Deadly Fate (Krewe of Hunters #19)(31)

“You just said all right,” Clara reminded him.

He shrugged, looking at Jackson.

Thor knew what they were both thinking.

Why not? She was the one the ghost of Amelia Carson seemed to be trying to meet.

She was also right about the fact that they would travel back to the mainland that afternoon to meet with Enfield, the Alaska State Troopers and the Seward police. But first, they were going to spend a few hours scouring through the forest themselves.

“Let’s head back to the Alaska Hut, regroup with a few of the officers there,” Jackson said.

He couldn’t argue.

“I have the team combing anew for fingerprints,” Jackson told him as they headed to the snowmobiles. “I’d bet if there was someone running around in there, they were wearing gloves, but we never do know. They’d fine-tooth-comb everything from the tree to the windowsill and beyond again.”

“Thank you,” Clara told him.

“Of course. It’s an investigation,” Jackson told her, smiling grimly. “So...we head back.”

Clara had ridden behind Jackson on a snowmobile to reach the Mansion. She climbed on behind him once again.

He geared his snowmobile into action.

They passed the area where the two halves of Amelia Carson’s body had lain; the body was gone now, but crime scene tape remained.

It was an exasperating puzzle. No prints leading to the body; no prints leading away.

Her remains found just after the decapitated body of her producer.

Hating reality television was one thing...

Could that have something to do with these horrible crimes?

Seriously, that would be taking it to the max when all you had to do was change the channel.

When they reached the Mansion, to Thor’s dismay, Marc Kimball was standing on the porch, a cup of coffee in his hands, as if he had been awaiting them.

Apparently, he had been.

He ignored Jackson and Thor and spoke quickly to Clara.

“Miss Avery! I heard you stayed behind. You know that you are more than welcome to remain with me at the Alaska Hut as long as you choose. I’m sure you must be very frightened—there will be officers here. And, while it is not in politically good taste, I do admit I have been a hunter at times in my life. I’m good with a rifle. You might well be safest here, surrounded by officers...and watched over by myself.”

Clara had dismounted the snowmobile and hung back with Jackson. She smiled, but Thor thought it was a plastic one.

She didn’t like the man. She didn’t trust him.

That made Thor like her all the more, he realized. She had the sense to realize this man thought he could buy anything.

“That’s so nice of you,” Clara murmured.

Thor looked around to assess the situation; Mike hadn’t returned from the dock as of yet. A state police officer was standing guard on the porch. He nodded to the man, who nodded gravely in return.

“Magda has just gotten some lunch together. Agents, Miss Avery, can we get you something? We’re seeing to the police officers, too, of course!” Kimball said.

The perfect host.

Clara walked ahead and they entered the house.

Magda was bustling around the kitchen area; lunch was laid out buffet-style. Thor imagined that was because no one knew how many people would be eating or when.

The food smelled wonderful and Thor realized he hadn’t actually eaten anything cooked in a while. The woman had prepared a hearty stew to be served over rice. He helped himself to a bowl, thanking her and Kimball politely before taking a chair.

He noted that Clara managed to sit between him and Jackson, despite the fact that Kimball continued to wax on about her performances. She just smiled.

He and Jackson ate in silence. Halfway through the meal, Emmy Vincenzo appeared.

She asked if it was all right if she joined them. It should have been nothing but a courtesy and polite question, but Thor realized she was actually asking permission.

Her fault for staying in his employ, Thor thought.

They finished quickly; the others were still eating when he rose and Jackson joined him.

“We’ll be back,” Jackson said. “We’ll be taking a look through the forest, Mr. Kimball.”

“If I can help...?” Kimball offered.

“We appreciate that and we’ll definitely let you know,” Thor told him.

When they were on the way out he asked Jackson, “You got the radio?”

“I do.”

“Have Angela find out where Kimball was before he came here.”

“You think that Kimball is in on this somehow.”

“Not really. Being a giant ass doesn’t make him guilty of murder. I think we should know.”

“I agree, though I imagine Enfield was already on it.”

“Yeah, they would have done a check on him, but just an airport check about the plane—I’d like something a little more thorough. Guaranteed,” Thor said.

“Sure,” Jackson agreed. “I don’t like him, either. I just don’t see him as this killer.”

“Elimination,” Thor said.

They started up the snowmobiles again and followed the tracks they had found the night before.

Bear tracks? Or snowshoe tracks made to look that way by someone who knew that a wind or a fresh batch of flurries would make it impossible to tell?