by D. K. Hood
My heart races at the contemplation of my next kill and sweat trickles between my shoulder blades but I must push the delicious thoughts from my mind and concentrate on the words spilling from the author’s mouth. I need to clap at the appropriate time, nod, and make nice comments. It’s cozy inside this room and the beads of sweat on my brow are like warm blood spatter and trigger a cascade of memories. The thrill ride of the previous night repeats in color so bright it distorts the truth. I can still hear the sound of her voice. Her pleas have become an amusing earwig, running round and round inside my head. I can see the surprised expression on her face and feel her hot breath on my cheek as I squeeze the life from her. It exhilarated me, but more so seeing her shocked expression when I allowed her to rise back to consciousness to discover I hadn’t finished with her yet. You see, I couldn’t allow her to miss the climax, the grand finale. I wanted her to look at me as I plunged the gold pen she valued so highly deep into her startled eye.
My only regret is that she died too fast.
Seven
The last thing Jenna expected was cooperation from Mr. Brightway after hearing about Wolfe’s encounter with him. However, when she explained a killer might be on the premises and the absolute need to know the names of everyone on site, for them to ensure no one else was missing, he printed up lists of both the guests and staff. To her surprise, Brightway offered to check on the staff and split the list with his secretary.
The conference was in full swing. Four halls, usually used for weddings and other functions, were in use. One held the group listening to author readings, one was divided into booths for authors to pitch ideas to agents and publishers, the third was for a book signing, where authors sat behind tables and their fans lined up to have their books autographed. The fourth held panels of various experts from all fields of the publishing industry holding question-and-answer sessions throughout the day. The atmosphere was alive, energetic, and happy. It seemed a shame to spoil it with bad news.
Luckily, the guests had been divided into groups as well, and only ticket holders were allowed to attend the various forums on offer. Jenna obtained lists of the people and where they should be at any particular time. While waiting for Rio to arrive, Jenna arranged for the road and transport blockade. She decided that Rowley would stay in town to handle the office. Although the wireless network was a little sketchy, they could use the landline and the satellite sleeves for their phones if they needed assistance from Special Agent Ty Carter and behavioral science expert Special Agent Jo Wells at the FBI field office in Snakeskin Gully.
As she organized her team, Mr. Brightway interrupted her with a cough. She looked up from her notes. “Do you have something for me?”
“I do.” Brightway straightened the front of his burgundy jacket. “My secretary has viewed the CCTV footage and no one left the parking lot overnight or this morning. The builders working on the chalets came by this morning but stopped working because of the blizzard forecast and have returned to town. They left last night before six and arrived this morning at eight.”
That sure made life easier, and Jenna sighed. “That’s good. I’d like you to make an announcement over the PA system. Say a guest has handed in an earring and it is available at the front desk.” She gave him a hard stare. “If someone comes forward, make an excuse to keep them there. Ask for a description of the earring. If it matches the one I gave you, tell them it’s in the safe and ask them to wait while you get it and then call me.” She leaned on the counter. “Remember this person could’ve murdered Dakota Storm, so play it cool.”
“Okay, I’ll repeat the message throughout the day.” Mr. Brightway’s mouth hardened into a straight line. It was obvious he didn’t like taking orders. “Is there anything else?”
Jenna nodded. “Yes, I’ll need to check on the whereabouts of your staff last night. I want a list of anyone on duty between the hours of midnight and two this morning. I want to speak to the person who cleared the footpath to Miss Storm’s chalet and Agnes. Do you have a suitable room we can use for interviews?”
“Not really. Apart from the rooms you’ve taken for your staff, we only have the executive suite. It has two sitting rooms.” Brightway raised his eyebrows. “There are a couple of chalets free.”
“We’ll need to be inside the lodge. The suite would work.” Jenna made a note to call the mayor to handle any fallout. “Can we make it suitable? Perhaps have a couple of desks set up, and chairs?” She gave him a long look. “My department won’t be paying for the suite as no one will be sleeping there. There won’t be any damage. We’ll reimburse you for cleaning, if necessary. I’ll speak to Mayor Petersham.”
