Page 77 of Cold as Hell

“Eric’s back,” I say. “I’ll let you go. Thank you for this.”

“I will check into overlap between Marlon and Lynn. Just in case. But I really don’t expect to find anything.”

Neither do I, but I appreciate her checking. I say so and sign off as Dalton comes in with dinner.

We eat on the bed while watching TV, which is another indulgent luxury of being away from home. Sure, we could eat in bed at Haven’s Rock. We could even bring the laptop up to the bedroom and play a recorded show. But it’s not the same as lounging in a king-size bed watching a giant screen and not worrying—apologies to the hotel staff—about getting pizza sauce on the sheets.

I have no urge to tell Dalton about my suspicions regarding Marlon. I’ve already sent Marlon back down the suspect ladder far enough that I’ll only reconsider him if something comes up. So we eat pizza and watch TV, and then watch more TV, taking full advantage of having access to streaming services.

It’s nine when my phone rings. Dalton has gone to take the pizza boxes downstairs to the trash, and when my cell shows a blocked number, I know it’s Anders because we’d planned a pre-bedtime call. I also realize he doesn’t know we aren’t in Whitehorse.

I answer and start to explain, but he cuts me off with, “I already got the 411 from your husband. He called me on hisway to grab pizza. I told him to send me one, but apparently, he didn’t think the delivery drivers would travel this far.”

“Kids these days. No sense of adventure.”

“Yep. I’ll just need to schedule a trip after you guys settle in with the little one.” That’s another huge advantage to Haven’s Rock for our staff—they can actually take getaways and vacations.

Anders updates me on the situation in town, which I presume he’d also done with Dalton, though the version I get is slanted more toward the case rather than security measures. As for security, there’s a dusk-to-dawn curfew in place as well as a buddy system that ensures someone has seen every resident both at the end of the day and the beginning. While they’ve had a bit of snow, there hasn’t been a storm, but if one hits, it’ll be a lockdown with those buddy checks in place.

As for the case… There’s nothing for him to tell me. Everything has been quiet, and no one has come forward with extra information. On that note, though, I need to ask Anders to do something tomorrow.

“I did have a last-minute report of a couple being seen the day of the storm,” I say. “It doesn’t match Marlon’s, which means they probably saw someone else. Can you and Yolanda canvass, though?” I give him the approximate time and location. “Just see whether two people were out at that time and place. They may not have mentioned it in interviews because they didn’t see anything, but I’d like to strike this potential sighting off the list.”

“Got it. Oh, and we’ve released Grant, but he’s staying with Kenny. Is there anyone else you want us keeping an eye on?”

I hesitate. Then I say, “Between us? Mathias.”

A long pause. Then, “That’s not a joke, right? I mean, in general, I think we all need to keep an eye on Mathias, but you mean in conjunction with this case.”

“It’s a long shot, but he fits the basic figure of the person Marlon saw with Lynn, and he’d have access to easily frame Sebastian.”

“If you’ve considered the possibility, we should keep an eye on him. I’ll do it personally and keep mum. Anyone else?”

I hesitate. Do I mention Marlon? I’ve mostly dismissed him, but Anders just said that if I’ve considered a possibility, he needs to be aware of it. And yet… He’s friends with Marlon. Do I risk damaging their relationship by pointing a finger?

No, the real question is whether I trust Anders to be a competent law-enforcement agent who can separate those things. The answer to that goes without question.

“Like I said, I have a potential witness sighting that contradicts Marlon’s,” I say. “So as much as I hate to even mention this…”

“Got it. No worries. Marlon’s been helping with security, and that’s keeping him front and center. Makes it easy to keep an eye on him.”

I exhale. “Thank you. Again, it’s a long shot, and I hated to mention it.”

“Don’t ever hesitate, Case. We’ve both had to suspect friends… and sometimes been right to do it, sadly. Everything’s under control here. What time do you plan to fly out tomorrow?”

Dalton returns at that moment, and I put the phone on speaker as we discuss our plans for the next day.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

I can’t stay asleep, and for once, it isn’t the baby. During all this turmoil—landing in a snowstorm plus the stress over our change in plans—the pregnancy has been fine, the baby occasionally moving and kicking or punching with no cramping or other danger signs.

What keeps me from staying asleep is the case. I drift off easily enough, and I sleep soundly until nearly four. Then I have a nightmare where I know the culprit is Marlon, but I don’t mention it to Anders, and Marlon goes on a killing spree, murdering Anders and April.

I startle awake and swear under my breath. None of that happened. I don’t strongly suspect that Marlon killed Lynn, but I stilldidwarn Anders. Everything is fine. It’s my damn subconscious poking at me, my generalized fear that I’ve abandoned Haven’s Rock to a killer.

But when I try to sleep again, it’s not general anxiety that has me tossing and turning. It’s Marlon. Have I dismissed him too quickly? Dismissed him because I don’twantto consider him? His military service doesn’t remove him from the profile.If anything, it places him more firmly in it. Serial killers often aspire to military or paramilitary service, and while they don’t necessarily get in, they may find adjacent careers.

The fact that Marlon joined security in Haven’s Rock is a red flag, as is the fact that he socializes primarily with local law enforcement. That strengthens the paramilitary-interest aspect, but it also means he has a direct pipeline to any investigative efforts. And his military job gave him the ability to move around, which as I said could help him hide assaults or murders.

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