Your turn for the grillI guess we come right after you, Ralph murmured.
She supposed that they would. The state cops who had arrived first on the scene with a second FBI man had stayed with the cast where they were grouped together at the kitchen table. Clara knew that, a little more than a hundred yards away, police, FBI, techs and whoever else, were still working on the crime scene. So far the living film crew on the islandNate Mahoney, Becca Marle and Tommy Marchanthad been questioned at the Alaska Hut. Clara felt bad for them; shed only met Natalie Fontaine and Amelia Carson once. But that crew had worked with the two women hand in hand for several years.
Now, she wondered where the three of them had goneor if law enforcement was purposely keeping them all apart.
Or, if they were lucky, and are already off this wretched island.
Miss Avery?
He had to repeat her name. She rose and followed him out of the kitchen. She passed through the dining room and the cozy parlor with its raw wood furniture and huge stone hearth to the office straight across from the kitchen.
There, Special Agent Thor Erikson indicated that she take a chair.
You all right? he asked her.
Just great, she replied. Nothing like being taken with a bunch of fake bloodand nearly plowing into a pool of the real stuff.
If it makes you feel better, there was less blood than there could have been, he said. Miss Carson was apparently killed elsewhereand dumped where she was found.
Clara didnt react in any way; she didnt know the proper reaction to such words.
Why were you running? he asked her.
Are you kidding me? she asked.
No, he said very seriously. I dont kid under circumstances like this.
Well, of course you dont.
She almost snapped the words out, but refrained. Surely, sir, youre aware that I was at the Mansion. And I believe you saw the Mansion?
Fake, he said. All for the cameras.
Yes, well, Agent Erikson, you knew that. I did not.
But why did you run out here?
The hut is out here! I hoped to God Id find friends at the hut, film crew, peopleanyone other than whoever did that!
You acted as if you were being chased.
I was being chased.
By who?
By whoever killed all those peopleI assumed, she said.
Did you have reason to believe someone was after you? he asked her, frowning.
Yes, I heard something, she said.
Heard it from where? he asked her.
In the housethe Mansion. I didnt go in very far. I came up the front steps. I opened the door to the mudroom, and then to the foyer. And then...then I stared in horror at what I thought was a massacre.
You didnt call outyou didnt scream?
She shook her head. I was tootoo terrified to scream. Then I started to back out of the house and...yes! Im certain that I heard someone upstairs. And by what I saw...it might have been whoever did this. So I turned to run out and as I did so...yes! Yes, I heard someone on the stairs. So I started to run as hard as I could. I figured my only hope for help was the Alaska Hut. I didnt know what had happened at the Mansion, only that no oneno one livingwas there to meet me. And I knew that part of the filming was supposed to be at the Alaska Hut. I figured people had to be theresomeone who could help.
What if you had found the same thing here, at the Alaska Hut? he asked her.
She shook her head. I didnt think like that. I couldnt think like that. If so...
She didnt say it aloud. Maybe if she had allowed herself to think the worst, she would have just lain down in the snow to die.
But youre positive you heard someone.
She nodded. Pretty positive.
Pretty positive.
Annoyance shot through her like a bolt. Look, Im not an agent. Im not a cop. I dont even like horror movies. I live alone. I like musicals and The Big Bang Theory and reruns of Friends and Frasier and I Love Lucy. I never even watched shows like Gotcha. I dont think I knew it existed. I was scared out of my wits and I ran, pretty darned certain that Id heard someone and that if I didnt want to be minced meat, too, I needed to run and pray for help.
We havent found anyone on the island so far, he told her.
Well, you dont think that I paused in running from the house to chop a sweet stranger in half, do you? she demanded, her temper flaring.
I thought you knew Miss Carson.
I met her once. Yesterday. The first time I was out here on the island. I met with Natalie Fontaine and Amelia Carson at the Mansion and then Tommy Marchanttheir cameramangave me a tour of the island in a snowmobile thing that seats two. I knew where the Mansion was in relation to the Alaska Hut. I know now where there are heavily forested sections of the island and where theres ice down to the water. I know the dock. Thats what I know. To the best of my knowledge, you can reach this place by private boat and ferry and thats it. Im not a regular at wild parties here, Agent. I sure as hell dont know what more you want from me!
