.

Please, Father, give me
the strength for this. I may make a show of
being tough, but I feel like a lost little kid
. But I'm
not alone. Your Word says you'll
never leave me or forsake me. Help me cling to
your promises and know you are the one I can
always trust. Shelter me under the shadow of your wing
until I'm out of this horrid place.

Reef followed closely behind Kirra. She was walking strong and purposefully, but her entire physique was tense. What was going on? What was she battling by returning here, and why wouldn't she confide in him so he could protect her?

Baxter's words, along with his arrogance and condescension toward Kirra, had Reef's ire fully riled—his Irish heritage had spurred him to confront the insult head on. But the utter desperation in Kirra's eyes and voice when she'd pleaded for them to go had nearly broken his heart. He needed to get her off campus as quickly as possible. But for Meg's sake that couldn't be quite yet.

He took a deep breath and slowly released it, preparing for a battle he'd fallen in the middle of. A battle he knew nothing about, other than that it had reduced Kirra Jacobs to tears, and that gnawed at his soul.

Kirra led Reef into the student union, praying with all her might that she wouldn't run into William. The thought alone strangled her. She'd been able to avoid him thus far, and for that she was immensely grateful.

It took a while to locate the correct meeting room, but they knew they'd found it when they heard the words “annihilating Mother Nature's glorious work.”

Everyone in the small room—all eight members—turned at their entrance.

“Hi,” Kirra said, scanning the room. “Sorry to interrupt, but I'm looking for friends of Meg Weber's.”

A lanky young man stood. “And you are?”

“I'm Meg's cousin, and she's missing.”

“What do you mean
missing
?” a second man asked.

Kirra explained what she could to the group. “Can any of you help us? Do any of you remember when you last saw Meg?”

A brunette about Kirra's size raised her hand. “I saw Meg Friday afternoon—right before she left for Seward.”

“Seward?”

“Yeah, there's a week-long Save the Whales rally going on up there. A contingent from ROW went, and Meg joined up last minute.”

“Why?”

The lanky man looked at her with disgust. “Because she cares that innocent sea creatures are being slaughtered by commercial fishermen who are heartlessly chasing after their daily quota.”

“I didn't mean
why
she wanted to
be
there. I meant, why did she sign up last minute?”

“Oh.” At least he had the decency to try and look sheepish. “I think she was torn between going to the rally and supporting her dad at the Iditarod.”

“But she decided on the rally?”

“Yeah.” He nodded. “She was really pumped about it.”

“Did she travel with anybody or go alone?” Reef asked.

The lanky guy looked at the brunette. “Emma?”

Emma crossed her legs. “I think she hitched a ride with Sam and the guys.”

“Sam?” Kirra asked.

“Sam Matthews. He's our group leader. I'm pretty sure she decided to ride with him.”

“Could we get Sam's cell number from you?”

“Yeah, but he didn't bring his phone.”

Kirra frowned. “Why not?” Who didn't carry their cell with them?

“Sam didn't want to be distracted while at a protest or rally. Part of his creed.”

Kirra fought the urge to question said creed, but it was vital they stay on topic.

Emma stood and moved for the snack table. “If you want to talk to Sam, you'll have to head up there.”

Seward was an eight-hour drive—in good weather. If they were following the wrong trail, it would cost them valuable time, but they had no other leads.

“Well, that gives us a place to start,” Kirra said, stepping from the room, thankfully looking more relaxed than when they'd entered.

“Yeah. Now we just need to interview Professor Daniels and we can go.”

Kirra stopped dead in her tracks. “Professor Daniels?”

“Yeah.” What was wrong? Why had all the color drained from Kirra's beautiful face? And why did she look as if she was getting ready to pass out again? “Ashley said he was Meg's other professor and indicated the two didn't get along. I think it would be incomplete investigation-wise to leave campus without speaking with him.”

“Ashley said it'd be a waste of our time. We should head to Seward.” She glanced at her watch. “If we leave now we can make it by midevening.”

“The rally is sure to be dispersed by the time we get there. Arriving in the morning is a better plan.”

“Morning? You don't plan on staying
here
tonight?”

“On campus. No. But with a rally in town, Seward lodging is bound to be booked up. I say we head up that way and stop
somewhere around Whittier, then drive the last hour and a half in the morning.”

“Fine. Let's get going.” She headed for the main door leading out of the student union.

Reef kept stride with her. “Okay, so we talk with Professor Daniels and then . . .”

Kirra stopped and turned to face him. “I'm telling you he's a dead end.”

“How can you be certain?”
Why so much resistance?

“Because he has nothing to do with Meg's new crowd.”

“How can you be certain?”

