Page 22 of Their Frozen Bones

“Your meals will be right along.” Wendy arranged the cups and silverware. “Enjoy.” She turned and headed back to the kitchen.

After checking her phone, Jenna’s heart sank. She’d messaged everyone involved with the search for Julie and all her replies had been negative.

“Bad news?” Kane squeezed her hand.

The concern over Julie was eating away at all of them, this meal was a moment’s respite and she didn’t want to spoil it, but she nodded. “I asked for updates on the search for Julie just before and no one has found a trace of her.” She wiped a hand down her face as Wolfe winced. She needed to change the subject smashing into them every waking second, even for a few minutes.

Jenna blew out a long breath and turned to Wolfe. “Any updates on the victims?”

“Norrell has most of the crash victims identified.” Wolfe frowned and poured coffee. “They had next of kin waiting for them to arrive, so she was able to identify them using personal effects, but the provisional identifications will be backed by DNA or dental evidence.” He added the fixings to his cup and stirred slowly. “The homicide victims, nothing so far. I asked Rio to put out a media release. I figure the women were here on vacation. This is why they’re not showing on any missing persons files. No one knows they’re missing.”

Jenna sipped her milk. “Well, that makes sense.” She placed the glass on the table. “The town doesn’t need a reputation for killing visitors. Tourism means a thriving town.”

“I wouldn’t worry too much.” Kane smiled at her. “Going on the influx of visitors at Halloween, I figure at least half of them come here to rub shoulders with serial killers. I’m expecting aT-shirt withi survived black rock fallsto show in one of the stores soon.”

TWENTY-SEVEN

Rio climbed from the snowmobile and waited for Rowley to join him. They’d found a cabin in the general area of where they believed the suspects were living. It was some distance from the fire road but accessible using the snowmobiles along an old hiking trail. He’d decided to part with the snowmobiles and walk toward the cottage to look like less of a threat to the occupants. He had no idea if either of the suspects resided here. He glanced at Rowley as they crunched through the ice-covered snow. “It’s not signposted, so maybe the people living here are okay with visitors.”

“I’m not planning on risking my life on that assumption.” Rowley looked at him. “What’s up with you today? Your mind is miles away. If you have a problem, spit it out. I’m not planning on getting shot anytime soon.”

Rio snorted. “That obvious, huh?” He stopped walking and turned to him. “It’s not working out between Em and me.” He blew out a cloud of steam. “We want different things. I want a house full of kids and she wants to play with dead bodies until she’s in her thirties. If a position comes up for sheriff in the future in a different town, I might spend some time there as a deputy and then throw my hat into the ring.”

“You don’t like it here?” Rowley’s eyes widened. “What, is Serial Killer Central not exciting enough for you?” He scratched his head. “You just made chief deputy. Do you figure being a small-town sheriff will satisfy you after living here? You’ll be bored shitless.” He gave him a long look. “Or is it the long wait to have Emily at home surrounded by kids that’s the problem?”

Shrugging, Rio met his gaze. “Yeah, that and I don’t believe she’s in love with me. We’re great friends. Heck, she won’t even make out with me. She said she promised her dad and she never breaks a promise.”

“That’s fair enough.” Rowley pushed back his hat and stared at him. “Sandy was much the same. The thing is, are you in love with her?”

Rio shook his head. “Infatuated at first, but no, we’re just close friends. I haven’t looked at another woman, but right now my relationship with Emily doesn’t exist. I can’t see a future with her. We’re heading in different directions. If I stay here, it still won’t work. We want different lives and have different ambitions. The thing is, how do I tell her?”

“Easy.” Rowley turned back to the trail. “Be honest with her and tell her what you’ve told me. She’ll understand. I’ve never seen you or her looking like lovesick puppies. Maybe it’s time for you both to call it a day. You can still be friends. It’s better parting while you are, rather than ending it in a fight. Life is far too short to be angry, and working together would be a nightmare.”

The cold seeped through Rio’s clothes and he straightened. “Thanks for the advice. The cabin is just ahead. I’ll call out. You hang back and cover me, just in case the occupant decides to draw down on me.”

Ratta-tat-tat. Ratta-tat-tat. Ratta-tat-tat.

Automatic weapon fire blasted Rio’s hat from his head and disintegrated the trees beside him. Bark and splinters explodedinto the air in a cloud of brown and green. He hit the ground and rolled, his face ending up buried in the deep snow. He lifted his head an inch, spitting out ice. “Jake, are you okay?”

Nothing.

He raised his voice. “Jake.”

Only the whisper of the wind and the patter of overloaded branches creaking under their heavy burden greeted him. Concern overwhelmed him, and determined to find his friend, he crawled on his belly to where he’d last seen Rowley.

Ratta-tat-tat. Ratta-tat-tat.

Snow flew up all around him. Tree branches splintered and pelted him with wood shards, pine needles, and snow. He needed to get to Rowley, but it was pointless trying to return fire against an automatic weapon that could potentially fire up to twelve hundred rounds per minute. He didn’t want a war. He’d try and reason with the shooter. “Sheriff’s department. Hold your fire. We’re not looking for trouble. We’re hunting down survivors of the plane crash over at Bear Peak.”

Ratta-tat-tat. Ratta-tat-tat.

Not needing to argue the point, Rio dived behind a clump of trees, one of them wide enough to give him cover. He scanned the area and made out the soles of Rowley’s boots, tip up in the snow. All around him gunfire had shredded the trees. He pulled out his phone and, after pushing an earbud into one ear, called Jenna. She answered right away. “We’re under fire, automatic weapon. One man I figure. Rowley is down. I’m pinned down and can’t reach him to see how bad.”

“Hold for one second.”Jenna was speaking to someone close by in hushed tones.“Kane and Wolfe are on their way. Send me your coordinates.”

Rio complied and as he sucked in a breath, a thousand ice-cold needles attacked his lungs. “I called out but they shot first. We’re about thirty yards from the front of the cabin and on foot.”

“I’m in Aunt Betty’s but I’m heading back to the office now.”A car door slammed.“Kane and Wolfe are collecting the trailer with the snowmobiles. They’ll make good time in the Beast. Hunker down and wait for backup.”

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