Prime Catch

by Ilona Fridl

  Sarah sighed. “She probably helped Bobby on the getaway. And I don’t think they would have gone home.”

  “Concentrate, Sarah. Where do you suppose they would escape to?”

  She paused, deep in thought. “Possibly the ANB hall. Maybe someone there could get Bobby out of the area.”

  “Then that's where we're headed. Johnston, you’re in charge.” Amos was out the door. “I’ll get the patrol car.”

  Sarah slipped into her jacket and jumped into the passenger side. They raced the six blocks to the hall. The two-story public building was situated near the docks of the old Tlingit settlement north of downtown. She hoped her hunch was right as she searched the area around the building. “That's their truck in the lot south of the hall!”

  Amos pulled the brake. “I’ll check by the pier over there, and you ask in the hall.”

  Sarah jumped out. “Yes, sir!” She went inside and looked around. Several men were playing pool in the rec center. She recognized Bobby’s friend, Jack. “Jack, can I speak to you a moment?”

  “Sarah! I guess I can leave the game. What’s on your mind?”

  “Did you see Bobby come through here a few seconds ago? His truck is in the lot.”

  “Why, no.” He turned to his companions. “Any of you see Bobby?” As everyone in the group responded in the negative, he turned back. “I thought he was behind bars.”

  “He escaped a few minutes ago, and I thought he might have come here.”

  “No, sorry. I’ll let you know if I see him.”

  “Thanks.” But I don’t believe you, Sarah added in her head. Something about the way everyone reacted was too rehearsed. She darted out to see what Amos had found.

  Amos, red-faced, was hollering at the pier’s caretaker. He glanced at Sarah and made his way to her. “They're all covering for each other! I can’t get a blasted thing out of these tight-lipped varmints! What did you find out?”

  Sarah stung from the venom of his words. “Well, this varmint didn’t find anything out either!” she barked out.

  Taking a few steps back, Amos seemed stunned. He smacked his forehead with his hand. “I’m sorry. I’m just upset.”

  Folding her arms across her chest, Sarah said, “I’ve never heard you talk like that before. You’re not any better than any of the other no-brained Americans.”

  Amos pointed at her. “You’re doing it, too!”

  She took a short breath and opened her mouth to say something, then shut it again. “All right! We’re both asses once in a while, but this isn’t getting anything done. Should we get a boat to search for them?”

  Amos shook his head. “We don’t know which way they went, if they did take a boat. They left the truck here, but I doubt if they’ll come back while we’re here.”

  “There’s a small restaurant across the way. Maybe we can park the patrol around the block and stake out there.”

  “Good idea, Lakat.” They headed to the auto, and Amos drove to a side street to keep it out of sight.

  They strode to the restaurant, and suddenly Amos tore off his hat, slamming it to the ground. “God damn it all to hell! The truck’s gone!”

  Sarah’s eyes locked on the spot the truck had occupied. “They must have seen us leave and moved it immediately.”

  Amos snagged his hat, grabbed her arm, and together they ran back to the patrol car. He gunned the engine, causing it to backfire, and raced to the lot. He jumped out and checked the tracks in the dirt. “Looks like they turned south.” Climbing back in, he turned to her. “Hang on. We’re going to try to find them.”

  The patrol car bounced crazily along the rutted waterfront road. Sarah tried to search in all directions for the errant truck. Not a side street or back alley was left untried.

  Finally, Amos parked back at the office lot. “Damn, we should have waited and watched the truck there.”

  Sarah shook her head. “They wouldn’t have done anything until we left, no matter how long we waited.”

  He gave her a half-smile. “You’re probably right. We’d better issue Wanted posters to go up all over town.”

  In the office lobby, Amos asked Thomas, “How’s Sam?”

  “Doc says he’ll be back at work in a couple of days.”

  “Good. I want you to write the report.”

  Johnston came in with the tray and its contents. Amos pointed to a shelf in the back. “Put that over there until we can get it back to Millie’s.” He turned to Sarah. “Let’s get the wording to go on the poster, and I’ll take it to the newspaper so they can run off copies. I’ll hire a couple of the newsboys to hang them.”