Her gaze darted around the open space. “Because he's not into the eco scene.”

His eyes narrowed. “Do you know him?” Had he been one of
her
professors?

Was that why she didn't want to visit him?

“Yes.” She exhaled. “Which is why I can tell you without hesitation that he has no information to offer in the way of Meg's disappearance.”

“That seems like a huge assumption.”

“Why are you so insistent on talking to him?”

“I just think to be thorough we should interview everyone.”

“Really? You want to interview
everyone
on campus?”

“Of course not.” Why was she being so obstinate? “However, Meg's professors and her recently dumped ex-boyfriend seems like a reasonable place to start.”

She adjusted her scarf, the burgundy floral print bringing out the bright blue of her eyes, and then exhaled. “You're right.”

“I am?”

She turned, heading back across the foyer from the direction they'd come. “We should talk to her ex-boyfriend.”

“And Professor Daniels?” he asked, catching up to her.

“I think Ashley said his name was Garret.”

“No. William. William Daniels.”

She shivered at the mention of his name but kept walking. “I meant the ex-boyfriend.”

“Oh. How should we go about finding him?”

“Let's hit the gym.”

Reef frowned. “Why the gym?”

“Ashley said he spends most of his time lifting weights. Which doesn't surprise me at all, because Meg always goes for the jocks.” She looked him up and down. “The ones like you, at least.”

Reef arched a brow. “Ones like me?”

“You know. Athletic, but not your traditional jock. Meg likes her men a little south of respectable.”

“Excuse me?” He laughed in shock. Had she really just said that?

“What?” She shrugged. “Oh, come on, you really think you fit in the traditional jock category?”

“No.”

“Then why are you getting all huffy?”

“It's the
south of respectable
that has me huffy.”

“I'm sorry. I didn't mean it as an insult.”

How else did she mean it? And, more importantly, what did that say about how Kirra liked her men?

Kirra led the way into the campus gym. She prayed talking with the ex-boyfriend would eat up enough time that William would be off campus before Reef insisted they locate him.

A sculpted guy with surfer blond hair skipped to her side. “Haven't I seen you around here before?”

Really?
Was that the best he had? “I'm looking for Garret Bale.”

“Bummer for me.”

“Do you know him?”

“Yeah. He's over on the bench press.” He kept pace with her, smiling. “Are you sure I can't interest you in a detour? You know . . .”

“I'm good, thanks.” She beelined for Garret, feeling Reef close on her heels. “Garret Bale?”

The brown-haired, brown-eyed guy bench pressing one-fifty answered. “Yeah?” He glanced over, appraised her, and smiled.

Really, Meg, what do you see
in these men
?
Reef excluded
. She shook her head. Never thought she'd think that. She extended her hand to Garret. “Hi.”

He lifted the weights, setting them back on the bar, and pulled to a seated position. “Hi, yourself.”

“I need to speak to you about Meg.”

“Oh, please tell me she didn't send some friend of hers to try and get me back.” He laughed, and the dudes nearest him followed suit.

Kirra's jaw tightened. Time to cut to the chase. “She's missing.”

“Sure she is.” He laughed.

“I'm not joking.”

His smug expression faded. “Well, if it's true, I had nothing to do with it.”

“With what?”

“Anything. I haven't even seen Meg since we split.”

“You're telling me you're both on campus and you've managed not to see each other since you broke up?”

“Okay, I saw her a couple days later with one of Sam's crew.”

“Sam Matthews?”

“Yeah.”

“When you say one of his crew . . . ?”

“One of those environmental junkies. Ever since Meg started taking Professor Baxter's classes she's gotten strange.”

“Strange, how?”

“Hanging with those losers, carrying on about saving animals and the water and all that junk.”

So Meg
was
serious about the environment. Meg was never serious about much outside of shopping and guys.
Hmm
. Maybe this whole environmental thing hinged on a guy. That seemed more like the Meg she knew.

“I've heard Sam's name mentioned twice now,” she continued. “And you said Meg was hanging with one of his crew. Do you know the guy's name?”

“No. I'm pretty sure he doesn't go to school here.”

“Then why's he in Sam's crew?”

“I think he was a friend of Sam's or he used to go here.” Garret shrugged. “I don't know. I just saw him hanging around campus now and then.”

“With Meg?”

“Maybe once or twice.”

“But after she broke up with you?”

“I never said she broke up with me. Is that what she told you?”

“No. She didn't say anything.”

“
Whatever
. I know what happened. She can say whatever she likes. It doesn't make it true.”

They were veering off course. “Can you tell me anything
about this guy she was with? What he looked like? Ever hear his name?”

