Deadly Fate (Krewe of Hunters #19)(44)

“Not crazy,” Simon said. “She’ll be with the FBI guys. Let’s admit it, Ralph, you can play a great cop, but you aren’t one. And no one in his right mind is afraid of me, which has been proven.”

“I just look big and tough,” Larry said regretfully.

“It doesn’t matter,” Clara said. “I feel I have to stay—for a few days at least. I’ll be with you guys soon enough.” She glanced over at Thor and Jackson. “Nothing new?” she asked weakly. “Nothing at all?”

“At least, no new bodies, right?” Ralph asked.

“Right,” Thor said. He wasn’t sure why—just agreeing made him uneasy.

“So,” Jackson said. “What’s the show about?”

“A ghost,” Simon said, shaking his head.

“Yep, a ghost,” Clara murmured, and then she smiled. “It’s really charming. Shades of Blithe Spirit mixed with an older movie about an Irish castle. Love, falling in love, learning to fall in love again, all that.”

“Sounds good,” Jackson said. “Just the four of you?”

“Five of us. I’m the old wife, and there’s a new wife,” Clara said. “Connie Shaw is joining the Celtic American lineup. She was working on a ship that ended a cruise in Seattle. She’s due up here anytime.”

“I think she’s due today,” Ralph said. “But she’s not staying here. She rented a cottage on the outskirts of town for the few days she planned on being here. Says she’s seen Seward and wanted more of the rustic feel of Alaska.”

“Do you know where this cottage is?” Jackson asked.

Damn—was he also feeling uneasy?

“No, but you can get that information easily enough. Head of entertainment for the ship knows everything,” Ralph said.

Jackson rose. “I’ll get the info,” he said.

Thor rose, as well. “We need to get going. Clara?”

“My things are at the desk. I’ve checked out,” she said. “I figure I’ll go on to the ship, too, when—when it’s time,” she finished lamely. “Anyway, see you guys soon.”

“Soon, my love!” Ralph said as she rose to leave them. Simon and Larry stood, too. She hugged them all; Thor waited patiently.

He followed close behind her as they headed to the front to meet up with Jackson.

“Don’t think the place is far from your house, Thor, not by the addresses we have,” Jackson said.

“The McGinty place?” Thor asked. One of his closest neighbors—close being about ten acres away—was old Theodore McGinty. He left during the summer to visit his daughter in Fairbanks and always liked to rent his place.

Jackson raised an eyebrow and rattled off an address. “Is that the McGinty place?”

Thor nodded. “Yeah, it’s an old cottage—nice little place. Old, but he has the best heating system in the world and all kinds of computer gadgets and a great entertainment center.”

“We’ll see if Miss Shaw has checked in. You know this young woman, right?” Jackson asked Clara.

“Yes, not well—not like the guys. But we met at the auditions for the show and had a meeting after the casting, along with a blocking rehearsal and some readings of the script,” Clara told him. “She’s very nice, a petite dark-haired woman.”

“But you do know her well enough,” Thor murmured. “That’s good.”

They reached a black sedan. Thor slid into the driver’s seat. Jackson opened the passenger’s door for her in the front and slid into the back himself.

*

They drove through the town of Seward. Clara had gotten to walk a great deal of it; Seward was a wonderful small town, offering so much in a compact area. Floods throughout the years had been devastating, but Seward meant to thrive. The drive from Seward to Anchorage was supposed to be one of the most scenic to be found. She was fond, however, of the town itself, where many of the buildings were in different and complementary pastels, which seemed to be—along with the shimmering water, the cruise ships and other vessels at port, and the fantastic mountains—uniquely Seward. Uniquely Alaska.

Thor was driving quickly but skillfully, making good time.

She leaned forward. “You’re afraid for Connie?” she asked. “But...”

“It’s not a rational fear—it’s just a situation we should check out,” Jackson said.

“Well, we’re driving awfully fast,” Clara said.

“We’ll just make sure everything is all right,” Thor said.

She knew that neither of the men thought that everything was going to be all right. She felt her own stomach pitch.

They left the city behind, remaining beneath the shadow of snow-tipped mountains, hugging a road that cut through dense forest. Thor then turned down what looked like little more than a dirt road. In a matter of seconds, a little cabin appeared, with a board porch and a cheerful striped umbrella over tables on the veranda.

It seemed that the motor was still running when Thor and Jackson stepped out of the car; both men jumped out quickly and headed for the door to the cabin. Clara followed them up the steps to the porch.

Thor tapped hard at the door. “Miss Shaw? Miss Shaw?”

A frightened whimper came back to them. “Who is it? Who’s there?”