“And your rooms?” Mr. Brightway’s lips quivered at the corners. “I expect to be reimbursed for those.”
Jenna nodded. “I’m sure we can come to a reasonable arrangement. I’m not here on vacation, Mr. Brightway. I’m trying to catch a killer.” She met his gaze. “Make that announcement and get onto the whereabouts of your staff. I’ll need to know who to remove from my list of suspects.”
“Who have you got on your list so far?” Mr. Brightway fiddled with a pile of flyers.
Jenna shrugged. “Everyone here.” She turned, glad to see Rio heading toward her with Wolfe and Emily.
“What’s the plan?” Wolfe fell into step beside her.
She headed to a quiet corner and turned to face them. “It’s going to be an arduous job. We’ll have to restrict the people to the convention rooms. Get them to come up one at a time, copy their ID with your phone, and ask them where they were last night and if anyone can verify their whereabouts between midnight and two.” She glanced at her notes. “Apart from the majority of featured authors, agents, and publishers I’ve listed, who have come here alone, most of the other people attending the conference have traveled in groups. Many are sharing rooms. Everyone, apart from two of the authors, have booked their rooms for the full two weeks.”
“That seems like a long time for a conference.” Emily frowned. “Most are over weekends or four days.”
Jenna nodded. “Yes, or over holiday weekends. This is a little different. It combines a conference and a writer’s retreat where they can enjoy the peace and serenity of Black Rock Falls.” Jenna rolled her eyes. “I’m reading from the flyer. In their downtime they can enjoy all that Glacial Heights Ski Resort can offer and so on. So, a two-week vacation with a conference thrown in and a chance to meet people of like mind and celebrity authors.”
“And a murder to liven things up for crime-hungry patrons.” Wolfe scanned the busy foyer. “It seems too much of a coincidence to be true.” He sighed. “So, we’ll need to know who are staying in the same rooms and can alibi each other, who traveled together, and how they arrived here. Gotcha.”
“We’ll need to mark the ones we’ve spoken to, somehow. There’s a ton of people here.” Emily tapped her bottom lip. “I have it! We have a box of toe tags in the van. They’ll love them. It will be all part of the crime conference for them. They’ll wear them with pride. Can we use them, Dad?”
“Sure, we have a ton of boxes at the morgue.” Wolfe frowned. “What about people arriving on the bus? Do you want me to do the same? As in take images of their ID and tell them they must be checked in and out of the resort? They’ll need to be checked back on the bus before they leave this afternoon. The killer could sneak in with them otherwise. I’ll make sure you have the image file on your phone before I leave.”
Jenna sighed with relief. Trust Wolfe to make life easier. “Yeah, thanks and then maybe take the book-signing room?” She glanced at her notes. “There’s a desk at the front where the people check in. You can talk to people as they arrive. Every room runs the same timed sessions, so the guests will be moving around soon. The next session starts at midday, so with the bus due in at eleven, you’ll have time.”
“Copy that.” Wolfe scanned the lobby. “We’ve already gained a lot of interest. I’ll go and meet the bus. Emily come with me and I’ll grab th
ose toe tags for you.” He headed toward the main door.
“Are the attendance desks set up in all the conference rooms?” Rio pushed his hands into his front pockets. “They’d have lists of people with all-access passes. I noticed everyone here attending the conference are wearing lanyards. We should ask them to attach the toe tags to them, so they’re easily visible.” He rubbed his chin. “Are all the guests with the conference this weekend, or are there other people we need to hunt down?”
“Yes to the tables, and no other guests.” Jenna handed him a list of the guests and a map of the complex. “Start here. It’s the author book readings. Wait until the current reading is completed and then you’ll have time to check everyone who comes through the door before the next session. Lock the doors if possible once you’re done to prevent people wandering around. Any problems, call me.” She tapped the papers into a neat pile and ran through her mental to-do list. “Wait outside the door for now. I’ll have Emily bring the tags to you. Send her to the panel room. She’ll be able to catch people as they arrive too. I’ll take the pitch room.” She nodded. “Okay, let’s do this.”
