“I’m going to miss that on your finger.”
The delicate gold ring was a perfect fit. Kat admired the ring through wet eyes and watched the tiny diamond sparkle in the kitchen light.
“It’s perfect.” She ran to her grandmother and threw her arms around her again. “I love you.”
Grandma Bricken smiled, tears in her eyes too, and patted Kat’s back. “Be happy child of my heart.”
“Don’t you keep a bottle of elderberry wine around here?”
“As a matter of fact I do—mostly for medicinal purposes, of course.”
“Of course.” The group chorused.
Grandma poured cordial glasses of wine. “To the child of my heart and to the love of hers. May your life together be a journey blessed in times of joy and even more so in times of sadness.”
“Here, here.” Bart raised his glass to Kat, then Ken and drank the cordial in one gulp.
“To the release of Iconoclast and our fellow fighters.” Atramentous raised a black chalice and sipped the thick red liquid it contained. Gambogian, Caitiff, Bruit, Trepaner, Prevaricator, Venenose and Profligacy raised their chalices.
“To the next sacrifice that will bring our number to completion. Complete before and complete again.” Gambogian threw back his opaque neck and tossed the blood down.
In unison they raised their cups and chanted. “To the end of our confinement. To the release of Iconoclast. To the taking of Ravens Cove.”
Chapter 12
A Piece of Heaven and a Taste of Hell
By the time the small troop were up and dressed, the smells from the kitchen were irresistible. A plate of reindeer sausage and a plate of eggs sat in the middle of the table. Sourdough toast and orange juice completed a meal fit for royalty.
The group gathered at the table. “Thank you God. Your provision is always abundant. Bless this food and let it nourish our bodies as Your word nourishes our souls. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
They laid out a plan over breakfast. Bart and Ken would drop Kat at the office on their way to Old Town. Wendy, Grandma and Josiah would return to Mrs. Tellamoot’s. Phone calls were to be at intervals of every thirty minutes.
An icy Inlet wind greeted them as they left the warm house. Heavy laden clouds promised snow before day’s end.
After watching Kat go through the police station door, Bart and Ken headed to Old Town. The dark fog had lifted but the place was disconcertingly silent.
“We don’t have many birds in the winter but we still have chickadees and nuthatches. They are usually flitting around somewhere.” Bart’s stomach grew uneasy.
“Let’s get this done and get out of here as soon as we can.”
Ken looked at the structures. “I can’t shake the feeling that we’re being watched.”
“Me either.” They moved toward the skull rock and examined the stone.
Ken gave it a push. It didn’t budge. Bart joined him and they both pushed. It still didn’t budge.
“I’ll get a crowbar.” Bart moved away from the stone and walked toward the old cannery.
“Wrong way …” Ken caught sight of a large mound in front of the cannery and straight-lined it to the building.
The sight would have made stronger men retch. A bag of mush lay under thousands of wriggling larvae. Bart breathed an angry sigh then took his phone from his pocket.
Doc Billings pulled up, looking as tired as Bart felt. The concern lined his face as he grabbed his black bag and came around the Audi.
He viewed the body, not even bothering to bend over.
“I want to know how these bodies are ending up here and in such a state of decomp. Someone should have been missed before this.” He scratched his head, put on his gloves and went to work.
“Speak to me.” Bart said into his phone. His eyes stayed on Doc Billings and the corpse.
“Anchorage M.E. called about the first and actually the second bodies. You got the case numbers?”
“Doc Billings called me with them earlier.”
“Also got a call from Jack Calphor at the troopers.”
“What’d Jack say?”
“The excavator arm might have been tampered with.”
“Might have been?”
“Says his findings aren’t conclusive.”
“Why?”
“It’s a clean break. There were no tale-tail marks that would indicate sabotage.”
“Then the metal must have been defective.”
“He tested it. The integrity of the metal was not comprised— his wording not mine.”
“That all he said?”
“Yes. Except he’d send the official report tomorrow.”
