Page 21 of Snow River

“Just trying to help you with yours, Officer Cromwell.But if you’re not interested in a potential clue, it’s all good.”

“Hand it over.”With a weary sigh, he accepted the Zip-loc bag containing the nylon sheath.

“We found it in the woods by Snow River.I can give you GPS coordinates of the location.”

“You and that witchy girl?”

“Your best quality has always been your professionalism,” Bear deadpanned.

“I call it as a I see it.Why should I have to pussyfoot around?Just saying.I’d watch yourself if I was you.I know a wacko when I see one.”While Bear’s blood boiled at Cromwell’s disrespect, the officer turned the sheath this way and that, examining it through the plastic.“Looks like about the right size.The coroner said the blade was mostly likely a six-inch-er.”

“You might be able to trace that sheath, but it’s a pretty common type.”

“The location might help.What’s near there?”

“Nothing much.Woods, the river.A couple miles up Snow River there’s some fancy cabins that used to be used for retreats.They might be abandoned.Can’t say for sure, but I can check them out if you want.”

Cromwell shrugged.“If you get a chance, sure.But it’s looking like a domestic situation.Knife stabbings usually are.”

Bear jumped at the opportunity to follow up on Lila’s intuition.

“You think someone was with her?It would be unusual for a woman to hike in alone, especially in bear season.There’s warnings posted everywhere.”

“Sure, but you know these tourists.They think it’s all a game.Get a selfie with a bear, post it on Instagram.That’s all they want.Just like the kid who thought he could survive a winter in that bus.”

Bear tuned out the rest of that rant, which he’d heard before from Cromwell and other locals.The whole story had been told in a book, and then a movie—a young man had hiked out to a school bus abandoned in the wilderness past Healy.There he’d stayed, eating the plants he found and even trying to dry moose meat for the winter.But something had gone wrong, and he’d been found dead, poisoned by a misidentified plant, perhaps, which locals took as a warning that Alaska was not to be messed around with.

Bear didn’t disagree—survival was tough out here, and the truth was, it was even tougher alone, no matter who you were or how much experience you had.Survival required other people.It required a community.Even Officer Cromwell, an expert shot and experienced fisherman, would have trouble cut off from his gas-guzzling Tahoe with its seat-warmers and engine-block heater.

But he kept that opinion to himself.

“Good point, good point.”He nodded along as Cromwell wrapped up his rant.“So she didn’t go in alone, did she?”

“No.She was staying at the Wagon Wheel before leaving with her backpack for a three-day camping trip.She told the clerk she was meeting someone, but he didn’t have any details.”

Bear could think of several follow-up questions.“That’s all you know?Was it a boyfriend?A guide?”

“Get on out of here.”Cromwell waved him away.“Of all the people I don’t answer to, a rogue ex-cop is right at the top.”

And things had been going so well.

Without another word, Bear turned to go.No sense in sharing space with someone so intent on being a jackass.

“Hey, Bear,” Cromwell called after him.“If you find any more leads, don’t be shy.”

Bear ignored him and hurried out of the station to his truck.Dealing with Cromwell and other members of law enforcement who knew his history—or what they’d heard of it—sucked.It was something he had to endure, like a cold snap or a spring flood.Crappy but inevitable.

He drove to the Wagon Wheel Inn, where he happened to know the housekeeping manager, Shawna.Rather, they’d had a brief fling a few years ago.After their time together, she’d gotten promoted to manager, then met a local carpenter and gotten married.For some reason, she liked to claim that he’d sparked all that good change in her life.

Shawna hugged him tightly, then showed off her pregnant belly.“More good luck, thanks to you!”she crowed.

He snorted.“So long as your husband knows I had nothing to do with that.”

“He loves me.He knows.What do you need, Bear?”She swatted him on the arm.“You look different.What’s happened?”

“Same old.I need to ask you?—”

“Not same old.You look different.New woman?I hope you’re in love this time!”

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