by D. K. Hood
The door opened wide. A tall thin man with graying wavy hair and what might be called “fashionable stubble,” or he’d neglected to shave the untidy growth on his face, stood to one side and waved them into the room. Jenna unzipped her jacket, the heat from the log fire defrosting her cheeks. “Mr. Brightway, I’m Sheriff Alton and this is Deputy Kane. Could you run us through the incident this morning?”
Brightway repeated what the receptionist had said verbatim. Jenna took in his concerned expression. “And you’ve searched the resort for Miss Storm?”
“As well as we can possibly search a place this big. I’ve checked the CCTV footage and she left the hotel at twelve-twenty and headed for the chalets. There’d been a few guests before her but the majority left for their chalets around ten. She’s not on the footage during the night and hasn’t returned here this morning. My people did a sweep of the area and we’ve made countless announcements, but no one has seen her since last night.”
Jenna glanced at Kane and caught his concerned expression. “So, the CCTVs cover only the entrance to the resort? Why aren’t they over the entire complex?”
“Snow. It builds up, frost covers the lenses. It gets very cold up here. The camera here is in the lobby. It’s inside and covers the entrance and right out to the parking lot.” Mr. Brightway shrugged. “It’s the best we can do.”
“How many fire exits do you have?” Kane looked up from his notes. “I assume there’s a staff entrance as well?”
“Eight fire exits and all have alarms, so I’d know if anyone used them, and the staff entrance is the back door to the kitchen.” Mr. Brightway pushed a hand through his hair, obviously irritated. “The door from the lodge to the kitchens requires a passkey. It is clearly marked as a staff entrance with a sign above the door. I doubt the guests would take much notice of it. Anyone accessing the staff entrance from outside would need to know the code for the keypad. The passageway the staff uses runs beside the kitchen and opens into a mudroom, where the staff can change their shoes and leave their coats.”
Jenna made a few notes and looked up at him. “Did anyone check out this morning, and has anyone else gone missing overnight?”
“No, and no one has checked out. All but two of our guests, both are authors, have booked for the full two weeks of the convention.” Brightway was checking his computer.
“Did you notice any vehicles leaving the parking lot since Miss Storm left for her chalet?” Kane walked around Brightway’s office, scanning the room.
“Not that I’m aware but I can view the CCTV footage and see if anyone drove out overnight. It might take some time.” Mr. Brightway cleared his throat and picked up his phone. “Please check the CCTV footage from midnight through to this morning and make a note of any vehicles leaving the parking lot.” He replaced the receiver and looked at her. “I’ll let you know at once if we find anything.”
Jenna straightened and folded her notebook, pushing it with her pen into a pocket. “Okay, thanks. Now if you could show us Miss Storm’s chalet?” She pulled on her gloves. “Did you touch anything inside?”
“No. I knocked, and when she didn’t reply after knocking a few times, I opened the door and called out.” Mr. Brightway scratched his head and stared into space. “Let me see. I wiped my feet and went inside to check the bathroom and then left. I was wearing gloves but only touched the door handle. The bathroom door was open. The bed hadn’t been slept in. I instructed room service to avoid the area until you’d been by.” He reached for his coat hanging on a peg by the door. “Follow me. It’s not far.”
As they walked out into the freezing air, snowflakes whirled around Jenna and the smell of winter seeped into her nose, she could almost taste it. Her mind was working overtime. “Did you notice any footprints around the chalet?”
“Not that I recall.” Mr. Brightway frowned as he led the way along the pathway. “Not that I was looking. I’m not a trained observer, more like a trained non-observer. It’s often best I don’t notice the guests. Hotel staff are more like ghosts. We drift around trying not to be obtrusive. We prefer not to know what the guests do to amuse themselves overnight.”
Jenna recalled her last visit to the resort, when she’d had to negotiate the path in the dark looking for Kane. It had been scary, the dark forest all around. The strange noises had startled her and she’d been armed. Now many pathways like a spider’s legs spread out in all directions. At least the path had been recently cleared. “How often do you clear the path?”
