“Which at least one of them probably will,” she muttered, maneuvering the Jeep onto a rocky shoulder off the road. Once parked, she walked down a narrow deer trail to the edge of Cutler Pond to check for signs of illegal fishing. The department had just stocked the lake with trout, and fishing was prohibited until the season started. That didn’t keep some anglers from trying for an early catch. Just the morning before she’d issued two citations to a couple of people taking trout illegally. As she scanned the opposite shoreline with binocs, she wondered if Lily Davenport would be one of those helicopter parents who insisted on meeting with her to confirm she was actually qualified to protect their offspring. Funny, the idea of running into her again wasn’t all that unpleasant.

The lake looked quiet, and Chase smiled as she climbed back to the Jeep, thinking about her recent encounter with the attractive blonde. Under other circumstances Lily would have been just her type—assuming Lily’s tastes ran to women. Self-assured, quick-witted with a hint of a temper—not always a bad thing—and definitely hot. Even the brief glance she’d gotten of Lily in the car was enough to put her into that category.

Chase started the engine and sighed. There wouldn’t be time for that kind of pursuit soon either, and even if there was, Lily Davenport would be long gone. With a rueful shake of her head, she pulled her radio off the dash to check in.

“Fielder, calling in.”

Lieutenant Natalie Evans, her regional supervisor, came back quickly. “Hey, Chase. How’s the morning looking?”

“Pretty quiet right now. Cutler Pond is clear this morning.”

Natalie chuckled. “Give it a day.”

“Yup. I plan a swing-by on my regular tour.”

“Good idea. Listen, I need you up at the lodge this morning. Can you make it at nine?”

“I’m just headed out from that area. I was planning to cut over to check the hiking trails around Third Lake. With the rain we’ve had, we may need to put them off-limits for the coming weekend.” Chase frowned. Why the lodge? She flashed on the image of Lily Davenport’s BMW headed up the mountain. Hell. Had Lily had an accident? Maybe she should have followed her up. Her chest tightened. “Is there some problem?”

“Not what I’d call a problem, but we need a meeting with Sarah.”

“You’re the boss.” Chase let out a breath. Not an emergency, then. Nothing to do with Lily. “I can still make it out to Third, check the trails, and be back just about ten or a little after. That work for you?”

“Should be fine. See you then.”

“Roger that,” Chase muttered.

She tried to stay clear of the lodge as much as she could during the summer. Something about the residents brought back memories that seemed a lifetime ago now, of the unfettered freedom to spend every single day in the high peaks, thrilling to the challenges, and never once taking it for granted. Although maybe she had, thinking back. At least she’d taken her place in the greater scheme of things for granted. Maybe now she just envied the kids at the lodge their unlimited view of their futures, as if they could do anything and would.