Seeing where the man had kept her, what he had put her through, what could’ve happened... For a moment, he heard nothing but roaring in his ears until Helena stared him down.
“Did you hear me? I said she’s safe now.”
“I know.”
Helena pulled out her phone and began taking photographs of the shotgun and of Grace sitting on the only clean portion of the floor, along with images of the ropes on the ground. Sean rewarded the K-9 with her favorite toy. Afterward, he walked out of the shack with Grace by his side to where Ivy waited, her arms wrapped around herself, staring toward the river.
Was she really safe?
“See that riverbank?” Ivy murmured. “That’s where I saw him without his mask.”
He didn’t need her to repeat the description. The words were burned into his memory. Six foot three with auburn hair and pale skin. He hesitated, but he had to do it. “Do you remember any other details now?”
She shook her head. “If that husky hadn’t distracted him...”
“We would’ve found you in time,” Sean finished for her, an edge to his voice that he knew probably wasn’t helpful. Every fiber of his being told him to pull her close, to tell her he was so thankful she was okay. But he couldn’t. For so many reasons.
They stood together in silence for two minutes. Sean placed a hand on her shoulder, ever so gently. He couldn’t stand to see her like this. Ivy turned into his touch and tilted her head, wordlessly studying him. She stepped closer, and it was like two magnets coming together. He wrapped his arms around her, ignoring the warning bells in his mind. Her hands gripped the back of his jacket, the comfort of her touch no match for the many layers. He missed being able to hold her this way. The feeling that nothing could topple them if they were together, leaning on each other. He had no right to think of them this way.
Sean abruptly stepped back. Grace dropped the toy at his feet, and he picked it up. “Grace, it’s time to work. Lead.”
The extra word meant everything to the K-9. It was her cue that she was to take him to the body she’d smelled in the shack. Her ears swiveled and her spine straightened, her nose straining forward. He had to focus on the case now. At least they’d already passed by this section and knew it was free from traps. Still, he didn’t want to take any chances and kept his eyes trained for any potential areas traps may be hiding. He knew from the way Ivy followed his exact steps that she was doing the same.
Grace kept her nose down to the ground. A line in the dirt, roughly six inches wide and headed straight, indicated she was likely on the right track. Helena and Luna joined them, a few paces behind. “The river?” his colleague asked.
“He might’ve taken the body to a different location with the boat,” Sean answered. “We heard a motor moments after we found Ivy. He could’ve changed his plan after her escape and gone far from here. I’m hoping Grace can lead us in the right direction.”
“A metallic fishing boat,” Ivy said. “That’s what he put the rug in. I remember that much. It looked old and beat-up.”
“That’s good,” Helena praised her. “Feel free to tell us anything from that day, even if you think it might not matter. Every detail has the potential to help.”
Sean studied Grace as she paused, lifting her head. Come on, Lord. Please help her tell us which way he took her next. The dog turned in a full circle, her mouth hanging open, breathing in the air. She returned to the waterline and plunged her face into the river. Her head jerked back. She shook, water droplets flying from her ears and neck, but even after, she didn’t sit. If she had sat, they would’ve called in divers and searched the bottom of the river. Sean knew they still might have to resort to that, but given the amount of tributaries, he didn’t like the options. Besides, the riverbed seemed to get shallow in places with rocks jutting out and tree roots sticking out from the bank. Grace huffed and looked over her shoulder. Her eyes grew soft, and by the way she held her head, he knew she was disappointed. He patted his leg. “Good job.” Her tail wagged in acknowledgment.
“Dead end?” Helena asked.
Sean hated that phrase in his specialty, even if it described the truth. “The trail is cold.” As well as his hope that he’d be able to close the case anytime soon. He was going to have to beg for more resources that weren’t there. Someone would need to take over in keeping Ivy safe because he and Grace would need to systematically comb every square inch of Alaskan tundra until they found the victim. The colonel might not understand, but Sean would have to make her understand. Ivy was one of their own. Well, she used to be. Begging may not buy him much time, but he’d be willing to take unpaid leave and keep going. If he discovered a body while he wasn’t on duty, the corpse would still be evidence.
The clock was ticking. The longer they waited, the more chance the suspect got away with getting rid of the body. Sean couldn’t live with himself if the killer succeeded.
* * *
Ivy missed her Jeep. The seats in the state trooper SUV weren’t the most comfortable. “Do you often have to leave your car in Anchorage and use other troopers’ vehicles?”
“Uh, not usually. Typically, I can drive to where I need to go.” He followed behind Helena on the highway. They ascended a hill next to the sea. Movement in the peripheral caught her eye.
“What—” Sean’s mouth hung open as he slammed on the brakes.
A massive herd of caribou—almost fifty, if she had to guess—ran into the road from the eastern tundra. A sea of brown in front of them made it hard to distinguish where one animal ended and another began. Their antlers held the answer to how many were in the herd, but at the moment, they were so close together, it would be impossible to count.
The radio squawked. “You guys okay?” Helena asked. “I’ve never seen so many reindeer at once!” She’d been far enough ahead that the herd hadn’t blocked her path.
“Should I tell her they’re called caribou around here?” Ivy whispered to Sean.
