The snow had been falling for three days, cloaking the trees in white and making the hills around the little town look like a Christmas card, with white and blue mountain peaks in the background to complete the picture. Now, however, it was the temperature that was falling – fast. Over 30 degrees Celsius in just a few hours, and it was rapidly approaching the point where the two temperature scales evened out, at 40 below.
Jack stomped his feet, lifting each ski slightly and slapping it down against the snow. He planted his poles and dug his hands deeper into the pockets of his parka. His gloves were proving almost useless and he could feel his fingertips starting to tingle with cold. His com unit crackled in his ear.
"She's on the lift. She should be up to you in five minutes. Last run of the day, Jack."
"Roger that." He was relieved. The Senator had been reluctant to let her one opportunity to ski the Rockies pass her by, despite the forecast. Once the conference started this evening, she wouldn't have much free time. Jack was glad she was finally coming to her senses, even if he admired her fortitude. The cold was staring to make his knee ache where he had been injured over a year ago in the plane crash with Nina. Some scars never heal.
He lifted his goggles onto his forehead so he could use the time to scan the faces getting off the lift ahead of Senator McNeil. Not that he could see much. The few hardy souls who were still at it were well bundled in either touques or helmets, goggles and neck tube scarves. There was a reason thieves used ski masks. Anyone could hide under all that gear and there would be no way of knowing who it was until it was too late.
Jack could see his breath where it escaped his neck tube, which was pulled up high over his nose. The steam travelled up and settled on his eyelashes, freezing them together slightly every time he blinked. A gust of wind off the mountain bit at the skin around his eyes, and he lowered his goggles again. Exposed skin could freeze in minutes under these conditions.
He settled his goggles just in time to see the Senator's chair approaching the lift. Jack grabbed his poles, slipping his hands through the straps, and skated over to meet her. He didn't want to crowd her, but he had to be close enough to offer protection.
The Senator had been threatened by someone unhappy with the way Free Trade was interfering with some of Canada's environmental legislation. Jack didn't think it was a serious threat, but Eilish McNeil was a close friend of President Palmer, and he had personally asked Jack to provide her protection during the conference. They'd arrived this morning and had headed straight to the ski hill, letting the driver take their luggage to the hotel.
Eilish swooshed down the ramp from the lift and executed a perfect stop beside Jack. "I thought we could ski this one together, if you like." She raised her goggles and grinned at him. "It creeps me out to have you following me all the time."
Jack was a bit taken aback, but he could see her point. It must take a bit of getting used to, and this was the young Senators' first term in office. "Yes, ma'am."
"Agent Bauer, you don't need to call me 'Ma'am' all the time. I'd prefer Eilish."
"I'm afraid that's against protocol, Senator McNeil."
She tilted her head, trying to see past his goggles. "And do you always follow protocol, Agent Bauer?" Not waiting for an answer, she lowered her own goggles back into place over her helmet and pushed off. "Race you!"
Jack pushed off after her, easily keeping up with the tall, graceful woman. He'd learned to ski when he was eight, before his father had left his well-paying tech job to start BXJ and the family could afford vacations in Tahoe and Vale. He was a bit rusty, but his muscles remembered what to do.
She skied surprisingly fast through the fresh powder, but she was obviously in control. Suddenly Jack caught a movement to his right and up the hill. Another skier was bearing down on them, and it didn't look like he knew what he was doing. Jack tucked, catching up to Eilish and pushing her forward out of the way just as the wayward skier bombed past them, poles waving crazily. The Senator pulled up, turning to Jack angrily. "What was that? I almost lost my balance!"
"I'm sorry," Jack replied as he skidded to a stop upslope. He indicated the other skier, who was now far down the mountain, yet apparently in control again. "He was going to hit you."
Eilish followed the direction of his hand and nodded. "I know. I saw him." She turned back to Jack. "I'm not a complete idiot, you know, Agent Bauer."
"I'm sure you're not, Senator." Jack agreed flatly. "But it's my job to keep you safe."
"Mission accomplished, then." The Senator turned and started down the hill again, not waiting for Jack's reply.
A few minutes later she slid to a stop in front of the lodge and started to remove her skis. Jack skated the last few yards and released his boots from the bindings holding them to his skis. As he stood up, he looked around for the skier who had passed them on the mountain, but there was no sign of him. Jack helped the Senator sling her skis over her shoulder, then did the same with his and they walked to the pick-up area where their driver was already waiting. He put both pairs of skis into the roof-top carrier and opened the door for Eilish. She slid in and he sat in the back beside her.
The heater was going full blast and Jack's goggles fogged up. He pushed them to the top of his head. Eilish took off her gloves and rubbed her hands, then removed her helmet and ran her fingers through her long auburn hair, fluffing it out where it had been flattened by her headgear. She leaned back against the leather seats of the black SUV and shivered. "I can't believe how fast it got cold. This is unbelievable."
