Death Chant

by Vella Munn

  “Did he mention what kind of trouble he was in?”

  Seger frowned again. “Floyd’s an easygoing kind of guy, but, lately, I could tell he had some heavy shit on his mind. I told him to confide in his brother—he’s always looked up to him—but Floyd said that was the last thing he could do.” Massive shoulders lifted as Seger shrugged. “My guess is Floyd owes his big brother money.”

  It might be worse than that.

  * * * *

  Winter had just finished carrying groceries into her cabin when her cell phone rang. Spotting Jay’s number, she stared at it then answered.

  “Where are you?” he asked.

  She sat at the kitchen table before telling him. Hearing his voice heated her body but didn’t kill her fear that what little they had could shatter. All too soon, she’d have to tell him why she’d been looking for his brother.

  “Michael just contacted me,” he said. “He wants to talk to you.”

  “What about?”

  “I asked, but he danced around it. I’d be surprised if it isn’t a repeat of what he tried to talk Dr. Gilsdorf into.”

  Thank goodness for Jay. He’d just reminded her that Floyd wasn’t the only person who’d had dealings with Doc during the last days of his life. “Did you give him my number?”

  “No. I told him I’d relay the message. If you’re willing to sit down with him, I want to be there.”

  I want you there. After she thanked him for the offer, they agreed that the meeting should take place on neutral territory. Jay suggested the Potlatch office in two hours.

  “I know something about him he probably doesn’t believe anyone here is aware of,” Jay said. “How he reacts could be revealing.”

  “Are you going to tell me what it is?”

  “I’d rather not. That way, he won’t feel as if we’ve set him up.”

  Jay had her back. She just wished she was worthy of it. “Maybe you should tell Christian.”

  “Let me see how Michael reacts first.”

  “All right. I just—do you really think he’s capable of—”

  “I can’t believe any human being is capable of what we saw, but it happened.”

  She reluctantly hung up then stood and walked over to the door. She stepped outside. Thunderbird must be in a peaceful mood today. The spirit had painted the sky in bold blue, tempered with a handful of clouds, and the endless green seemed even more vibrant than it had this morning. Always before, she’d given Mother Nature credit for the weather, but coming here had opened her to another option. Maybe she should tell Jay that she was moving closer to his people’s beliefs.

  Just his people?

  Chapter Eighteen

  Two hours later, Winter watched as first a Forest Service truck then a private sedan pulled into the Potlatch office parking lot. She should study Michael in an attempt to get a handle on his potential for violence, but only seeing Jay again mattered. How long ago had she told herself she needed to keep as much distance as possible from him? What a lie that had been. Watching how easily Jay exited the high cab of the truck made her ache to see him naked. He acknowledged her with a casual nod that hurt until she realized he was probably putting on an act for Michael.

  Besides, given her emotional turmoil, she was in no condition to judge what kind of relationship they were or weren’t building.

  “We don’t need you here,” Michael said to Jay as the three entered the cool office.

  Jay chose the chair behind the desk. “Let me be the judge of that.”

  Looking less than pleased, Michael planted his hands on the back of one of the two chairs on the other side of the desk. Winter positioned the remaining chair so she could see both men and sat down.

  “I asked him to join us,” she told Michael, less than truthfully. “I’m having trouble concentrating and am hoping he’ll keep me on track.” She risked a glance at Jay, but nothing in his expression gave away his thoughts.

  Naked? Yes, she’d love that.

  “What did you want to see me about?” she asked Michael in an attempt to get her mind back where it belonged.

  Michael pulled three yellow sticky notes out of a front pocket. “Two TV stations and a newspaper are working on pieces about Dr. Gilsdorf’s murder. Because I’ve dealt as extensively as possible with the media, they naturally contacted me. I was expecting this and am committed to doing everything possible to minimize the negative impact to the park.”

  “You can’t downplay a murder,” Jay said.

  “Of course not. The point we need to make is that this is an isolated incident.”

  Jay leaned forward. “Is it?”

  Chilled, she divided her attention between the men.

  “There’s no madman running around looking for more—sorry, Ms. Barstow, I didn’t mean to cause you any more distress. My problem…” He looked down at the sticky notes he still held. “My problem is that there have been a number of cancellations. People are afraid to come here.”

  She shook her head. “Not everyone. I talked with a woman from Forks who said her boyfriend and she plan to camp here this weekend. They’re bringing along their dog.”

  Jay frowned. “We have rules about where dogs are allowed within the park. If she lives locally, I’m surprised she doesn’t know. Of course, maybe she doesn’t care.”

  Whoever had killed Doc hadn’t cared about human life.

  Michael repeatedly turned the notes over. “It’s possible you won’t have to worry about the mutt, because that couple could have a change of mind. I attempted to impress upon the reporters how much they’re going to hurt the park if they sensationalize their stories, but that isn’t their focus. It’s news, they told me. They have a responsibility to warn the public.” He stared at Jay and her by turn. “Warn? That’s not what those articles and TV segments will be about. Ratings. Well, their damn ratings are going to financially kill Olympic.”

  You should have thought about that before attacking Doc, if you did.