  As Sarah followed him into the office, she went to the stove and poured each of them a cup of coffee. When she turned, she saw Amos with his elbows on the desk and his face in his hands. She set the cups down. “Amos?”

  He raised his head and gazed at her. “Sarah, I’m tired. Something about this case is draining the life out of me. I think I’m close, and then something happens. There are too many people involved.”

  She came around the desk and started massaging his shoulders. “We’ll get them. They’re bound to make a misstep, with all the webs they’re weaving.”

  Amos sighed. “I hope so.”

  They got back to work.

  Sarah wanted to believe she was right. This case was wearing on her, too.

  Chapter 14

  Amos closed the door to the printing office at the newspaper. “Mr. Roberts?”

  A jovial balding man glanced up from his desk. “Sheriff! What brings you here?”

  “I have information for a Wanted poster. Could I have a hundred run off by tonight?” He handed Roberts a folder.

  “Any photographs?” he asked, perusing the paper.

  “No. Just a description. I’ll pay some of the newsboys to hang these around town.”

  “They should be done in a couple of hours. When I give the newsboys the papers, I’ll give them some of the posters, as well.”

  “Thanks, Roberts.” Amos headed back to the reception area and noticed a stack of newspapers on a table. He motioned to the editor. “Are these today’s?”

  The news editor nodded. “Hot off the press.”

  Amos picked the top one off the pile and flipped a nickel on the table. “I’ll take one.” He folded it over without looking at the front page. Before he reached the door, he ran into Mr. Perkins from Personals.

  “Sheriff, I heard you were here and hoped to catch you before you left. I see you have today’s copy.”

  “Perkins, what’s this all about?”

  “The picture on the front page.” He stabbed a finger at it. “That’s the man who posted the ad about the cannery.”

  Amos unfolded the paper and studied the fuzzy black-and-white photo. Then his jaw dropped. “Him? That’s the one?”

  Perkins nodded. “I’m sure of it.”

  Amos was staring at a picture of George Ignot, Sarah’s former intended. Damn, I turned him away this morning! I wonder if Sarah knows where he’s staying? He thanked Perkins and hurried to the office.

  Sarah was busily banging on the typewriter as he came in. She glanced up. “Anything at the newspaper? You’ve got that look about you.”

  “Good and bad. I think you better come in.”

  Sarah’s mouth was in a tight straight line as she sat across from him. “What is it?”

  “I ran into Mr. Perkins from the Personals office while I was there. He knows who posted the ad about the cannery. The man’s picture is in today’s edition.” He flipped the front page around so she could see it.

  Sarah picked it up. “There’s an article about expeditions.” She stared at the picture, then gasped. “That’s George! Oh, no, that couldn’t be right! He’s the one who wrote the ad?”

  “Mr. Perkins identified him. Do you happen to know where he’s staying?”

  Sarah hesitated a moment. “No. I didn’t even inquire, because I didn’t care where he was. He’s probably at one of the hotels.�
�

  “Let’s find the ones who rent to natives. That should narrow it down.” He watched her stricken face. “Sarah, are you all right?”

  “No. I can’t believe George is wrapped up in this. He wasn’t like that when I knew him.” She slumped in the chair.

  “People change. Who really knows why.” Amos knew that first hand. He cared how she felt about this. Hell, he cared what this was doing to her.

  Sarah seemed lost in her own world. “A distraction. He knew what he meant to me and he used that to distract me from the investigation.” She wiped her eyes. “He hurt me when he walked away, and then he comes back and gives me some cock-and-bull story about how he wasn’t ready to settle down. That bastard was manipulating me.” Tears were rolling down her cheeks.

  Amos had a tightening in his chest. He rose and went around the desk to her, drawing her up into an embrace. “Sarah, I’m so sorry.” She didn’t pull back but cried on his shoulder.

  She sniffed. “I don’t usually fall apart like that.” She straightened and glanced at Amos, embarrassed. He gave her his handkerchief, and she gratefully dried her face.