Cooperation! he exploded.
He leaned back in the office chair, hands gripping the sides. If hed had longer hair, been wearing furs, and maybe had an Irish wolfhound at his side, hed have looked like a conquering Viking.
Miss Avery, as you might have noticed, theres a heinous killer at work here. Two people you knew were brutally murdered. Id like every bit of help you can give meif Im not keeping you from an episode of Friends for too long!
She stiffened as if shed been hit by lightning.
Im trying to help! And dont you give me this holier-than-thou speech! I know how to cooperate. Ive worked with the FBI, real FBI, good FBI agents! They were all there when the Archangel came on the Destiny and
What? He leaned forward suddenly, staring at her as if he was convinced that she had suddenly announced that she was the Archangel herself.
She foundered. I was last supposed to be performing on Celtic American Cruise Lines Destiny. We never did do the show. There was a storm at sea and a killer on the ship and, thankfully, Special Agents Crow and McCoy and...
Her voice trailed off. He was still staring at her.
Look. Im sorry. I know Im being rude. Im sure youre an excellent agent. She stopped speaking again. She was afraid shed spill out something like So, you see, I do know how agents should act! You think youre tough, huh. Yeah. Youve got the look. You could be an actor. Youd make an excellent Viking. I could totally see you in The 13th Warrior. And youd have been great in Thor, given Chris Hemsworth a run for his moneymove over, Stellan Skarsgård.
Thankfully, she managed not to speak.
They were both still staring at each other when there was a rap at the door and it opened a shade.
Thor?
Clara knew the voice; she knew it because she had depended on Jackson Crow as if he were a lifeline when shed been on the Destiny.
The man in front of her blinked. He stood, recognizing the new arrival, as well.
Jackson, he said.
Clara leaned back for a minute, just breathing. Then she, too, rose to her feet and turned to the door.
The man in front of her blinked. He stood, recognizing the new arrival, as well.
Jackson, he said.
Clara leaned back for a minute, just breathing. Then she, too, rose to her feet and turned to the door.
Jackson Crow had arrived. He was busy shedding a huge parka. He hadnt taken note of her yet; he walked across the room.
Shed expected that maybe such manly agents greeted one another with stiff handshakes, but she was mistaken. The two embraced in a fierce hug instead.
How the hell are you? Crow demanded.
Pretty gooduntil this morning, Thor Erikson said.
Yeah, me, too, Crow said, and Clara was startled by the timbre of emotion in his voice.
She didnt know what was going on. Surely, neither of these men had known the victims.
They spoke quickly for a moment in a conversation that meant little to herbut seemed to make perfect sense to the two of them.
Crow first. You heard, then.
Didnt believe it. How the hell...? Erikson responded.
Its the system. Criminals who are incarcerated will find a way out.
Damn, someone out there should have knownshould have watched him better.
Should have. But this isnt
The same. No. Ive seen the remains.
And then, it was as if they both realized she was in the room. They were an intriguing pair, both so tall, the one dark, the other so light. And while they were perplexed, there was also something solid and reassuring about them togetheras if they were godlike sentinels of old.
Jackson Crow saw her then. Clara, poor Clara! He walked toward her.
She hurried to him and he encompassed her in his arms.
Im so sorry, so sorry, Crow told her.
Agent Erikson cleared his throat. Im just beginning to get the gist of this. You were all aboard the Destiny when the Archangel was caught.
Myself and Jude McCoy, Miss Avery and her actor friends out there, Jackson Crow told him. Clara realized she was still clinging to Crow like a lifeline. She managed to straighten herself. Agent Erikson was looking from one of them to the other. He shook his head and sank back in his chair.
Miss Avery found the second body, he said.
Jackson Crow looked at her. Clara, Lord, how horrible. Im sure you came up here to get away from what happened in the Caribbean.
