Ice Cold: A Rizzoli & Isles Novel

have gone from bad to worse.”
    “I’m trying to get us out of here. I’m doing my best.”
    “I didn’t say you weren’t.”
    “But that’s what you’re thinking, isn’t it? That everything’s my fault. That’s what you’re all thinking.” He gave a loud sigh and turned. “I promise, I’ll find a way to get us out of here.”
    “I’m not blaming you.”
    He shook his head in the darkness. “You should.”
    “Everything’s just gone wrong, things that no one could predict.”
    “And now we’re trapped, and Arlo’s probably going to lose his leg. If not worse.” His back was still turned to her, as if he couldn’t bear to meet her gaze. “I’m sorry I ever talked you into this. It sure as hell isn’t the trip I was hoping for, not with you along. Especially not with you along.” He turned to look at her, and the lamplight deepened every hollow of his face. This wasn’t the same man whose eyes had twinkled at her in the restaurant, not the same man who’d spoken so breezily about trusting in the universe.
    “I needed you today, Maura,” he said. “It may be selfish of me, but for my sake, and Arlo’s, I’m glad you’re here.”
    She managed a smile. “I can’t say I share the sentiment.”
    “No, I’m pretty sure you’d rather be just about anywhere else right now. Like on that plane headed for home.”
    To Daniel
. By now her flight would have landed, and he’d knowshe wasn’t on it. Was he frantic? Or did he think this was her way of punishing him for all the heartache he’d caused her?
You know me better than that. If you love me, you’ll know I’m in trouble
.
    They left the bloodstained hallway, walked back through the shadowy front room, and stepped outside, into a landscape lit by the moon and stars. They could see firelight glowing in the house where the others now slept.
    “I’m tired of being in charge,” he said, gazing at that window. “Tired of always having to lead the way. But they expect it. When things don’t go right, Arlo whines about it, yet he never steps up to take the lead. He’d rather just stay on the sidelines and complain.”
    “And Elaine?”
    “You’ve seen how she is. It’s always:
You decide, Doug.”
    “That’s because she’s in love with you.”
    He shook his head. “I never saw it. We’ve been friends, that’s all.”
    “It’s never been more than that?”
    “Not on my part.”
    “She feels differently. And Arlo knows it.”
    “I never encouraged her, Maura. I’d never do that to him.” He turned to her, his features sharper, starker, in the lantern light. “You’re the one I wanted.” He reached out to touch her arm. It was no more than a brush of his glove across her sleeve, a silent invitation that told her the next move was hers.
    She pulled away, pointedly moving out of his reach. “We should get back to Arlo.”
    “Then there’s nothing between us, is there?”
    “There never was.”
    “Why did you accept my invitation? Why did you come with us?”
    “You caught me at a moment in time, Doug. A moment when I needed to do something wild, something impulsive.” She blinked away tears that blurred the lantern light into a golden haze. “It was a mistake.”
    “So it wasn’t about me at all.”
    “It was about someone else.”
    “The man you spoke of at dinner. The man you can’t have.”
    “Yes.”
    “That situation hasn’t changed, Maura.”
    “But I have,” she said, and walked away.
    When she stepped inside, she found that everyone was still asleep and the fire had calmed to glowing embers. She added a log and stood before the hearth as flames sprang to life, hissing and snapping. She heard Doug walk in behind her and close the door, and the sudden whoosh of fresh air made the flames shudder.
    Arlo opened his eyes and whispered, “Water. Please, water.”
    “Sure thing, buddy,” said Doug. He knelt down and held Arlo’s head as he pressed the cup to his lips. Arlo took greedy gulps, spilling half the water down his chin. Satisfied, he slumped back onto his pillow.
    “What else can I get you? Are you hungry?” asked Doug.
    “Cold. It’s so cold.”
    Doug took a blanket from the couch and gently draped it over him. “We’ll build up that fire. You’ll feel better.”
    “Been having dreams,” Arlo murmured. “Such weird dreams. All these people were in here, looking at me. Standing around, watching. Waiting for something.”
    “Narcotics will give you bad