Prologue

Livermore, California 

Spring 2006

No matter how hard she tried, Rachel just couldn’t keep warm. Bone tingling chills ran through her limbs and her sinuses felt like they were about to spontaneously combust. She had felt whatever the hell kind of bug it was that was making her feel so crappy encroach on her a few days back but had decided ignorance was the best policy. Yeah, that really worked out.

She grimaced as she took a tentative sip of the herbal tea she was forcing herself to drink. To say it tasted vile would be an understatement. It didn’t even look appealing, a yellow green liquid that resembled the water at the bottom of a vase that hadn’t been changed for a while. Pinching her nose and screwing her eyes shut to avoid looking at it, she took a bigger swallow, shuddering as the bitter drink slid down her throat. Half gagging she chucked the rest of it down the sink – proven or not there had to be better ways of getting rid of a stupid cold!

While there is never a ‘good’ time to be ill, this couldn’t have been worse timing. In just a few minutes the rest of her family would be surfacing from their beds and getting ready for a day trip up to Boreal Ski resort. Her kids, Lauren and Tyler were so excited about getting their skis out again and Nick her husband, could really do with the break from work. As project manager at a large natural gas pipe company he worked incredibly long hours and she knew he was really looking forward to spending time with the kids today.

Sighing heavily she pulled her robe tighter around her trying to suppress the shivering. She was just going to have to suck it up. Pulling the blind up from the kitchen window she peered out at the darkness. The stars were still twinkling in clear skies; the forecast had promised great weather for the weekend. A thump from the ceiling above her signalled Tyler was up and moving and judging by the amount of noise he was making, it wouldn’t be long before his older sister was shouting at him to get out of the bathroom. Trying hard to ignore the pulsing beat of a headache in her temples, she set about getting an early breakfast ready.

“Morning sweetness!”

A pair of soothing hands caressed the top of her shoulders causing her to groan in appreciation. Rolling her neck back and forth as his fingers gently kneaded she reached behind her to squeeze her husband softly.

“Morning honey, mmmn God that feels good!”

“Hey? You sick?” Nick picked up on the nasal stuffiness of his wife’s voice.

Rachel waved him away, “I’m fine, just a silly cold.”

Nick refused to be appeased and moved to firmly scrutinise her face. “Rachel! You look awful!”

“I’m fine! You’re no oil painting yourself this morning!” With a mild hint of annoyance she took in her husband’s appearance. She was lying, he was as handsome this morning as he was the first day she saw him in the shopping mall all those years ago. His tanned and personable face sat atop broad shoulders and a well-defined torso that never failed to make her heart swoop.

Chuckling he gently drew her into him, placing a large hand softly on her forehead. “You’re grumpy – sure sign you’re sick and baby I hate to tell you this but you’re burning up!”

“Nonsense, some aspirin and I’ll be fine, we can’t let the kids down.” She shook her head resolutely wincing at the flash of pain that seared behind her eyes at the movement. “They’re so looking forward to this!”

Nick was quiet for a moment as he studied her flushed appearance and streaming eyes. She shouldn’t even be out of bed, let alone going trekking up a snowy mountain.

“Honey, go back to bed, I’ll take the kids up to Boreal and you can have peace and quiet for the day.” He cocked an eyebrow at her and raised his finger to effectively silence her before she started protesting. “End of!”

Hands on her hips she regarded him crossly for a moment before the little voice in her brain told her this was actually one of his better ideas.

“You’ll be okay with them on your own?”

Gently steering her onto a stool by the breakfast bar, he looked at her in mock disgust. “You do it every day, I’m pretty sure I can handle them for one day Rachel!”

“You won’t leave one of them on top of Cedar Ridge or some other equally dangerous run?”

“As if they’d let me!” Grinning he cupped her face with his hands, gently stroking either side of her flushed cheeks with a smooth thumb. “We’ll be fine!”

Nodding her assent she pointed to the pantry, “Energy snacks are in there, don’t forget them!”