Eight
Look at them moving around like ants chasing sugar, all wanting the same thing: fame and fortune. But in truth, no one can ensure success. I’ve heard the empty promises and seen the despair on the faces of the denied and yet the all-powerful refuse to acknowledge me, a surefire winner. I’m watching now as the local sheriff and her cohorts move through the guests. Have they found Dakota’s frozen corpse or is she still missing? It’s so hard to tell by their actions. Cops always seem to be faceless, devoid of expression, as if they have no faces at all.
I’m smiling because the one who took my place, Jedidiah Longfellow, calls me friend. He is so arrogant in his success he can’t see me. I’m one of the lowly he graces with his presence. My “friend” turns to me and I bend my head to listen, feigning interest. His breath, a stinking mix of coffee and cigarettes, wafts over me in a cloud of nasty. I’m smiling at him as my fingernails dig deep into the flesh of my palms. The sting a reminder not to casually reach forward and dig out his eyes—but I want to.
“I overheard the cops talking to the receptionist this morning. My literary agent, Dakota Storm, is missing.” Jed looks at me and a slow smile spreads across his face. “I wondered when the games would begin. She’s not missing at all. This is a mystery, set up for us to solve.” He chuckles. “The next thing, they’ll lock us in the resort and more people will go missing.”
“You really think they will?” A girl with pink hair and green fingernails leans forward inserting herself in our conversation. “Oh, I love a mystery game. I wonder who will vanish next?”
Before I can reply, an announcement comes over the loudspeakers about an earring someone has found. I join in the fictitious game. “Oh, there’s the first clue.” I pull out my iPod and make a note.
A second announcement echoes through the hallways, and it’s as if everything is falling into place for me, as if they anticipated my plans and created a perfect environment—a captive audience just for me. I chuckle with absolute glee as I join the line for the next session and turn to Jed. “You’re correct that they’re restricting us to the complex. It’s like living in a cozy-mystery story. I wonder what they’ll have for a prize?”
“Yeah, it looks like we have the time between sessions to do some investigating.” Jed grips my arm. “I know where Miss Storm’s chalet is. She told me just after she arrived, in case I needed to speak to her. She was complaining it was close to a construction site. Coincidentally, the crew working there left at the first blizzard warning. I overheard the manager complaining about the delay to finishing the cabin.” He lowered his voice. “She’s given me a very subtle clue. We’ll sneak out later and take a look around. Just us, I’m not giving anyone else any tips. The prize for winning will be substantial and I always win.”
I nod and smile, picturing the amount of readily available weapons on a construction site. I’ll need to sneak away and set the scene but I already have a way to ensure we’re not seen leaving the lodge. I’m far too smart to be caught. The need to kill surges through me like an uncontrollable rage but I hide it before I meet his gaze. I look away and cover the delay with a laugh. “You’re right, that is a perfect place to commit murder.”
Nine
The blizzard hit the mountain just as Kane made the last turn into Glacial Heights Ski Resort. He’d had to stop to haul open the road-closure barriers wide enough to fit the Beast through and then replace them. It was obvious Jenna had covered all the bases by the time he’d returned from the stables in town. Rowley was at the bottom of the mountain supervising the men setting up the roadblocks. He’d been informed the roadblocks would be opened at six to allow the snowplow to cut a path for the bus at the resort to return to town and then the barriers would be replaced until further notice. The mayor had offered to clear the service road to the resort twice daily if necessary, and Rowley had volunteered to supervise.
As he drove into the parking lot, his satellite phone buzzed to life. He pulled into a space and took the call. “Dave Kane.”
“Hi, Dave. It’s Colt. I’ve been trying to reach Wolfe, but he’s not picking up. Maybe he isn’t using his satellite sleeve on his phone.”
