Page 63 of Canyon Killer
“We haven’t had a chance to examine the door,” Walker said. “But we found the satellite dish. Someone or something had smashed it.”
The door to the emergency room opened, and Ian stepped out. Both hands were wrapped in bulky bandages, and the skin of his arms and face were bright red, glistening with some kind of ointment or cream.
Bethany leapt up and went to him, though she resisted the urge to throw her arms around him, out of fear of hurting him. “What did the doctor say?” she asked.
“I’ll have some pain, not too much scarring. I have to come back tomorrow to have the burns cleaned and dressed, but I should regain full use of my hands.”
The sheriff joined them. “Mr. Seabrook, I have some questions for you.”
“He already talked to me,” Bethany said to Ian.
“All right.”
They returned to the grouping of chairs where she and the sheriff had been sitting. Ian took the chair beside Bethany, while Aaron resumed his place next to the sheriff. Travis went through the same questions he had asked Bethany. Ian confirmed their conversation with Walt. He hadn’t seen anyone suspicious around the canyon, and he hadn’t received any new threats.
“Walt gave us the note he received,” the sheriff said. “We’ll take a closer look, though I don’t know if it’s going to tell us anything else.”
“Do you know if the firefighters are finished in the canyon?” Ian asked. “Is the fire out?”
“They’re keeping someone there overnight to make sure it doesn’t flare up again,” Travis said. “The trailer is a total loss, but the fire didn’t spread to any equipment or construction supplies.”
“I’m sure the fire was deliberately set,” Ian said. “The front door was definitely jammed, and the damage to the satellite dish points to someone not wanting us to be able to summon help quickly.”
“We’ll know more after the fire department completes their investigation,” Travis said. “But the preliminary opinion is that this was arson.”
“Not just arson,” Ian said. “Attempted murder. Smashing the satellite dish made it impossible to call for help.”
“Who hates you enough to try to kill you—and Bethany?”
The questions jolted her. Part of her had known she could have been killed in the fire, but hearing the words out loud, and the acknowledgment that someone could have wanted her to die, threw her world off-balance.
“I don’t know,” Ian said. He didn’t look as afraid as she felt, but maybe that was the pain meds he had been given. Mostly he looked tired. Defeated.
“What about the protestors?” Travis asked. “Have any of them been particularly aggressive?”
“No. There hasn’t been any picketing or even anonymous notes since the day the climber was injured.”
“Do you have any security cameras?” Travis asked.
He grimaced. “I have a whole system of cameras ordered, but I’m on a waiting list to get the system installed.”
“Is there anything else we need to know?”
Ian shook his head. “I can’t think of anything.”
“Where will you be staying, in case we need to contact you?”
“I’ve got a hotel room here in Junction. Tomorrow I’m going to arrange for a new trailer for the worksite.”
“Is that safe?” Bethany asked.
“I’ll be fine.” His mouth tightened, and the defeated look receded. “I’m not going to let whoever this is put a stop to the project.”
“The site of the fire and the immediate surroundings are still cordoned off as a crime scene,” the sheriff said.
“I have contractors scheduled to work in the canyon,” Ian said. “They’re mostly cleaning up now.”
“They can do their work, as long as they avoid the cordoned-off area.” The sheriff turned to Bethany. “I’ll need you and Ian to come into the office and read and sign your statements—tomorrow, if possible.”