“Now whatever did the world do before those were invented!!” Bending over to drop a kiss on her lips he gave her a tight squeeze, “Go back to bed! We’ll be home by ten pm at the latest!”

Grabbing a box of tissues she smiled gratefully at him, “I love you Nick Braden, you’re a good man!”

“And don’t I know it!” he smirked playfully at her while pointing upstairs, “Bed! Now!”

“I’m going, I’m going!” Shuffling back across the kitchen in her slippers she paused at the door to look back, “Be safe okay?”

“Always am baby, always am!” was the muffled response that came from him as he rummaged about in the larder, “There are NO ener…….hang on – got em!”

Rolling her eyes she trudged back upstairs meeting her son coming barrelling down them at high speed.

“Mom! You’re not ready, we’re gonna be late!” Tyler looked crossly at her, his young face impatient to get going even at this ridiculously early hour.

“You’re having a day out with your father – be gentle!” While she explained to the ten year old that she wasn’t feeling so good, Lauren appeared at the top of the landing, concern filling her voice.

“Aw Mom, you don’t look so good!!”

The compliments sure were flying around this house today! Looking up at her she smiled wryly. 

“So your father has already informed me which is why I’m going back to bed. Keep an eye on Tyler will you?”

“Yeah I suppose I can mind the little twerp, don’t blame me if he ends up as a human snowball though!” She sighed dramatically as Tyler bounded down the stairs in search of his father. “But if he embarrasses me like last time I’m gonna kill him!”

Lauren, on the verge of turning fifteen was at the stage were everything to do with her little brother was profoundly ‘uncool’. She was far more interested in fashion and college boys these days than she was in playing games with him on his battered console that they used to spend hours fighting over.

Rachel smiled fondly at her; she was growing up so fast. They both were, in fact it wouldn’t be long before family outings like this would be a thing of the past. With a bit of luck, they might be able to arrange another trip before the season ended. Kissing Lauren goodbye she sighed with relief when she crawled back in under the warm duvet of their bed. Maybe a day of peace and quiet was exactly what she needed.

A short while later, the sound of the front door banging noisily and the SUV’s engine being turned over outside signalled her family’s departure. Silence descended as she blearily rolled over and went back to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few hours later the sun was high in the crystal blue sky when Rachel woke to the unusual empty silence that seemed to hover within the house. She lay confused for a moment in her flu infused brain until it registered with her where everybody was – kids skiing in Boreal with Nick equalling peace and quiet here in sunny Livermore. Bliss. If only she wasn’t sick she might have been slightly more enthused about it.

In an effort to relieve some of the pressure building up behind her forehead she rolled over in bed to hang over the edge of the mattress, groaning as she felt the throb increase. Probably the reason why she’d woken up in the first place. It was time to call in the heavy drugs, natural remedies be damned!

Squinting at the bright light pouring in through the glass fronted front door of the hallway, she slid across the polished floor boards to the medicine cabinet they kept locked in the office. She threw a disapproving look at the pile of papers and rolled up plans that Nick had left strewn across the walnut desk as she stood on tip toes to rummage through the packets of half used cold and flu drugs. Finally her clammy fingers found the packet she was searching for and popping two of the pills from their plastic holder she headed for the kitchen. The first things she noticed as she moved to get a drink were the three energy bars sitting on the breakfast counter – nice job Nick! She rolled her eyes at her husband’s forgetfulness, how he was able to proficiently manage teams of engineers and architects was beyond her.

She knocked back the pills in her hand with a glug of water and leaned against the sink as the ice cold water sloshed around her stomach. She really did feel awful, she could only pray that it was a twenty four hour thing. The clock above the window told her it was just before midday, it would be hours yet before Nick and the kids got home. Debating what to do she spied her laptop bag crammed with folders from work leaning against the dining table. She needed something to take her mind off feeling sorry for herself and work was just the thing.