  “If you want to bow out of this investigation, I’ll understand.”

  Sarah sighed. “No. I want to see it through. I hate being played a fool.” Her businesslike side returned. “I know of three hotels in the area around the ANB hall that take natives. We can start there.”

  Going out to the patrol car, Amos imagined several different ways to disembowel George for what he’d done to Sarah, never mind that he was also in on the murder plots. He wanted George’s carcass out for the wolves.

  The first hotel proved to be fruitless, so they tried the Juneau Gold Hotel. The desk clerk nodded at him. “Yes, Sheriff, what can I do for you?”

  “Do you have a George Ignot staying here?”

  The clerk opened up the guest book and ran his finger down the column. “Ah, yes. We did have him here, but he checked out this morning.”

  “How long was he here?”

  “Off and on for three weeks.”

  “What do you mean, off and on?”

  “He said he had business around the area. Sometimes he didn’t come back for a couple of days.”

  “Do you have an address for him?”

  “All he put down was Yakutat, Alaska Territory.”

  “Well, that gives us something. Thank you, Mr.―?”

  “Bailey, sir.”

  Amos and Sarah went back to the office to plan their next step. “Do you know anything about Yakutat?”

  Sarah nodded. “It’s a mostly Tlingit settlement northwest of here. We could book passage on a ship, but they don’t have an airfield yet.”

  Amos half-smiled. “There’s the seaplanes.”

  Sarah made a face. “I suppose.”

  Bill Wright was available, so he flew them up to the pier on the cape near Yakutat. Amos helped Sarah onto the pier, and then Bill hopped off the plane and made sure the rope was secure to the dock. He tipped the shore man who had pulled them in before turning to Amos. “You said you wanted me to wait for you?”

  Amos nodded. “We shouldn’t be more than an hour or two.”

  Bill jerked a thumb toward a building. “I’ll wait for you at the commissary.”

  Amos glanced at Sarah. “You up for the walk into town?”

  She grimaced. “Let’s get this over with.”

  In twenty minutes, they were in the middle of the small settlement. An old whitish-gray clapboard building had Sheriff’s Office in large black weathered letters on the side wall. They came into a plain whitewash-walled room with pine plank floors. Two black iron cells stood unoccupied along the back. A young Tlingit deputy stopped sweeping the floor and a graying native looked up from the desk behind a railed divider in the front corner. He stood. “I’m Sheriff Creag. Can I help you?”

  Amos and Sarah strode to the divider, and Amos extended his hand. “I’m Sheriff Amos Darcy of Juneau, and this is Deputy Sarah Lakat.”

  Creag shook Amos’ hand and nodded to Sarah. “What brings you to Yakutat?”

  “We’re seeking information on someone who claims he’s from this town.” Amos went on to explain about the cannery murder and the investigation so far.

  Creag rapped his fingers on the desk. “I did hear about the string of cannery murders. Who is the man you’re trying to find?”

  “Do you know a George Ignot?”

  “George Ignot? No.”

  Sarah handed him the picture clipped from the newspaper. “This is what he looks like.”

  He studied the photograph. “That’s George Annok! He lives outside of town with his wife, Leigh, and their sons.”

  Amos watched Sarah blanch. “Could you tell us how to get there?”

  Creag pointed out the window. “Go due north from here about a mile and a half. It’s the log cabin on the right of the road, with kennels. They raise Huskies.”

  Sarah stalked out the door, followed closely by Amos, after they took their leave of Creag. She seemed like someone who could commit murder joyfully. “He lied to me! He used me! He never cared for me!” She kicked an old rusted can into next week.

  Amos’ heart went out to her, and he put a gentle but firm hand on her shoulder. “I’ll go to the house myself, if you think you can’t handle it.”

  “No. I’ll be as professional as ever, but it’ll be hard not to kill him.”

  They came upon the weatherbeaten cabin in a shelter of hemlock trees. A chorus of barks and howls greeted them as they walked up. A young Tlingit woman came out of the door carrying an infant. “Hello! What do you want?”

  Amos called out, “Are you Leigh Annok?”

