Page 54 of Cold Light of Day

“The way the body is tangled in the trees, one would initially think an avalanche got him, but I can’t know when. The ME will have to determine that. Avalanche season typically ends in mid-May but can go through June.”

Grier nodded. “Coming in, I spotted a snowmobile a quarter of a mile down that looked like it had been abandoned months ago.”

“Could belong to him. If he rented it, then the company should have reported it missing, so we would have known to look into this. We’ll check it out.” She eyed the cornice of the still-snowcapped mountain. “I need to find out more. When did he leave Michigan, and did Hank know he was missing? Can you help me get Hank away from the remains?”

Grier nodded and got closer, dropping to his knees next to Hank. He put his arm around the man, hugging him like he was sharing the pain with a brother. He spoke softly to Hank, who nodded and then finally stood and stepped away from the body.

Hank drew closer to Autumn, and when he spoke, his words came out raspy and broken. “He’s my youngest sister’s son. My nephew. I wanted him to come and see me. We talked about it a lot, but he didn’t tell me he was coming. Or that he was here. My sister thought he was in Oregon with friends. This is going to break her.”

“And your sister didn’t become concerned when she hadn’t heard from him?” Autumn asked.

He subtly shook his head. “He’d go off here and there, and she wouldn’t hear from him for months. It wasn’t unusual. I invited him to come see me, hoping I could give him focus and a reason to settle somewhere. I just can’t believe...”

Hank sobbed again. He crouched to nuzzle Bear and let the dog lick his face. Cap joined in comforting Hank.

Autumn approached Grier, who remained near the body. “Can you escort Hank back down? I’ll wait here for my officers. This is a crime scene now.”

Grier climbed to his feet and stood next to her, speaking quietly. “You said one would initially think it was an avalanche that got him. I still think an avalanche moved him, but what you meant was that he was already dead—gunshot to the head.”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“You got the bullet?”

“No. It’s . . . I need better tools. We’ll deliver the remains and the ME can get it.” She stared up at the mountain and thought of the body in the shipwreck, then caught Grier looking at her.

He held her gaze, and she knew his mind had gone to the same place.

“Ballistics can tell us if the same gun was used.” And if the same gun wasn’t used, that didn’t mean the same person didn’t shoot both men. Though the incidents appeared to have taken place months apart, the medical examiner would be able to tell her more about when they died. The Alaska Bureau of Investigation was investigating the first body recovered and would want this one too. But she wouldn’t be cut out of the inquiry into what had happened near Shadow Gap, especially when she doubted these murders were a priority for the AST in a state the size of Alaska.

In addition to the investigations into these two murders, she also needed to question her father before he was transported to Anchorage. But first things first. “I know this sounds like a strange question, given that we’re standing next to the remainsof Hank’s nephew, but you’re packed. Are you leaving town, Grier?”

She studied him.

“Not anymore.”

Really. What had changed his mind? Why had he planned to leave in the first place?

“Why do you want to know?” He crossed his arms.

“I thought at the very least we were friends. That’s something you tell your friend.”

He shrugged. “I haven’t gone anywhere, Chief. Looks like I’m staying for a while longer.”

Hank’s face remained stricken as he looked at his nephew’s remains. This conversation with Grier was not appropriate, but then there was no time like the present—she should have done this days ago.

“You’re obviously not going to tell me, but before you came here, you were clearly working in a capacity to serve others. You still retain that training and those skills. Grier, I want to hire you.”

“I’m not a cop.”

He’d told her that the day of the dive.But maybe you should be.

“As a consultant.” She needed his help. Her department wasn’t prepared to handle this level of crime. She could still work with the state bureau of investigation, but Grier was here, and time was wasting. Hiring him would mean she’d need to run a background check to appease the city council, and that would give her a few answers too. Although, she’d hire him without the background check if she could.

“Sometimes you only need to know what a person is made of. Their mettle.”

“You don’t want to hire me. That’s me, giving youfreeconsulting advice.”

Autumn pushed her way through the hospital doors. Dad’s transportation had arrived, and they were preparing to move him to the hospital in Anchorage, though he would likely be released in a day or two. Nolan had taken care of the paperwork and arranged for security for Dad. She wasn’t sure if he was truly in danger, but she wouldn’t take any chances and appreciated that Nolan agreed.

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