“I still think there’s something out on that island. We found his cutting ground, at least. But I believe there’s more to find out there,” Thor said.
“But we know that someone was here,” Jackson reminded him. He was silent a minute and said, “There are good agents here, good police. Good police on the island, too. There’s no way to know the right move. Is someone in the near vicinity now—someone who left that picture in the trash? Probably. But he may not be here long. We’re not the only competent people working the case, but you have been given lead. So, it’s a matter of where you think it’s most important to be, Thor.”
Thor spoke slowly.
“You’re right. He was here—now he’s gone. Forensic teams will do what they can. Brennan will do everything he’s able to do. Enfield and a dozen other men with the Bureau are here. We need to get back to Black Bear Island.” Thor shook his head, as if he wasn’t sure himself why he was so convinced that they needed to be on the island—when the killer had more recently almost struck here.
Or—one of the killers.
“Take the car to your family’s place so you can pack up for the next few days. I’ll stay here with Miss Shaw and meet with Detective Brennan and the forensic unit,” Jackson said. “Brennan might have something more to give us. Get set, we’ll stop by the police station to see if there’s anything that resembles evidence or a clue, and we can see the security tape from the Nordic Lights Hotel. Then we’ll head back as planned and search the island again. We can let Mike come back to Seward and get some sleep.”
Thor nodded and headed for the car.
Clara raced after him. He stopped, swung around and looked at her. “Wait here. With Jackson and Connie Shaw.”
“You’re trying to get rid of me.”
“And, apparently, I’m not doing well at it.”
“May I at least talk to you while we head to your place?”
He didn’t say yes.
He didn’t say no.
He turned and kept going. Clara hurried after him and slid into the passenger’s side of the car.
She was going to talk him into keeping her close—and she wasn’t even sure what her own reasoning was.
She was crazy, ghost or no ghost; she needed to be in the safest place possible.
He drove in silence.
“You live out here?” she asked.
“I have an apartment in the city, too. But yes, I have a home out here. At this point, it’s easiest just to shower and change and pick up a bag out here.”
“Out here” wasn’t even half a mile from the road that stretched down to the McGinty house.
But, while they headed toward a place that was similar to the McGinty cottage, it was different in size and scope. It was a compound. There were a number of houses, stables, kennels and other outbuildings.
A stone fence encircled one house; steps of the same stone created a pathway that led to a porch and much larger log cabin. Beyond the fence, encircled by a ring, was a large stable and what looked like a kennel. Past those were more buildings.
“I thought you lived in the downtown area of Seward,” she said.
“I have an apartment downtown,” he told her.
“But you come out here, too?”
“Whenever I can.”
She looked at him as he drove. “This is all yours? You have stables of horses—and huskies?” she asked.
He shrugged. “It’s a family compound.”
“Your family is out here?”
He shook his head. “My sister runs everything out here—my dad is a cop and he and my mother live in Nome most of the time. They have a cabin here.” He pointed at a house far to the other side of the stables. “My sister’s place. She and her husband and kids care for the horses and huskies. They race. They’ve won all kinds of mushing awards. They are heavily involved with the Iditarod each year.”
“Are you a musher?” she asked him.
He shook his head. “No, I don’t mush. But...”
“But?”
“I do have a couple of huskies,” he told her. For some reason, he then smiled and shrugged and decided to become more forthcoming. “Boris and Natasha,” he said. “You’ll meet them. I just hope you’re not against a lot of husky fur as an accessory.”
“I love dogs,” she told him. And she did. “My parents have always had dogs and cats, and growing up we had mice and all kinds of other creatures, as well. I’m fine with fur as an accessory.”
She was glad that she did love animals. She thought that he might be putting her to the test, because he didn’t speak a word to the big huskies when the door opened and Boris and Natasha immediately rose to greet them and be greeted in return.
They had evidently known that their master was home from the time that Thor had turned down the drive to the house. They jumped about like children, but woofing and howling, seeming almost to speak.