  “Yes.”

  Amos introduced himself and Sarah. “We’re looking for your husband. Is he here?”

  She shook her head. “Last I knew, he was in Juneau on business. He sometimes stops at his village near the headwaters before he comes home.”

  Sarah shifted her feet. “Is it off the big river southeast of here, near the Canadian border?”

  Leigh stared at her. “Yes. How did you know?”

  “It doesn’t matter. When do you think he’ll be back?”

  “It’ll be a couple of days. He walks back. Should I tell him you were here?”

  Amos glanced at Sarah and shook his head. To Leigh he said, “Just have him check with Sheriff Creag when he gets home. Thank you, ma’am.” He tipped his hat, and Sarah fell into line behind him as he started for the road.

  Out of earshot, Sarah asked, “Why are you having him check in with Creag?”

  “Because if she mentions us to George, he may bolt. We’re going to tell Creag to wire us when he has him.”

  On the way to the seaplane, they stopped by the sheriff’s office to tell him the plan. Amos couldn’t put his finger on it, but something bothered him about Creag. On the way to the plane, Amos noticed Sarah had the look of a person ready to explode. She said not a word all the way to the pier. Bill readied the plane, and Amos helped Sarah to board.

  They settled into their seats, and Bill took off on the three-hour flight to Juneau. Amos passed Sarah a thermos of coffee. “I brought this with us for a midday meal.” He pulled two tinfoil wraps out of his canvas sack and handed one to her. “Have a ham sandwich.”

  “I’m not hungry,” she said quietly, studying the contours of her boots.

  “With all the shocks to your system, you need to keep your strength up.” He paused. “I realize these past hours have been rough on you, but don’t sacrifice your health for it.”

  She laid the sandwich on her lap and a tear slid down her cheek. “He didn’t care what he did to me. The one man I trusted six years ago disappeared and then came back to deceive me.”

  Amos grasped her hand. “Not all men are like George.” He sincerely wanted her to believe it.

  She shook her head. “I’ve been very good on my own. I guess I wasn’t cut out to be a wife, and that’s going to upset my mother. I’m the only child she ha
s left.”

  Deep down, Amos was chiding himself. Damn it, tell her how you feel. She’s as low as a bump on an ant’s leg. You care about her. Aloud he said, “If it helps, I care.”

  She patted his arm with her other hand. “You’ve been an understanding boss to me, and I am grateful. I guess I have to realize I’m not a desirable woman.”

  He released her hand and cupped her chin. “What the hell are you talking about? I’ve been ready to carry you away these past months. It’s because of the job that I haven’t.”

  Sarah started to laugh and cry. “You’re a good friend, but I don’t want your sympathy.”

  “Sympathy?” he spat out. “Why do you think I slept so bad at the cabin in Sitka? You were in the same room. Why would I go down to Angoon to keep an eye on you? I was worried what would happen. And way back, why do you think I asked you to become a deputy? I like being around you. When you got those flowers from George, jealousy was eating my innards. There, you got it from the horse’s mouth.”

  She stared at him as if he told her he was a three-headed monster. “Well, Amos, this certainly complicates things.”

  He clenched his teeth. “No. It was about time the truth came out. You don’t know how many nights I couldn’t sleep because of the way I felt.”

  Sarah smiled. “I may know more about unspoken truths than you think.”

  In a way, Amos regretted his confession. “Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything. We were a good working team.”

  “I don’t think getting things out in the open is going to change that. I love my job and I love working with you.”

  They started on the ham sandwiches and coffee, passing the time in light conversation for the rest of the three hours back. Relief flowed through Amos now that he didn’t have to hide how he felt. Sarah seemed relaxed and at ease. Maybe the confession was good for her, too.

  “I’m coming down to home,” Bill called back. Soon they felt the plop of the seaplane into the water of the channel. When the plane was secured to the dock, he helped Amos and Sarah off.

  After they took leave of Bill, Amos turned to Sarah. “Why don’t you go home and freshen up. I’ll stop by in a couple of hours, and we can go to Millie’s for dinner.”