“It depends on the snowfall. Sometimes two or three times a day. Early in the morning, so the staff can access the chalets to deliver breakfast, or for the guests who want to make an early start on the slopes. The path was cleared last night at five and again this morning at six.” He led the way down a pathway. “To the right we have two new chalets in the final stages of building. Workmen are there most days. To the left is Miss Storm’s chalet, number forty-eight.”
Jenna looked up at the signpost. The chalets’ numbers were prominent, with an arrow pointing the way. “So, it would be unusual to get lost. I see the lights are along each pathway. Are they on all night?”
“Yes, it’s a safety precaution, and as you see, we’ve made every effort to make the guests’ movements around the complex as uncomplicated as possible.” Mr. Brightway led the way along the trail.
As they rounded a bend, a pretty chalet came into view. Very private with a trickle-fed pool and a small creek running close by. “Is that the pool where Agnes said she noticed a shoe?”
“Yeah.” Mr. Brightway crunched through the ice-covered snow and pointed. “She said it was there, but as you can see, it’s frozen over and I couldn’t make out anything.”
“Didn’t you think to break the ice?” Kane frowned at him. “Even after you discovered Miss Storm was missing?”
“Ah… no… I didn’t think to.” Mr. Brightway looked abashed.
Bending to clear a coating of snow from the edge of the pond, Jenna used her Maglite to see through the ice. The beam moved over a flash of blue. She pointed. “See that? Find something to break the ice.”
“Sure.” Kane walked off the pathway and into the forest with Duke on his heels.
The sound of wood cracking broke the quiet and Kane pushed back through the trees, peeling the branches from a pine bough. Jenna eyed the stick with doubt. “Do you think that will work?”
“Yeah, it will when I’m finished.” Kane pulled out his hunting knife and sharpened one end of a heavy branch. He moved toward the pool holding the stick like a javelin. “Stand back.”
An uneasy feeling fell over Jenna as Kane lifted the branch and smashed it through the ice. In seconds a pair of ski pants, with one leg pushed up to reveal frozen stark-white flesh clad in a bright blue snow boot, floated just under the surface. “I guess we’ve found Dakota Storm.”
“I’ll call Wolfe.” Kane pulled out his phone.
Jenna frowned. “I’d use the satellite sleeve. If the call cuts out halfway through, Wolfe will figure we’re in trouble.”
She turned to look at Mr. Brightway. His face had drained of color and she led him some distance away. “Do you have a spare key to the chalet? I’ll need to look inside.” She touched his arm to get his attention. “Mr. Brightway… this could be a crime scene. I’ll need the key.”
“I have a master key and can open the door for you, but I’ll need it to gain access around the resort.” Brightway frowned. “I’ll get someone to bring you one of the room service passkeys, but you must return it when you’re through. We have a limited supply for the staff.”
“A passkey will be fine, but this could be a crime scene and I need you to keep everyone away from this cabin.” Jenna walked with him to the door, and when he opened it, she pinned it to a hook on the wall. “Thank you.” She led him down the path. “Go back to the ski lodge and be ready to direct the medical examiner, Dr. Shane Wolfe, here when he arrives. Give him the passkey. Don’t speak to anyone, especially the media
about this. Any leaks at this stage of our investigation will cause a problem. Right now, we don’t know if this is an unfortunate accident or a murder.” She stared at him. “Do you understand?”
“Yes, I do.” Mr. Brightway turned and hurried back down the path without a backward glance.
Jenna turned back to Kane who was staring at the ground. “What is it?”
“I figure the ice under the snow formed after she fell or was pushed into the water. The flow from the falls keeps this water moving, but the sudden cold snap has frozen it solid. That happened early this morning, which means if this is a homicide, there’s a chance there’ll be evidence trapped in the ice layer.” He crouched down and gently brushed away the recent snow, revealing a patch of ice. “That looks like blood spatter. We’ll need to mark this area.” He pulled off his backpack and took out crime scene tape and yellow markers.
Jenna took in the distance from the chalet to where Kane was standing. “Maybe someone followed her from the ski resort? It’s noisy here at night with the forest creaking, branches cracking and falling. It would have concealed the sound of someone walking behind her.”