“Thanks.” Bart disconnected, went through the list of speed dial numbers and punched the one labeled A.M.E. Bart identified himself and rattled a string of numbers into the phone. His brow furrowed as he listened to the report.
“Thanks.” He hung up and looked at Ken.
“Same signs as the last murders—sulfur and some weird herbal mixture not from Alaska. But this time, and it was confirmed, the heart was literally ripped from the chest—the M.E.’s words—and the throat had been ripped open too. All the signs of an animal killing, except they’d never seen a predator in Alaska leave that kind of mark. They got a call in to an expert on animal attacks. They’ll get back to us.”
“Like small, weird Kumrande teeth, maybe?”
“I didn’t feel the urge to tell the M.E. about the battle for our lives with creatures that don’t exist. How about you?”
“Oh, no. I’ve lost enough credibility.” Ken thought back to one of his last conversation with his chief.
“You should talk to someone about those hallucinations,” Chief Andy Binning said. And, this wasn’t the first time Binning had urged Ken to see a shrink. To make matters worse, he’d been labeled “Fox” by his peers, and asked on one occasion if they should open an X –Files division in Anchorage.
“Let’s take a look at the cannery. Seems that one is our new crime scene.” Bart stopped at the outlines where the bodies of Gary and Johnny Campo, now confirmed, had lain. The body of the newest victim had just been removed. “There’s a pattern, I just can’t quite put it together.”
“Me either.” Ken looked at the three white outlines. Each outline pointed to a building. They sat equidistant from each other all with the heads pointed to the doors of the buildings.
“You know what else? There has been a murder a night. I don’t like that pattern either.” Bart thought back to October and the deaths that had occurred each night then, too. Grandma had said there would be five deaths and then Ravens Cove would fall to the darkness. Bad enough he wanted and needed to stop the killings. Now he realized the town was on a high speed collision course with destruction and he didn’t know how to stop it. A sense of urgency made Bart restless.
“We got to move, Ken. And we got to move now.” We’re out of time.” They disappeared inside the cannery.
Wendy dropped Grandma Bricken and Josiah at Mrs. Tellamoot’s.
“I’ll be back to get you in an hour.” Wendy was not inclined to listen in on the crazy legends. She had shaken herself earlier this morning, as light approached, and decided her imagination had been running wild. The others still had craziness going on and she needed to get away to keep her head clear.
Grandma waved as Wendy drove off. She turned and knocked.
“Didn’t expect to see you so soon, Alese.”
“We have a list of the victims. I don’t recognize any of the names, thought you could give us some insight.”
Mrs. Tellamoot retrieved her reading glasses and motioned them to a small three-seat table.
“Most of these names are still used in the clan.” Something is missing, though.” She removed her glasses and looked at Alese Bricken. “The names of the white settlers are missing. And, some of the Native names, too.”
“How do you know that?”
“My mother believed in memorizing the legends
and tales of our people. Said memory couldn’t be burned up in a fire. I’m a little old now so I’ve lost the names. But I remember the count. It was fifty-one. There are only forty-five names here. There were two pages—you only have one.”
“That’s all Kat found at the library archives.”
“Then it’s been misplaced. Give me a minute to think.” She stood up and walked into the tiny, dark kitchen. She gazed out the window into the healthy, green spruce that gave the small area color, but also blocked the light of the winter’s day.
“Two of the names of the white settlers are easy to remember—Oliver Podratshrell was one of the white settlers. Marta, adopted into our clan as a young girl, became Oliver Podratshrell’s wife.”
Grandma Bricken wrote the names in a small notebook she had brought with her. A car horn announced Wendy had returned as promised. Thanks, Bernice.”
Bernice handed her the list of names. “You need to find that other piece of paper.”
“I’ll let Bart know. If anyone can locate it, he will.”
Kat had just finished the initial report when the brass bell clanged to announce Wendy’s arrival.
“Grandma and the old guy are back at her house.”
“His name is Josiah.”
“Whatever. Time for a break?”