  “The park is larger than a single crime,” Jay said.

  Michael snorted. “I realize the forest’s economic health doesn’t concern you, but it’s vital to me.”

  “As you keep mentioning.” Jay rested his spine against the chair back. Despite his relaxed position, she tried to imagine him as her protector and guardian, something she’d had little of in her life.

  Michael studied Jay before turning toward her. “I’m a methodical man, not impulsive. Rash decisions backfire and cause untold problems, which is why I spent so much time today coming up with the most logical plan of action. It involves you.”

  “How?” she asked.

  Michael waved the notes at her. “These are the names and numbers for the members of the press. Your Dr. Gilsdorf was so obsessed with the history here that he ignored my suggestions about how to expand his agenda into something that would benefit the park. I’m asking you to consider what Olympic meant to him when you contact these people.”

  She made no move to reach for the papers. “Why me?”

  “You have to ask? Because they’ll listen to you. You, a lovely young woman committed to carrying on your colleague and friend’s work. For now, all you have to do is tell them you’re staying and see no reason why anyone should avoid Olympic. You’re convinced the forest is safe.”

  “I can’t tell them that. There hasn’t been an arrest.”

  “And as far as I know,” Jay added, “a suspect hasn’t been identified.”

  Michael’s fingers dug into the notes. “If, as I believe, Dr. Gilsdorf’s murder was a random act, the responsible person is hundreds of miles away from here. They’re never going to find him.” He shook his head. “It was unfortunate, of course, a real tragedy, but Dr. Gilsdorf wouldn’t want the park to suffer for it.”

  “Have you talked to Dr. Wilheim?” Jay asked Michael. “You must be aware that the question of who, if anyone, is going to take over for Dr. Gilsdorf hasn’t been decided.”

  I want to make that happen, Jay.
And if I’m successful, maybe you and I—

  “Dr. Wilheim called me this morning,” Michael said. “At first, I was surprised, but then I realized he’s wasting no time trying to get various park staff members to back his appointment to the project.”

  Pressure built up in her forehead, and she pictured herself locked in a staredown with her supervisor. Maybe it would turn into a physical fight.

  With knives?

  “What did you tell him?” Jay asked.

  “That I’m in no position to say whether he or Ms. Barstow is more qualified.” Michael smoothed the crumpled squares of paper. “He doesn’t need to know we’re having this conversation.”

  “What if I tell him?” Jay asked.

  “What?” Michael spluttered. “Why would you do that?”

  Jay stood and placed his hands on the desk top. “Why not?”

  “Dr. Wilheim doesn’t grasp how special Olympic is. You do. So does Ms. Barstow.”

  Watching Michael attempt to keep an eye on Jay and her at the same time would have been funny if she hadn’t picked up on the tension between the two men. The tendons stood out on the sides of Michael’s neck while his fingers kept closing and opening. Fortunately, the papers were now on the table, because otherwise he’d probably tear them.

  “Neither of you understand how desperate the situation is.” Michael’s stare made the hairs on the back of her head stand up. “You have to get the press to listen. Go in front of the camera and give the reporters plenty to quote about your conviction that Olympic is safe. You can become the park’s voice. You must.”

  “Stop it,” Jay warned.

  “I can’t. The park’s financial situation—”

  “You don’t care about that,” Jay interrupted. “The only thing that matters to you is holding onto what’s left of your career.”

  Michael shoved the chair he’d been gripping so it banged into the desk. “I’ve given everything I have to keeping the park’s finances in the black. You’ve seen the results of cutbacks. Surely, you don’t want it to get any worse, to have to look for a job yourself.”

  “I can always find a job,” Jay said, “but you’re afraid you can’t, which is why you’re groveling.”

  “How dare you say—”

  “I used to live in Seattle,” Jay broke in. “I was there when you came within an inch of being charged with fraud.”

  Her mouth opened, prompting her to cover it. What had Jay just said?

  “That’s right.” Jay nodded at her. “My former father-in-law was one of nearly two dozen trusting men and women you deceived.”

  “You can’t prove anything,” Michael said. “Shut up. Just shut up.”

  “What?” Jay challenged. “You can’t take the truth?”

  Much as she needed to concentrate on the words the men were saying, their animosity kept distracting her. By the time she’d accepted it, Michael had stopped telling Jay to shut up and was leaning across the table at him.

  As she understood it, Michael had handled events at a Seattle convention center owned by a group of investors. They’d hired Michael, trusting he’d bring in revenue via a series of venues.

  Michael had inked a contract with Jay’s father-in-law and others who wanted to put on an antiques show and had taken a sizeable deposit.

  “My father-in-law was one of the first to arrive so he could set up his antiques,” Jay explained to her. “Not only hadn’t the heat been turned on, but the floor was dirty, there was no sign of the promised booths and tables, the bathrooms were locked and the health department had closed down the kitchen. Even more important, the security guards they’d been promised were no-shows.”

  “I was in charge of booking and promotion,” Michael insisted. “You can’t hold me responsible for what the janitors did or didn’t do.”

  “I’m not the one pointing fingers. My father-in-law’s group went to the investors, demanding their deposit back. They also contacted several other groups and learned their experience wasn’t unique. You lost your job when cancellations started piling up.”