“He had some hippy name like Sky or Rain. Can't believe Meg would actually waste time with a dude like that.”

“A dude like what?”

“A hippie wannabe.”

She asked a few more questions but had clearly tapped out Garret's depth of knowledge on the subject.

“Thanks, Garret. If you think of anything else, would you give me a call?” She scribbled down her cell number on the back of her card—wondering if Professor Baxter had shown the one she gave him to William. Did he know she was on campus? If so, could she convince Reef they should leave before he found her? She could only imagine how he'd react.

Garret looked at the number and then up at her with a smile. “Cool.”

“I doubt that's the last time you'll be hearing from him.” Reef chuckled as they exited the gym.

“Glad his leering amused you.”

“I'm surprised you gave him your number, that's all.”

“He may think of something helpful.” Whatever it took to find Meg—
minus
speaking with William. She wished she were stronger, but she didn't have it in her. Her embarrassing lack of composure after Baxter recognized her made that humiliatingly evident.

She sincerely believed William had nothing to do with Meg's disappearance. Not that he was innocent; he was absolutely a predator, just a predator of a different kind.

If Meg's safety hinged on talking to William, Reef would have to do it, but it terrified her to imagine what William might say to Reef, or what Reef might choose to believe about
her. As hard as it was for her to admit, for the first time in a long time someone's opinion mattered, and to her great surprise, it was Reef's.

“You're heading where?” Jake said loudly. The commotion of the checkpoint whirred at a high pitch in the background.

“Seward,” Reef said.

“Why Seward?”

“Because Meg supposedly went to a rally there instead of heading for the Iditarod.”

“So you think she was taken from there?”

“Seems the logical course. Any sign of Frank?”

“He picked up his dogs' rations at Takotna sometime during the night, and Warren Hunt spotted him about halfway up the switchbacks to Ophir, running off course through the valley.”

“He's on a mission, and it no longer involves the race.”

“But he's keeping near the path. We're going to keep an eye on the other drop sites. Maybe we can catch him at one of those.”

“Maybe.”

“How's Kirra?”

Reef turned his back to her. She sat at one of the cafeteria tables, looking piqued. “Something has her spooked.”

“A kidnapped cousin will do that.”

“No. I mean here on campus. I think it has to do something with a Professor Daniels. You should have seen the visible relief on her face when I went to talk with him and learned he was already off campus for the day.”

“Odd.”

“That's what I thought.”

“You want me to ask Darcy to do a little digging?”

He looked back at Kirra. “No. I don't think it has anything to do with Meg's disappearance. I think this has something to do with Kirra's past, and if that's the case, her past is her business.”

“Speaking of pasts . . . we got two distinct histories on Frank.”

“
Two?
”

“Yeah. First we looked into the oil rig thing you mentioned on our last call.”

“And?”

“Looks like Frank moves around as a consultant a lot, so it's hard to track his employment history, but we're working on it.”

“Kirra and I are trying to figure out what working with oil rigs would have to do with the race. There aren't any along the Iditarod trail except near Anchorage and, of course, off the coast of Nome.”

“Wait a minute,” Jake's voice lowered. “When you spoke with Frank, didn't he say something about Nome?”

“Yeah. He said if we didn't find Meg before he reached Nome, they'd both be dead and a lot of others would be hurt.”

“You think these men could be holding Meg hostage in order to get Frank to do something to the rig off Nome's coast? Maybe that's why he's racing so far in front of the group. He needs to reach the rig and do his job before the rest of the racers cross the finish line.”

“But why an oil rig?”

Reef ran a hand through his hair. “Oh man.”

“Why don't I like the sound of that . . . ?”

“It's just all day long we've been hearing about how tight Meg's getting in with the environmental crowd.”

“You think maybe she got in too deep? Overheard something? Told someone what her dad did for a living?”

“Could be.” Now he was even more anxious to get to Seward and start questioning people at the rally. “Meg's ex said she'd recently started hanging around a guy from the group who he's pretty sure isn't a student.”

“This guy have a name?”

“The ex wasn't sure, but said it was something like Sky or Rain.”

“So not his real name?”

“Seriously doubt it. I can ask around when we get to Seward. See if he's there or if anyone knows him.”

“Reef, I don't know Meg at all, so please don't take this as an insult, but I've got to ask.”

“Yeah?” He feared he knew exactly where Jake was going.

“You don't think Meg could be in on this, do—”

The line went dead.

“Hello? Jake?”

Kirra stepped up behind him. “Problem?”

“The line went dead.”

“I've been watching the news.” She gestured to the giant flat screen mounted on the wall of the Quad. “They say a massive storm is moving into the interior.”