Clara shrugged uneasily, aware that Erikson was looking at her as if she somehow brought bad things with her wherever she went, like an unlucky penny.
Jackson Crow looked over at Thor Erikson. What else did you need from her?
Anything, everything. When you met with Ms. Fontaine and Ms. Carson, Miss Avery, were they nervous in any way? Did they make any comments of being afraid of anyone in Alaska? Did they suggest that they had received any threats?
Clara shook her head. We met. Natalie made sure I was aware that Celtic American was wholeheartedly for the cast joining her show for the segmentit would be wonderful publicity for them. Id already signed all kinds of waivers for the show.
Which, of course, you didnt really read, Thor said.
Clara stiffened but forced a pleasant smile. Actually, I did read what I was signing. The problem is that you sign for the parent company, which meant they could use us in their silly Gotcha show, as well. I didnt realize it at the timehindsight is wonderful. Have you never thought that, Agent Erikson?
I dont think theres anything more that Clara can give you right now, Jackson Crow said quietly. Give her some time. If there is something, shell think of it. And she will help in any way she can.
Erikson inclined his head.
I need to speak with everyone involved, Thor said. He looked at Clara. So, your entire cast was on the Destiny with another serial killer.
Not the entire cast, no, Clara said. We have one new member we havent worked with yetshes not on the island, though.
She really hated the third degree she was getting. She might have been brutally victimized hereand the man behaved as if he was suspicious of a group of actors escaping the horror of what had happened.
For your information, Special Agent, Simon was nearly killed himself while trying to save a friend of ours from the Archangel. Hes still healing from a broken leg he received from a brush with the killer. He is certainly something of a hero. You have no right to treat us as if were involved in this horror in any way. Ask Jacksonhe sailed on the Destiny. Clara hoped her righteous indignation was cool and mature.
Miss Avery, Erikson said, Im sorry for what you enduredin the past, and today. The Archangel is dead. Whoever is responsible for this butchery might have just gotten started. Im doing my best to see that the killer is caught before someone else is murdered. If that offends your sensibilities, I do apologize. But it doesnt change the fact that you all are on an island where a woman has been cut in half. So, I will ask you all, bear with me.
How the hell could she be so right and this man still be able to make her feel like a plaintive schoolgirl?
She thanked God for her theatrical training and didnt react in the least.
Shall I send someone else in? she asked.
He nodded at her. Yes, please. He looked at her keenly, and she had the odd feeling that he was inwardly shaking his head at her behaviordespite the fact that Jackson Crow had spoken so well for her.
Well, youre a jerk! she thought. Tackling me into the snowtwice!
I will seriously try to help in any way that I can, she said evenly.
Theres always hope, he said. Miss Avery, you do realize theres a key word in what Im telling you, Erikson said.
She remained still.
Island, he said. Either the killer knows Alaska like the back of his hand, such that he knew how to get here, kill and leaveor he is still here, perhaps among you and your friends.
3
A deeper chill settled over Clara. That was itof course. They were all suspects.
No, no, no. These men couldnt possibly believe that sheor Ralph, Simon or Larry!could have had anything to do with these horrendous murders.
Jackson would quickly set him straight on that!
But what about the film crew? She couldnt believe they had anything to do with the murders. Theyd all been too shocked, stunned and horrified when theyd been told that it was not a prank any longer, that people were dead.
But it was an island. And the only people here were her cast mates and the crew working for the film company.
And, of course, Mr. and Mrs. Crowley. The caretakers for the estate.
Had they been interviewed? Clara hadnt even seen them yet, though she knew that Larry had gone to find them and that they had been at the Alaska Hut.
But, no. Impossible. Shed met the couple. They were in their late sixties or early seventies. Mrs. Crowley was an attractive, slim, gray-haired woman who was, admittedly, a little odd. She was coldlybut perfectlycourteous while making sure people, even Natalie Fontaine, understood that even though she was there to oversee and facilitate, they needed to help themselves and be self-sufficient if they needed something.
Mr. Crowley matched his wife; he was still fit as a fiddle.