“Maybe, but the manager said nobody left the resort after her last night.” Kane wrapped tape around a tree and paced to the next one.
Jenna placed a flag near the spot Kane had uncovered. “Who says they came from the resort? They could have left there and been in any one of, what, fifty or so chalets littered around the place?”
“True.” Kane tied off the tape and went to her side. “Why do you figure she took such an isolated cabin? I mean, this one is perfect for a honeymoon, but a woman alone who maybe has enemies at the conference would be taking a risk. You’d think she’d stay in the hotel where it’s safe.”
Heading back to the chalet door, Jenna turned to him. “I wouldn’t stay out here alone at night, that’s for sure. It looks great during the day, but walking back here alone at night isn’t my idea of fun.” She pulled booties over her shoes and followed him inside. After scanning the room, and finding nothing, she waited for Kane to walk from the bathroom. “Anything?”
“No sign of a struggle. I don’t think she made it inside.” He opened closet doors. “Her cosmetics are in the bathroom and her clothes are here. Laptop on the bed.” He bent to peer under the bed. “Not even a dust bunny.”
Taking her time, Jenna swept the room. Nothing was out of place. A dirty coffee cup sat on the bedside table, but the breakfast inside the delivery box was untouched. “So we can assume she left after drinking coffee last night.” She examined the garbage in the bin under the dresser. “The fixings wrappers for coffee are here, so she made it herself.” She turned around. “Can you see her purse?”
“Nope.” Kane stared around the room thoughtfully. “The author you spoke to mentioned Miss Storm was making notes, so she’d have a purse large enough to carry a notebook.” He moved to the door, where Duke was sitting watching them intently. “Let’s see if Duke can sniff out anything.” He picked up the laptop and held it under Duke’s nose. “Seek.”
Aware of the limited ability dogs had of tracking in the snow, Jenna wasn’t surprised when Duke sniffed around and walked into the chalet and barked. “Well, he’s right. I doubt he can track her in the snow, but I guess it was worth a try.”
“I’ll take him into the forest alongside the path. It’s not so thick in there. Someone might have tossed her purse into the bushes.” Kane headed into the trees with Duke close behind. “Seek, Duke. Find the lady’s purse for me.”
Jenna rubbed her arms and started after him and then stopped. Someone had to remain on scene and guard the body. Her thick jacket should be keeping the cold at bay, but the wind howling through the forest pushed the cold into every gap in her clothing. Her feet had turned into blocks of ice and she couldn’t feel her fingers. She walked back inside the chalet out of the wind and stared at the few items that made up Dakota Storm’s life. “I sure hope you slipped and fell into that water.”
Four
Medical examiner for Black Rock Falls, Louan and Blackwater Dr. Shane Wolfe arrived at the ski resort. His team included his assistant Colt Webber, a badge-holding deputy, and his daughter Emily. Emily, a talented ME in the making, was anxiously waiting to commence studies in medicine at Black Rock Falls Medical College after successfully completing a degree in forensic pathology. Emily worked closely with him, starting off as an intern, and Wolfe had soon discovered she had a natural instinct for the work. Not content to join the team as a forensic pathologist alone, Emily’s goal was to complete all the necessary qualifications and become a state-registered medical examiner. He’d welcome the day when she could take over for a time. It would be nice to be able to go fishing once in a while.
Wolfe climbed out of the van and blinked into the swirling snow at the impressive frontage of the main ski resort building. Walls of glass offered guests panoramic views of the valley below. The inclement weather was obviously keeping most of the visitors inside. The place was deserted. He hadn’t gotten as far as the main entrance when a man bundled up in a green hoodie came toward him. Waiting for the man to speak, he glanced around at his team. “Grab the gurney, body bag, and the forensics kits out of the van. It looks like we’re heading straight out to the scene.” He looked at the man. “Mr. Brightway? I’m the ME. What have you got for me?”