  “I wasn’t fired. I resigned.”

  “Because you had no choice.” Jay gave her his full attention. “I don’t know how or why the Forest Service hired him. It certainly wasn’t because anyone in Seattle recommended him.”

  “Why did you come here?” she asked Michael.

  “I believe I can answer that,” Jay said. “He went from a private position to a public one. He presented the Forest Service with a résumé I’m sure omitted the jobs he failed at. How many were there, Michael? You’re afraid that this is your last chance?” He paused. “You were hired to increase revenue at Olympic National Park, but that isn’t going to happen because of something you might have done.”

  The back of Michael’s knuckles whitened. “What are you talking about?”

  “You’re angry,” she said, because it was time for her to carry her weight in the conversation. “My guess is it’s all you can do not to attack Jay. Did Doc make you even angrier? He refused to let you exploit what he was doing for your gain and—”

  “You repeatedly knifed him,” Jay finished for her.

  Michael slammed his palms against the table. “You’re crazy! I’d never—my god, this is a nightmare.”

  “Yes,” she whispered, “it is.”

  * * * *

  “What do you think?” Jay asked as, from the porch, they watched Michael speed away from Potlatch.

  Winter sighed. For a second, he thought she was going to lean against him, but she straightened and focused on the wilderness. Was that longing in her eyes?

  “He certainly wasn’t going to confess,” she said. “You were right. Bringing up what happened in Seattle caught him off guard. He revealed more than I’m sure he intended to. I’m sorry for your father-in-law.”

  He almost reminded her that George was a former in-law, but why make a point of his marital status? “George isn’t one to hold grudges, but he has strong opinions of what’s right or wrong. That’s why I haven’t told him about running into Michael. Suing Michael will never get his money back.”

  “It sounds as if you admire George.”

  “I do. He’s a good man. Not having him and my former mother-in-law in my life anymore was one of the worst things about failing at marriage. Relationships come in many forms.”

  “Yes, they do.”

  Being around Winter was even more difficult than he’d thought it would be. He had no intention of leaving her to obsess over who’d killed her friend, but neither were they in a position to play amateur detectives. What mattered to him was that he’d held her, kissed her, touched her tattoo, envied her relationship with Wolf. Worried for her safety.

  “What now?” He framed the question in an attempt to take his thoughts off her impact on him. “We need to bring Christian up to speed.”

  For the first time since Michael had driven away, she gave him her full attention. Her eyes were asking something he didn’t grasp and maybe she didn’t want to voice. “You’re right.” She sounded distracted. “I, ah, need to talk to him about several things.”

  “Like what?”

  When she lifted her hand and covered her throat, he saw it as a self-protective move. But was she afraid, or determined to keep something from him? “I don’t…”

  On the brink of asking her to continue, he keyed into her body language. She was listening to something. If it was Wolf, he—

  No, not her spirit, but an approaching motor. He positioned himself so he’d be between her and the vehicle. Then he recognized the car Dr. Wilheim had been driving last night.

  Winter cursed. “I’m not ready for this.”

  “What does he want? I thought he’d made his position with you perfectly clear yesterday.”

  “I did something behind his back.”

  Was it behind my back, as well? Instead of asking, he studied her, willing her to continue.

  “I got in touch with one of the people responsible for the grant,�
�� she said. “My guess is Dr. Wilheim found out.”

  “You— What did you say?”

  She lifted her head. “I asked what their procedure was for making a formal request to have the grant transferred to me.”

  “Already?”

  “Yes, already.”

  If they’d had more time, he might have asked when she’d intended to tell him, but what if she told him it was none of his business? Damn, things with Winter Barstow were becoming more and more complicated.

  “You again,” Dr. Wilheim said after he’d climbed the stairs. “What are you, her bodyguard?”

  Does she need one around you?

  “You could have called me,” Winter said. “What if I hadn’t been at Potlatch? You would have made this trip for nothing.”

  “But face-to-face confrontations are more effective.”

  She shrugged. “Is a confrontation necessary?”

  Jay had no desire to immediately jump into the conversation. Maybe he’d learn more by observing. Winter had seemed vulnerable yesterday, which, considering what she’d gone through, was understandable. He liked seeing her stand up to Dr. Wilheim.

  Dr. Wilheim squared his shoulders. “You certainly didn’t waste any time going behind my back.”

  “That wasn’t my purpose. I needed to learn what I had to do to get started.”

  Dr. Wilheim shot a glance at Jay. “Did she tell you what she did?”

  I’m learning just now. “Yes.”

  That seemed to surprise the man. “What’s going on between the two of you?”

  I don’t know. I wish I did.

  “He helped me get through one of the worst nights of my life,” she said. “That’s all.”

  No, it wasn’t, Jay wanted to protest.

  “Excuse me if I don’t take that at face value,” Dr. Wilheim retorted. “You’ve demonstrated that you can’t be trusted.”

  “Can’t be trusted to what?” he asked when he’d just told himself to let her handle the conversation. His stereotyped impression of what university professors were like was being shot all to hell. “Let you walk all over her?”