“They’re not reindeer?”
“Same animal, believe it or not. But if they’re wild, they’re technically called caribou. If they’re domesticated, then they’re called reindeer. People will know what you mean either way, but they might school you.”
“Like you just did?” Sean winked and grabbed the radio. “We’re fine, but the caribou,” he emphasized, “don’t appear in a hurry to go anywhere.” He tested the horn and the herd jogged a few steps forward but then stopped again.
“I’ll wait a few minutes,” Helena said.
Ivy leaned her head back, trying to calm the butterflies in her stomach. All from something as innocent as Sean’s wink. How often had that wink been used after a meal or a funny joke? It was an invitation to get closer, to snuggle up. It didn’t mean that anymore. Just like that hug at the river didn’t mean anything. Two people simply trying to get past thoughts of a horrible crime. That was all it signified. A few of the caribou turned, watching them. “I think they’re used to vehicles and aren’t too scared of them.”
“Why not?” Sean leaned forward, his arms draped on top of the steering wheel. “Why are they in the road? And why all guys?”
Ivy laughed. “Both males and females have antlers when it comes to reindeer.”
“Don’t you mean caribou?” he teased.
“Same thing,” she said in a deadpan, though she ended up smiling a second later. “And, to answer your question, this is actually common around here. When the road isn’t covered in snow or water, it’s easier for them to travel on than the tundra. You’ll find lots of animal herds prefer to travel by road. Or—” she squinted into the distance, searching for any other animals “—they could be running from a grizzly.”
“I have bear spray, but nothing to encourage caribou to move on. Not sure I’d want to anger anyone with antlers.”
He grabbed his radio. “Think I should tell Katie where she can find more r
eindeer?”
Helena responded instantly. “Probably wouldn’t be appreciated. Besides, her ranch only helps injured, orphaned or unwanted ones. These all look fine to me. If you don’t want me to wait for you, I’ll start processing the crime scene photos and meet you at the trooper headquarters.”
“That’s affirmative. See you soon.” Sean clicked the radio off.
“Are you talking about the receptionist, Katie?” Ivy asked. “Why would she want to find reindeer?”
“She’s actually the team director’s assistant.”
Ivy vaguely remembered the green-eyed petite young woman. Always businesslike and professional, even at team gatherings. “Katie Kapowski?”
“That’s the one. Turns out her aunt Addie owns The Family K Reindeer Ranch Sanctuary. It’s a mouthful. Like Helena was saying, it operates more like a rescue center for reindeer. I found the whole thing a little confusing when I see them out here in the wild, but your explanation makes sense. Maybe they aren’t technically wild anymore. They’ve been abandoned or—”
“—lost their herd?”
“I’m sure Katie would know. It’s been on the team’s radar because lately someone has been stealing the reindeer.”
“Why would anyone do that?” Ivy tried to focus on the good in the world, but this week seemed to be relentless in showing her the worst of humanity.
“That’s one of many questions we have. She thought her aunt was her only living relative, but we’ve discovered an estranged uncle, Terrence Kapowski. Her aunt Addie hadn’t acknowledged his existence to Katie until recently.”
“Oh, wow. That’s unexpected. Have they reunited?”
He raised his eyebrows. “Gabriel has actually been trying to locate him. Before he was called here, he’d been tracking Terrence’s whereabouts near the ranch. A bunch of the locals recognized his photo, so we can place him nearby. Bringing him in for questioning has just become a high priority for the team.”
“But why would Katie’s uncle target the reindeer ranch? Why not reach out and try to make amends? Do you know why he was estranged?”
He glanced at her. “You’re asking all the right questions. Miss shoptalk?”
She felt her cheeks heat. “More like I’m curious what makes people tick. I deal with all sorts who come to the mission, ready to try out the survivalist way of life.” She did miss hearing about what was happening in the team’s lives, though. Learning about cases like the reindeer ranch felt like a small connection to the old “how was your day?” chats they used to have at dinners.
“The team doesn’t know the answers to any of your questions yet. Terrence, the estranged uncle, never showed at the funeral of his mom and dad. They passed away almost a decade ago. So we’re working with the theory that maybe he just now found out that he wasn’t included in the will. He could be lashing out.”
“Katie’s aunt inherited the reindeer sanctuary?”
“Sole inheritance. Though, none of us understands what Terrence hopes to accomplish by stealing orphaned reindeer. As soon as Gabriel gets back to Anchorage, he’s going to take Bear and track the man down. Then hopefully we’ll have some answers. Oh, look! They’re moving.” Sean rolled slowly after the herd, as they picked up speed down the road, and took a sharp right into a field.
“It struck me that I’d never seen your job in action before today.”
He whipped his head in her direction, his eyebrows raised.
“Training, yes,” she clarified, “but not working.”
His shoulders sagged. “It can be draining, but I know what I do is important.”
“I’ve always known that,” she said softly. She truly had. Standing on that riverbank, she’d found herself hoping he and Grace would locate the victim, ensuring they’d have enough evidence to capture the murderer and lock him away forever. How many people had Sean’s work brought justice and closure to? She’d never asked him, partly because he liked to leave his cases behind when he came home.