“Well, I really wanted to see that dog at Doctor Douglas’ office.”
“I’m always game for a trip to the vet—particularly that vet.” Wendy had had a crush on Douglas for years.
“I should let him know how you feel.”
“You should keep your mouth closed.”
“Wendy loves Carl, Wendy loves Carl.” Kat sang in a childish melody.
“I don’t anything of the sort. I just think he’s attractive … And smart, and funny.”
“That’s the closest thing to love I’ve ever heard come out of your mouth.”
“Just because you’re in love doesn’t mean the whole world is. Good grief, Kat,” Wendy said in disgust and headed out the door.
Kat flipped over the “back in an hour” sign that also had Bart’s cell number on it for emergencies, and locked the door. A few flakes floated to the sidewalk. “Looks like the snow the weather guy promised has arrived.”
“Woopee.”
Nyna was at the front counter when they arrived.
“Hey, haven’t seen you in eons,” she said to Wendy.
“Let’s get a drink sometime. And, let’s get this one to come, too.” Wendy pointed her thumb in Kat’s direction.
Kat never enjoyed girls’ night out. She had not ever enjoyed what Wendy called “Sharking.” When Wendy went out it was to find a friend for the evening—of the male persuasion.
“Better not count on me.”
“Yes. She’s spoken for now.”
Nyna looked at Kat’s left finger and saw the gold ring. “Congratulations. Who is the lucky man?”
“That FBI guy.”
“Good for you, Kat. Invite me to the wedding. I want to catch the bouquet.”
“You’re already invited.”
Nyna’s eyes sparkled. “Have a date yet.”
“Not yet.”
“You came about that animal, huh?”
“How’s he doing?”
“I better let Carl tell you.” Nyna disappeared behind the back office door.
“I wasn’t expecting you today.” Carl Douglas walked through the swinging door and grabbed Kat’s hand. “I definitely wasn’t expecting you today, Ms. Hareling. You’ve made a good day even better.” He gave Wendy a warm smile.
Carl likes Wendy, Carl likes Wendy, Kat sang in her head. Sure seems to be a lot of that love thing in the air or maybe I have a heightened awareness.
“That canine is going to make it. And, more amazingly, that animal has been nothing but gentle since he started to heal and come around. Want to take a look?”
Kat nodded and followed him to the kennels in back.
The white wolf stood up and focused gold eyes on the newcomers. His ears went back and his tail started to go from side to side in rapid motion.
“He’s as cute as any puppy I’ve ever seen.” Kat walked over and offered her hand. He sniffed and pawed at the kennel door.
“You okay with a little one on one?”
“You bet.”
Douglas flipped the latch. The canine bounded out and put both paws squarely on Wendy. She gave him a gentle push on the chest. “Down, big guy.”
He trotted to Kat next, sat on his muscular haunches, and looked into her eyes. She smiled, bent down and scratched his head. “He’s amazing. How old?”
“A year and a half, if that.”
“Got a home for him?”
Carl Douglas laughed. “Twenty-four hours ago I thought he was a goner. Placing him was the farthest thing from my mind.”
“What do you think about Mrs. Tellamoot?”
“I like the idea but don’t get your hopes up. I tried to put an abandoned lab with her and she’d have no part of it. Told me there was no dog this side of heaven could replace old Benny.”
“She hasn’t seen this one. Is he strong enough to travel?”
He smiled when he realized where Kat was going with this. “Most times, I’d say no. But this guy is an exception. I think that could be arranged.”
Kat looked at Wendy. “Will you take me and this one for a ride?” Kat knew the last thing Wendy wanted in her pristine vehicle was a wolf. Banking on your need to look good to Douglas. Don’t let me down, Winsome.
“Of course.” Wendy’s voice could have put most people into a sugar coma. “Let’s go.”
Douglas grabbed a lead and collar. “Bring him back in a couple of hours.”
Kat laughed when the white dog started prancing and pulling on the leash. “Obviously knows walks.”WC, as she had dubbed him, yanked her forward and out the door.
