Not spotting Dante, Gabe glanced around. Sometime in the last year or so, the owner had walled off the rightmost third of the building. Probably as the population diminished, so did the need for a large grocery store. With an influx of tourists, resort staff, and more residents, Dante might be able to open that section back up.

Only one person was in the store, a white adult female, who was perusing the cookie section. She had stunning hair. The thick, wavy tangle was every shade of gold and reached halfway down her back. About five-five, she wore jeans and a flannel shirt bulky enough to disguise any curves.

Before he could speak, she picked up a box of cookies and tucked it into her purse.

Well, fuck. Disillusionment washed through him. Even here, people were no good. Odd, he hadn’t realized how much he’d hoped for Rescue to be different until that desire was crushed.

He cleared his throat.

She spun, saw him, gasped, and began backing away down the aisle. Hand on her throat, she looked so terrified, he almost had a moment of pity.

Almost.

Staring at the man, Audrey retreated as fast as she could…and he came toward her. Oh God.

He blocked the narrow aisle completely. Her heart began to pound painfully inside her rib cage. She glanced over her shoulder at the back door, but the locked door would take time to get open.

She turned to face the man. He was frighteningly big. Over six feet tall, with short brown hair. The beard shadow was darker than his outdoorsman’s tan. Harsh lines bracketed his unsmiling mouth, and he looked…threatening.

Could the hitman or his people have traced her?

A glance didn’t reveal Spyros; the man was alone. Besides, she hadn’t left a trail. People disappeared all the time into remote Alaskan towns.

No, she was safe here. Surely she was. “Wh-what do you want?”

He crossed his arms over his chest—a very broad chest. “It’s simple. Hand me everything you stole, and then we’ll go down to the station and have a chat.”

Have a chat? She wasn’t going anywhere with him. The rest of his sentence registered. Station… Oh my God, he was the police.

She stared at the badge on his black fleece-lined jacket.

Wait. What did he mean “stole?”

“I didn’t steal anything.” Fear blossomed anew. Even if her photo ID looked real enough to her, it wouldn’t hold up to a police background check. She took a step back.

His eyebrows lifted slightly. “I saw you. Bring your purse up to the counter.”

Outrage swept through her, vying with anxiety. “I’m not stealing. Dante said I could take whatever I wanted to eat.”

“Mmmhmm.” Disbelief was obvious in the man’s deep voice. “Let’s ask him.”

Audrey crossed her arms over her chest, imitating the man. “He’s not here.”