Jack removed his own gloves and flexed his fingers, feeling the pricking of pins and needles as his circulation returned. "Yeah."
"I'm glad I booked a spa appointment. I'll be stiff tomorrow." she raised an eyebrow at him. "Do your protective duties extend to the hot pool, Agent Bauer?"
Jack shifted uncomfortably at her flirting. "No, Ma'am." Luckily he had checked the schematics of the hotel thoroughly before they'd arrived. "I'll be in the work-out room right next door. It has a full view of the pool."
She laughed, her green eyes twinkling. "Calm down, Jack. I'm just yanking your chain. President Palmer warned me how serious you are. And he told me you have a girlfriend."
Jack relaxed and snorted softly. "Yes, Ma'am."
"Work-out room?" She eyed him up and down. "Well, you'll sleep well tonight. Don't overdo it."
"No Ma'am." Truth was, he would rather use the hot pool than the treadmill. His leg muscles were reminding him that they hadn't been used that way for quite some time. Maybe later once the Senator was safely in her room for the night and he'd handed her off to the Secret Service.
"God, Jack, enough with the 'yes ma'am' 'no ma'am's already. You're making me feel like I'm in Gone With the Wind or something."
"Yes, Senator." He allowed himself a small smile and quickly looked away. The vehicle was pulling up to what could only be described as a castle. Tall walls of dark stone towered above them, ending in a series of small peaked roofs reminiscent of turrets. A man in a green parka stopped the vehicle and Jack tensed. The driver rolled down the window.
"Good afternoon. Checking in today?" It was just a bellman. The driver gave the man the Senator's and Jack's name and the bellman spoke into his walkie-talkie briefly. "Okay, welcome to the Banff Springs. Go right in to the front desk, Alfred will show you to your rooms. Your luggage is already there."
Jack helped the Senator out of the SUV and tipped the doorman. A large friendly black man in a kilt approached them as they came through the door. "Good afternoon, Senator McNeil, Mr. Bauer. My name is Alfred. I'll show you to your rooms." He led them to the elevator, making small talk with the Senator.
Jack nodded politely, but his attention was on their surroundings as he adjusted the schematic in his head with the three dimensional space. The diagrams had not done the grand old hotel justice. Carved wooden banisters flanked the wide Tindelstone staircase that led up from the lobby. Dark stone columns supported a vaulted ceiling with chandeliers that looked as if they'd been inspired by medieval Scotland.
The elevator stopped on the 10th floor and Alfred led them down a small hallway. He stepped into the room, holding the door open for them. Eilish gasped, walking over to the window. "Wow, would you look at that."
Alfred chuckled. "That's the million-dollar view, alright." The room looked out over the snow-covered golf course, nestled beside the frozen river. They could see down the valley between two mountains to another range of mountains a few miles away. There were elk dotting the open areas between the trees.
Jack took a quick glance and started his inspection of the room. It was a suite, with the door they had entered opening into a living room. A tray on the coffee table held a bucket of ice with a small bottle of champagne, two glasses, and a dish of chocolate-covered strawberries. A fireplace in the corner was snapping with a real fire, sending its cosy warmth into the room.
Beyond the fireplace was the bedroom and a small hallway leading to a second door. Jack went to it and slid the deadbolt in place, as well as the metal bar that the hotel used instead of chains. He was pleased to note the door was solid wood. A large bathroom and closet completed the suite. Eilish's luggage was already arranged on a stand in the closet Jack checked the windows, but the room offered good privacy. There were no good sightlines from any other buildings that could be used by a sniper.
He walked back into the sitting room and noticed a connecting door at the far end. "Excuse me, where does that door lead?" he asked Alfred.
"Right next door to your room, Mr. Bauer. It's a double door that can be locked from either side. Would you like me to show you to your room?"
"That would be fine." Jack turned to Eilish. "Leave your side of the door unlocked at all times. I'll make sure my side is locked."
"Okay. Listen, Jack, my spa appointment is in 20 minutes, so I'm just going to get changed here. Should I knock when I'm ready?"
Jack nodded. "Okay, we'll leave you to it." Alfred held the door for him and the two men left. Jack made sure the door locked behind him.
Eilish walked to the closet and opened her suitcase. She lowered the top again, looking at it more closely, then opened it and looked at her clothes. She wasn't sure what it was, but there was something different about her luggage. There was something not quite right. She thought about calling Jack, but decided she was just being silly. The cold must be getting to her. She pulled out some yoga pants and a top and started to get changed. She put her swimsuit into a small carry bag. She'd change into that after her massage.