“You’re as manipulator.”
“If need be.”
WC waited for Kat to open the passenger door. She motioned to the back. “There’s not enough room for both of us in that bucket seat. She flipped her seat forward. WC jumped in and moved to the middle of the backseat.
“Please make yourself at home.” Wendy shook her head and got behind the wheel. “Mrs. Tellamoot’s it is.”
They pulled up in front of the small cabin. Kat yanked the front seat forward and WC flew out before she could grab the lead. “Hey. Stop.” She pursued him to the edge of the woods. She was dumbfounded when he veered and turned back. He galloped to the front door, sat down and whimpered. He pawed at the front door and whimpered again.
“Benny?” Mrs. Tellamoot knew it wasn’t Benny but couldn’t help herself. She opened the door. WC stood on his hind legs, slapped a paw on her either shoulder and licked Bernice’s face.
Kat ran to the porch and caught hold of the lead. “Down. So sorry, Mrs. Tellamoot.”
WC dropped obediently to the ground but never took his eyes off Mrs. Tellamoot. His lips parted in what Kat swore was a grin.
Mrs. Tellamoot’s eyes filled with tears. They made glistening tracks down her cheeks as she looked at the amber-eyed creature before her.
“You’ve come back.” She bent down and threw her arms around the white dog and buried her head in the thick fur of his neck.
Wendy whispered in Kat’s ear, “think we should let them have some time alone.”
Kat doubled her fist and hammered Wendy’s arm. “Stop it.”
Mrs. Tellamoot looked up at Kat. “How did you know?”
“I didn’t. Just thought you must be lonely without Benny and this poor guy’s an orphan.”
“I’ll take him.” Bernice caught hold of the leash. Kat held on.
“Doctor Douglas made me promise to bring him back to the clinic. He’s been very ill—they almost lost him.”
“Pshaw. This dog needs love, not a stinky old hospital.
Come in.” She dropped the lead and so did Kat. The dog followed them in, walked to the rug in front of the sto
ne fireplace, circled twice and lay down in a ball. His eyes never left Mrs. Tellamoot. She motioned Kat into the kitchen and handed her the phone.
“How is that dog acting?”
“Content. He won’t take his eyes off her.”
“Tell Mrs. Tellamoot to keep him tonight. I’ll bring some food out on my way home. She’s agreed I can come see him tomorrow early before I go into the office. If he’s still doing well, he can stay and she can finish his nursing.”
“Great.”
Kat hung up and turned to Bernice. “He stays here.”
Mrs. Tellamoot threw her arms around Kat’s neck. “I can never repay you this miracle. My home is always yours—and Alese’s.” She turned and smiled at Wendy, “and also yours.”
Wendy’s brow wrinkled. “Thanks?”
“Did you know I went to school with your momma?”
“No. Mom never talked about you.”
Sadness clouded Bernice’s eyes. “How silly of me. Of course, she wouldn’t have. Long before you came into this world, she was my best friend. Then we had a stupid fight about … something I don’t remember. I always thought we’d make it right someday. She passed before that someday came.”
“You weren’t at the funeral.”
“I grieved and honored her here.” Bernice placed her hand over her heart. “I still do.”
Tears sprang into Wendy’s eyes before she could control them. “No one speaks of my mother anymore.”
“There are not many of our clan around anymore. But I am here and your mother is still in my heart.” Mrs. Tellamoot touched Wendy’s cheek. “You look like her.”
Wendy took Mrs. Tellamoot’s hand and smiled. “I will honor your words in my heart.”
“Come tomorrow for lunch, then. I will tell you stories that will make you laugh and cry. We can make it a tradition.”
“I think I’d like that. Tomorrow it is.”
Kat was surprised by the relief and gratitude that flooded her. Wendy had grown so hard after her mother’s death. Kat couldn’t remember the last time Wendy had cried. Her gratitude both humbled her and softened her heart toward the God that allowed her to watch Him heal her friend’s soul.
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