Shiver(101)
They drove in silence to Earl’s. Well, at least Garrett and he were quiet. Lynx couldn’t seem to shut up. He was like a kid on his first fishing trip. Any minute now he was going to start bouncing in his seat.
They passed Aidan’s rental where he’d left it about a mile up the road from Earl’s yeterday. The SUV was covered in a thick layer of frost, looking too frozen to start. It had reached minus forty below last night and his rental hadn’t been plugged in to an electrical outlet that would keep the engine from freezing. Chances were he was without a vehicle until he could get it jumped or towed. He didn’t want to be at the Maiski’s mercy anymore.
They parked and exited Pike’s crew cab pickup, grabbing the tools and the cooler they’d brought from the lodge. Garrett carried a pickax with a pistol on his hip, Lynx the chainsaw and a crowbar, Pike a rifle and his forty-five, while Aidan got stuck with the purse-like cooler due to his injuries.
“This is where you grew up?” Garrett asked with a lift of his brows. “And I thought your fish camp setup was bad.”
“Earl liked living simply.”
“This isn’t simple, it’s brutal.” He scoffed. “Explains a lot about you, I guess.”
How did he argue that?
Pike started down the lane, and Aidan called out to him, “Let me go first. Roland had set booby traps yesterday. I know what to look for.”
“Crafty bastard,” Pike muttered under his breath as Aidan passed him to lead the crew to the back of the cabin.
“Keep your eyes open,” Aidan instructed the group as they slowly walked down the path.
Aidan didn’t find any trip wires or signs of mischief. They entered the cold-soaked cabin and found Roland in the living room.
Dead on the floor, a knife sticking out of his chest.
“Well…this I didn’t expect,” Pike said, holstering his forty-five.
Aidan looked at Garrett. “I didn’t do it.”
Garrett huffed out a heavy sigh. “You complicate the hell out of my life, you know that?”
What did he say? Sorry? “Try seeing it from my point of view.” Ah, hell, how was he going to tell Lana? They were both fatherless now. He took a step toward Roland.
“Don’t move,” Garrett said. “This just became a crime scene.”
“What about the gold?” Lynx dropped the heavy chainsaw to the floor.
“That will have to wait until the troopers clear the place.”
“How long will that take?” Pike asked.
“A while.” Garrett took off his gloves and pulled a cell phone out of his pocket. “I’ll make the call.”
“Good luck,” Aidan said, remembering his panicked attempts to get cell service when he’d been caught in the bear trap. “You won’t get reception until you’re closer to town.”
“What’s that piece of paper sticking out of his breast pocket?” Lynx asked.
Garrett pocketed the useless phone. Putting his gloves back on, he reached for the note. His jaw hardened as he read.
“What does it say?” Aidan asked, the chill in the cabin going from freezing to frigid.
Garrett’s troubled gaze met Aidan’s worried one. “It’s Fox.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
“What about Fox?” Raven demanded, her voice high-pitched and panicked.
Everyone jumped like someone had shattered glass, and as one they quickly turned to block the view of Roland’s cold dead body.
“Raven, what are you doing here?” Aidan moved through the group to stand in front of her. Her eyes were wide, dark pools of fear.
“Fox is missing. Something’s happened to him.”
“How do you know he’s missing?” Garrett asked, in his clipped cop voice. “When did you last see him?”
“Couple of hours ago. We had a fight and he took off with his dogs. The dogs and sled returned without him, and Lucien wasn’t with them either.” She glanced at the men lined up like a wall of warriors. “What’s going on?”
“Who is Lucien?” Garrett asked.
“Fox’s lead dog! Now what the hell is going on?”
“Raven, let’s go outside and talk about this.” Aidan took her elbow to lead her from the cabin.
She tore her arm from his grip. “Someone better start talking.” She stared at Pike who turned to gaze at the wall. Lynx was next, but he seemed to find the floor fascinating. “That’s it. Move.” She barreled through the line of men, coming up short when she saw Roland’s dead body. She turned and stared at Aidan.
“Don’t look at me like that.” He tightened his jaw as the pain of her silent accusation cut through him.