Summer Madison dipped her syringe into the pond, filled it, and then deposited the water into a beaker she tucked safely away in her testing kit. She was sure the new copper mine was polluting the water, just like all the other old mines in this part of Montana.

Summer intended to be a one-woman advocate for the forests, even if she had to go totally Erin Brockovich on their corporate asses.

She’d taken several samples from the small pond that collected water from the river. It was rich with fish and was a primary fishing spot for local wildlife. Standing water like this would surely show evidence of pollutants from the mine.

Deciding to take samples from the forest surrounding the pond, she pushed her sunglasses up the bridge of her nose and hefted her testing kit to trek into the dense forest. She’d already hiked several miles that day, and her legs were feeling the burn.

When she pushed through the underbrush, she nearly dropped her kit on the pine needle covered ground. A massive grizzly bear lay sprawled across the forest floor, its big chest moving slowly up and down. Startled, Summer felt her heart pound in her throat.

She stopped herself. The bear was clearly sick. Wildlife didn’t usually lie around in the open like that in the middle of the day. Something was wrong with it. Approaching hesitantly, her bear spray gripped in her sweaty hand, she came close enough to inspect the beast.

Its large, glassy eyes fluttered, and it let out a long, low moan before its eyes went dark, and its chest stopped moving.

Is it dead?

She knew she should back away slowly and get the heck out of there, but the lure of scientific inquiry was too great. She tiptoed forward, dropped to her knees, and reached out to place her hand over the bear’s heart.

No pulse.

It had stopped breathing. Clearly, the beast had passed on. Anger surged in her chest. Damn corporations! They didn’t care about anything but profit! She clenched her fist and her jaw, dark thoughts running through her mind.

As a silent tear ran down her cheek, Summer pulled a hypodermic needle from her testing kit. Knowing it was slightly morbid, but unable to stop herself, she pushed the needle into the bear’s flesh, drawing out a sample of blood.

“What do you think you’re doing?” A husky, deep voice bit through the still air. Summer looked up, gasping as she capped the needle and shoved it into her testing kit. Gaping at the brawny law enforcement officer before her, she wiped a tear from her cheek and stood.

“It’s dead,” she said defiantly.

“I can see that. Did you have something to do with this?”

“No! Of course not.”

The man frowned and moved toward the bear. He wore dark blue jeans and a tan uniform top, and his eyes were shadowed by a black cowboy hat that covered his cropped brown hair. Blue eyes blazed at her over a strong jaw dusted with dark stubble. His chest was so broad it reminded her of the grizzly at her feet.

“I’m the game warden in these parts. I see you sticking a dead bear with a needle, and I’ve got to ask why.”

“I’m testing the area for toxic waste. I suspect this bear died from poisoning, so I took a blood sample.”

The warden grumbled and crossed his burly arms over his deep chest. Summer gripped the strap of her testing kit and flipped her dyed, red dreadlocks over her shoulder.

“What are you, some kind of scientist?”

“I’m an environmental biologist.”

“Who do you work for?”

“I do research for the University of Montana, but this isn’t for my job. I’m out here alone.”

“Why? Bear hunting?”

“Seriously? Do I really look like a poacher to you?” Summer asked, angrily looking down at the dead animal.

There was no longer an animal there. She screamed and nearly tripped over her own feet. On the ground before her was a dead man.

“It’s a shifter,” the warden growled. “Just what I suspected. You’re one of those shifter haters, aren’t you?”

“No!” Summer nearly screeched. “I stand behind shifter equality. Oh, my God. Look at him. Do you see those black marks on his skin? It’s arsenic poisoning.”

“Hmm. So he was poisoned.” The warden moved forward and knelt beside her, inspecting the naked man. “I’m Chance Baker, by the way.” He offered his big hand to Summer, but she just frowned at him. He tilted his head, glaring, and she finally shook it.

“Summer Madison.”

“So you came all the way out here to do scientific research at your own expense?”

“I did. I believe the copper mine is polluting the river. Copper mining has a bad history in this state, and I intend to protect the rivers and the people at all costs. What could be more important?”

“The copper mine created a lot of new jobs in town,” Chance said. “From what I understand, they’ve got pretty high environmental standards.”

“Typical redneck attitude.”

“Excuse me?”

“Never mind. I shouldn’t have expected you to understand. You’re probably paid off by them to look the other way.”

“Jesus, lady, you’ve got attitude.”

She glared at him, and he met her glare with one of his own. “Never mind. I need to call this in, and you need to clear out before I arrest you.”

“Arrest me? You should be arresting the people responsible for polluting this land!”

“I don’t have time for this. There’s a dead man lying on the forest floor if you haven’t forgotten.”

“Of course I haven’t forgotten! His death, and deaths like his, are the exact reason I’m here.”

“Just clear out and don’t leave town. I’m going to need to ask you some more questions.”

“I’m staying at the Green Pine Hotel in town. Room number seven. I won’t be hard to find.”

“I don’t doubt it.”