“I’m to direct you to the accident.” Mr. Brightway handed him a key. “Sheriff Alton said you’d require a passkey for Miss Storm’s room. The chalet is that way, number forty-eight. Can you be as unobtrusive as possible, maybe hide your van somewhere else? We have important guests this week. I’d rather they didn’t see your van parked out front—or the body. I won’t allow you to parade it out here in full view of everyone. You’ll have to find a way to disguise it. This is a very prestigious event. The last thing I need is bad press. They’ll never come back again.”
Annoyed at the man’s total lack of regard for the demise of one of his guests, Wolfe took the key and lowered his sunglasses to look at the man. “Bad news travels fast and I figure most of them know by now. I’m not moving the van and will be bringing the body out the easiest way. Or would you rather I left Miss Storm to decay in your pond until the melt?”
“No! How would I be able to have guests in number forty-eight with a body in the pond? Get the job done and leave before any of the guests wander outside.” Mr. Brightway gave a dismissive wave of his hands and stepped closer, gesturing wildly as if trying to push him down the pathway. “The path is that way.”
“Uh-huh.” Wolfe straightened and pushed his sunglasses back up his nose. Behind him he heard Emily make a strange snorting noise. He took a step closer to Brightway. “I suggest you keep your guests inside until I’ve retrieved the body. If I believe a crime has been committed here, I’ll lock down this establishment, and your guests will have to remain in their rooms until further notice.” He looked away and then back at the man. “Until I examine the scene and make a determination, no one will be allowed in or out, including you.”
“You can’t do that.” Mr. Brightway’s mouth twisted into a determined grimace. “I won’t allow it. We have bus tours of crime scenes organized. I can’t call them off, the guests have already paid for them.”
Wolfe shrugged. “You don’t get a choice. When it comes to a crime scene, I make the decisions.” He puffed out a cloud of steam. “Is the sheriff on scene?”
“She is.” Mr. Brightway turned to leave.
“Just a minute.” Wolfe shook his head in disbelief. “The sheriff asked you to direct me to the body, I believe?”
“Yes, she did.” Mr. Brightway’s head nodded like it was attached to a spring.
Wolfe glanced around as Webber and Emily moved to his side and then slowly back to Brightway. “Good, then take me to cabin forty-eight. I don’t have the time to search the entire complex to hunt down a body.”
The man gave him a look of contempt and stomped off along a trail, moving at light speed. Wolfe
ushered Webber in front of him with the gurney and dropped into step beside Emily. “Some people, huh?”
“What an arrogant little man.” She grinned at him. “You sure have mellowed over the years since Mom died.”
Wolfe looked at her. “Not really… Inside I’m the same. Bad-mannered people still annoy me. I’ve gained more control as I’ve gotten older. Which is just as well, when I run into people like Brightway. That man hasn’t got one ounce of sympathy in him.” He sighed.
“Yeah, I remember when Mom was pregnant with Anna and that man came running out of a store and knocked her over.” Emily grinned. “You grabbed him and hung him over the fence. And then there was that boy at high school who kept on bothering me. You sent him packing with a death-ray glare.”
Wolfe frowned at her. “In hindsight, I shouldn’t have touched the man who knocked over your mom, but I have to admit I do tend to be a little overprotective when it comes to you and your sisters. That, I’m afraid, comes with being your dad.” He gave her a hug as they walked.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way, Dad.” Emily smiled up at him. “It’s kind of nice knowing you’ll be there for us if we ever get into trouble.” She chuckled. “Although, the parent teacher nights were freaky. I love seeing people’s expressions when you walk into a room. You look kinda scary sometimes, you know?”
Wolfe smiled. “Your mom called it ‘intense.’ She’d say, ‘Take that intense look off your face, you’ll scare the neighbors.’” He sighed. “At the time I was working through a difficult situation, so my mind was on the job, not at a cookout.” He looked ahead and spotted Kane coming out of the trees with Jenna close behind. “I think that’s the cabin up ahead.”
When the manager pushed past them and practically ran back up the path, Wolfe stared after him and then turned his attention to the area inside the crime scene tape. He waited for Jenna to make her way to his side. “Did you break the ice?”