After brewing herself some coffee she busied herself replying to e-mails from the roster of clients she currently had on her listings. She had worked as a real estate agent for the past fifteen years and in that time had built herself quite the reputation. In between sips of coffee and chewing on one of the forgotten energy bars she fired back counter offers to prospective buyer’s agents and confirmed other offers with sellers. The pills took effect without her even realising it as she suddenly realised she could smell the spicy aroma from her coffee. Sniffing it appreciatively she stretched out the muscles in her back and headed for a refill, her head feeling much lighter and more normal than it had an hour ago.

The phone ringing loudly from one side of the kitchen wall caused her to divert from the coffee machine to grab the receiver off its cradle.

‘Hey honey, how you feeling?’

She smiled as she heard the familiar comforting croon of her husband down the phone.

“Much better actually, how are you guys getting on? Kids okay?”

‘They’re great, kids have had a blast. It’s getting kinda cold up here though and I think Tyler’s getting tired so we’re gonna hit the road home. You need me to get anything on the way back?’

“Nope, I’m good. So see you in a few hours then?” Balancing the phone in the crook of her neck, she mentally ran through the dinner options she could give to three starving skiers when they got home.

‘Should be home by seven, we’ll see you soon – love you.’

“Love you too honey, bye.”

Hanging the phone up, she made for the refrigerator to tally up its contents. A packet of ground beef sitting on a shelf near the bottom made her mind up. A few hours were just enough time to get a good pot of the kid’s favourite Bolognese sauce done. Any further work matters were pushed to the back of her mind as she busily set about chopping tomatoes and herbs and before long a delicious aroma was floating around the kitchen. Setting the pot to simmer on the stove as she tidied up the worktops she reckoned she had just enough time to enjoy a long soak in the tub before everyone arrived home.

Upstairs she poured a generous measure of her favourite bath crème under the gushing taps and sighed as she slipped under the warm bubbles. Popping a small towel behind her neck, she closed her eyes as the warmth seeped into her limbs. Heavenly.

A noise from downstairs interrupted her relaxation and she frowned as she craned her neck to listen. The unmistakable chime of the doorbell rang through the house making her groan. Briefly she considered ignoring whoever it was until another persistent chime rang out. Quietly cursing she heaved herself reluctantly from the steaming waters and slipped her robe back on. 

Shivering as she made her way through the colder air out in the master bedroom, she toed on her slippers and padded carefully down the stairs. Dusk was just settling outside and she could barely make out the shadow of the caller’s frame standing on the porch.

Clutching the robe around her she took a quick look out through the glass pane beside the door before pulling it open. A burly man in uniform with an older suited gentleman stood waiting to be greeted. Confusion ran through her mind as she looked enquiringly at them.

“Ma’am I’m Fred Curtis with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department. Is this the Braden residence?”

“I’m Rachel Braden, is there a problem?”

The sheriff’s face offered no clue as to why they were here. He removed his hat slowly giving his companion a quick sideways glance.

“May we come in ma’am?”

Rachel’s heart began to hammer nervously in her chest as she stood back to allow them entry into the hallway. “What’s all this about?”

He waited for her to shut the door behind them and then motioned in the direction of the living room. “There’s a matter we need to discuss Mrs Braden, do you mind if we sit down?”

She nodded wordlessly as she led the way over to the suite of comfortable furniture Nick had insisted they buy last year. Still clutching her damp robe to her, she sat cautiously on the edge of the sofa as the two men sat opposite.

“Ma’am this here is Jeffrey Creel of the Alameda County Coroner’s Office.” The sheriff motioned to his up to now silent companion. “There’s been an incident this evening up on the Donner Pass.”

Her hands flew to her face as she stared frantically at them. “Oh my God, Nick and the kids………”

The deputy coroner’s words crashed over her in segments as she shook her head wildly refusing to believe the few words she was actually hearing.

“Interstate 80………..ice………….big rig………spinout…………collision……”

Gasping for breath she felt the sheriff move to sit beside her, a gentle arm around her shoulders as the deputy coroner gravely delivered the worst news of all;

“So very sorry Mrs Braden but there were no survivors……….”