Page 66 of Cold as Hell

Would I be so quick to fight back again? Knowing I nearly died that time? That isn’t a call I can make until I’m faced with the choice, and even then, whatever I decide would be ten percent informed decision and ninety percent animal panic.

I say, evenly, “I don’t consider the lack of defense wounds to be proof Lynn was drugged. If she did comply, she was disabled quickly, before she could react.”

Anders nods. “It really can happen that fast. She’s going along with what her attacker says, plotting her escape, and then they overpower her. Tie her up as she’s still processing what’s happening.”

“And screaming for help,” I say. “We can’t overlook that. She was only a hundred and fifty feet from town. Her first reaction—correctly—would be to scream.”

“Except there was a storm,” Anders says. “No one could hear her.”

“He didn’t gag her?” Yolanda says. Then her face sharpens with bitterness. “No, of course he didn’t. He didn’t need to, with the storm raging, and it’d be much more satisfying to watch her screaming.”

“We found no sign of a gag.”

“I did find signs of laryngeal trauma,” April says.

Yolanda looks sick again.

I straighten. “We’ll go over the case in detail, along with the suspects and all evidence. That’s why we’re all here. Eric’s hoping the clouds will lift enough for us to leave today. If wedo…” I fight to keep my voice steady. “We’ll likely be gone for a few weeks. Which means I can’t finish this investigation.”

“We’ve got it,” Anders says.

“I hate leaving. I had a scare the night before last, but it doesn’t seem to have been anything serious and—”

“You’re leaving,” Anders says, meeting my gaze. “I know you’re going to say you feel fine now, but what if something goes wrong when youcan’tleave?”

“The baby is still in breech,” April says. “I am not certain I care to conduct my first Cesarean section on my sister. I would like you to leave.” She pauses. “That sounds harsh. I mean that, for your sake, I would prefer you to leave, but also, if it helps convince you to go, I do not wish to be responsible for anything going wrong with my niece’s birth.”

“It’s a girl?” Yolanda says, perking up.

“We don’t know that,” I say. “April and Eric have just decided it is.”

“But we could find out,” Yolanda says. “We have an ultrasound here.” She looks at me. “It would be a good idea to take a look at the baby. And a welcome distraction right now. You owe us that much.”

I snort. “I certainly do not. If I need an ultrasound, April will provide it… without checking for the baby’s sex. But, back to the case, I wasn’t arguing for us to stay.”

I glance at Dalton, who has said nothing, but I haven’t missed how tightly he’s been holding himself during this part of the conversation. “I promised I wouldn’t. I agree that, while I feel guilty leaving when we have a murder, my obstetrician strongly urges me to go to Whitehorse, so I will. April doesn’t want to be responsible for any problems with our baby, and neither do I. We fly out at the first opportunity. We have satellite phones now, and I can micromanage that way.”

“If the phones work,” Anders says. “I have a feeling they might stop, depending on how often you call to check up on me.”

I shake my head.

“There’s not going to be a lot of investigating,” Dalton says. “Casey should have time to pursue her leads before we go. After that, it’s a matter of you guys following up on any new leads, but mostly just making sure no one else gets hurt.”

“Locking down?” Anders says.

Dalton nods. “We’ll talk to Phil and then we’ll hold a town meeting.” He glances my way. “And as proof of my love, I will lead it while you get these guys up to speed.”

I smile. “Thanks. The residents may not appreciate that, but I do.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Anders and Dalton both leave briefly. Dalton goes to speak to Phil, while Anders asks Kenny to gather folks for a town meeting. Then Anders returns, and I take him, Yolanda, and April through the case, laying out all the evidence and the suspects.

“Sebastian’s being framed,” Yolanda says.

“I think so, too, but you can’t discount him—or anyone—as a suspect.”

“If Sebastian did this,” April says, “he would not have done such a poor job of it. Therefore, I agree with Yolanda.”

---