But after months of seeing him drained, she got aggravated. Day after day, promises unkept. Promises he probably shouldn’t have ever made before he knew what the job would demand of him. Promises she maybe should’ve released him from.
The thought smacked her over the head. Was she softening toward him? Perhaps. She twisted her lips to the side. Her tenderhearted feelings toward Sean were natural, though, since they’d been a couple for so long. And it didn’t mean she wanted to be back together with him...
In her foster parenting classes, she’d been learning about attachment hormones. They amplified senses and memories to ensure a parent and child bonded. Like the way she smelled Dylan’s head and adored the clean shampoo scent from his hair before she laid him down for the night. There was probably something similar between exes. Which meant she should probably disregard the confusing feelings for him without a second’s hesitation.
At least, she hoped that was the case...
“I’m sorry about all this,” Sean said, nodding toward the mission as they passed by. “As soon as the investigation is wrapped up, I can help you tidy up inside.” Another state trooper vehicle sat in the parking lot, a trooper she didn’t recognize walking around the perimeter of the building.
After the excitement at the shack, she’d almost forgotten about the break-in. “Not your fault.” She looked past Sean to the Bering Sea churning next to the highway. A spray of water shot up in the air. Likely beluga whales this time of year.
“When you moved out, I’d hoped that away from me you’d at least be safe.” He blanched and pressed his lips together, as if he hadn’t meant to say anything.
She blinked rapidly. Had he really worried about her while they were in Anchorage? “Safety was never our problem, was it?”
He shrugged, which seemed odd. Almost as if he thought that maybe it was part of their issues. That made no sense, though. They never had disagreements surrounding her safety.
She would head to the bunker tonight. The possibility that the man wouldn’t stop trying to hunt her down was foremost in her mind, but she didn’t have the emotional bandwidth to deal with any more today. Maybe tomorrow. Tonight, she would pretend she was on vacation with Dylan in the bunker, far away from even the hints of civilization. She’d refuse to think about anything else except enjoying her sweet little boy’s company.
The ocean view disappeared as they rolled past houses and the downtown with the fake Western awnings, heading to where Minnie was watching Dylan. To the right, the largest parking lot in town was dedicated to portable gold dredges. The dredges were designed for the ocean, set on boats. The vessels had to be large enough to hold machinery to dig up the seafloor, carry it to filters and spit back the remaining dirt into the water, sans rock and gold. The boat on wheels closest to them stretched out almost two hundred feet and likely belonged to Minnie’s family. The expense to rent or own a parking lot of this size must be high. A chain stretched from the tip of the boat to the ground and was attached to a husky’s collar.
“Stop!” She pointed in the dog’s direction.
Sean slammed on the brakes. The seat belt caught her momentum as she tipped forward and back. “What’d you see? Is it him?” Sean asked, eyes roaming the parking lot.
“It’s the husky.”
He frowned as Grace let out what sounded like a dissatisfied grunt. “Are you sure it’s the same husky?” Sean asked.
“Around here, it’s unusual to only have one. People always own more than one, and they’re never chained up.” She tapped the glass window. “Besides, it’s a Siberian husky with a gray topcoat that ends with a widow’s peak right about the eyes. It’s the same dog, Sean.”
He reached the radio and called for backup. The dog’s attention swiveled their way as he spoke. She wasn’t sure the husky could see her face through the tinted windows, but she held her stare. “Maybe the man tied her up and left h
er. I think she was the victim’s dog, not his.”
“For all we know, the victim and the suspect were a couple.”
What a horrible thought. They sat in tense silence for a few minutes. After just one day, Ivy was already sick of the fear that gripped her heart with every thought of that man.
The side mirror revealed Helena and Gabriel pulling up right behind them, forming a V-shaped barrier from the exit of the parking lot to the road.
“That was fast.”
Sean opened his car door and placed a hand on his holster. “They’re the best team there is.”
It was a good thing the town wasn’t busy right now, though they were at the outskirts, far from other houses. At the other end of the parking lot was an alley in between two tall buildings. She had no idea if actual businesses still occupied them. The other two SUVs flashed their lights without sirens.
Sean stepped to the back and released Grace to join him. Ivy opened her side and climbed out. “I’ll see to the husky while you three check the area.”
“Not yet, Ivy.” His hands rose up. “Stay in the—”
Gunshots rang out. Asphalt kicked up at her feet.
SEVEN
Sean ran around the back of the vehicle, but Grace beat him to Ivy. The dog lunged in front of her, ready to protect and take the hit for her. She screamed and covered her head but appeared frozen. Sean wrapped his left arm around Ivy’s waist, pulling her backward as another round of bullets fired in their direction. Grace hopped backward, the last shot barely missing her.
Every nanosecond counted when dealing with a shooter. The bullet could hit her or Grace at any moment. He flung open the back door and pulled Ivy behind the glass window. His whistle alerted Grace to follow them to safety. A bullet pinged the glass. The bulletproof protection held as more rounds were fired. Ivy turned and crawled into the back seat. Grace hopped in beside her. Sean remained hunkered down behind the open door.
Arctic Witness Page 7