Kane raised both eyebrows and bit back a sigh. “I’ve just arrived back at the resort. Is there a message you want me to give him?”
“Yeah. As I was unpacking the body, the hair has thawed out and I noticed blood in the water. I examined the back of her head and there’s a contusion. I picked out bark fragments from the wound. Wolfe will be able to tell if this injury killed her, but there must be a murder weapon up there. A log or similar? I noticed outside each cabin there’s a box of wood for the fire. You might be lucky and find it.”
“Okay, I’m on it.” Kane slipped from the truck and opened the back door to unclip Duke. “He won’t be back in town until after six. He’ll have to wait until the snowplow’s been through and the barriers lifted. We’ve shut down the resort until we find the killer. Gotta go. I’ll get him to call you.” He disconnected and lifted Duke down into deep snow. “Sorry, boy, but I need to carry in the supplies.”
He went to the back of the truck and pulled out a large box and, moving slowly, made his way inside the double doors of the resort. He went to the counter and spoke to the receptionist. “Mr. Brightway gave me a passkey for the cabins. Will it work on the suite you’ve reserved for interviews?”
“No. The lodge has a different system. I’ll get one for you.” She tapped on her computer and a card slid out of a machine. “Here you go.” She smiled sweetly at him. “Just let me know when you want me to send up the staff. The sheriff mentioned you’d start interviewing them the moment you arrived.”
Kane nodded. “Do you know where she is right now?”
“I’m afraid I don’t.” She frowned. “They all split up and went to different rooms, so one of the four, or she may be already upstairs. I just came on shift.”
Placing the keycard between his teeth, he headed for the elevator. The carton contained all the notebooks, statement books, and pens they’d use during an investigation and a pile of snacks to keep them going. He’d grabbed boxes of energy bars and cookies, and dropped by Aunt Betty’s Café for a good supply of individual fruit pies. The resort had enough supplies to feed everyone for over a month, but he preferred to have things he liked on hand. He’d taken the twenty-pound sack of dog food he kept in his truck up to his room before leaving, so Duke was set. As the elevator doors opened, he grinned around the card in his mouth at the sight of Jenna.
“Oh good, you’re back.” Jenna plucked the key from his mouth. “Everyone’s upstairs. I came down to wait for you. I called you before but got a busy signal.” She bent to rub Duke’s ears and then pressed the button on the elevator.
Kane rested the box on the handrail. “Yeah, it was Colt, he found a contusion on the back of Dakota Storm’s head. We need to loo
k for a murder weapon. He thinks a log maybe. The wound has wood chips in it.”
“Oh, out in the snow during a blizzard—wonderful.” Jenna sighed. “We’d have found it if it were close to the chalet. We searched every inch of that place.” She paused a beat. “We’ll need to talk to the person who cleared the footpath this morning. If he found a log on the footpath, he might have tossed it somewhere.” She led the way out of the elevator and then stopped and turned to him. “Did you remember to pack me a bag?”
Kane smiled at her. “Yeah, our bags are in the truck. I figured the food was more important right now. I’ll go back and get them as soon as I’ve dropped this off in the interview room.” He looked her over. “You look dry.”
“I used the hair dryer in my room to dry my jeans. It was Emily’s idea. Leave the bags for now, we can grab them later.” Jenna smiled back. “We’ve made some headway since you left. The manager gave us a spare printer to use, which will make life easier as we’ve gathered information on everyone here. I’m using hard-copy sheets to keep track of everyone as they move throughout the conference. Rio is looking over the guest lists and sorting them into groups. Having a close to a photographic memory is quite an advantage.”
Kane walked into the suite, and warm air from a log fire warmed his cheeks. At once Duke walked over and dropped down in front of it with a long doggy sigh. He whistled softly and Duke looked up at him with a “what now?” expression. “In here, I’ll dry you off and remove your coat and then you can sleep in front of the fire.”
