“Is any of it developed?” Ozzie asked.
Claire reached for a pen and flipped over a sheet of paper.
“What are you writing?” I asked.
“The coordinates for the properties listed on the survey reports, so I can look them up on a map.” Once she had them all down, she opened the map app on her laptop and input the first set.
The map zoomed in on an uninhabited stretch of forest.
“Well, that one’s a no on the development front,” I said.
“Yeah.” Claire’s hands moved over the keyboard again. “Let’s look at the next one.” In seconds, a new section of the state appeared. It, too, was forested, but there was a small building visible.
“Hunting cabin?” Ozzie leaned in for a closer look.
“Possibly,” Claire said.
“That’s the one south of Juneau, right?”
She nodded.
He picked up her pen and circled the numbers on the paper, then closed the laptop with one finger. “And now we’re done googling things about Moira Duluth’s case.”
Claire sputtered, but he laid a finger over her lips. “I have other news.” His gaze shifted to his brother, then Luke and me.
I could tell he didn’t like having an audience from the pinch around his eyes, but he forged ahead anyway.
“Riggs okayed me taking a couple of days off for the holiday this weekend. I thought we could fly over to Hoonah and seeChristine and Tom,” he said, mentioning some of their friends. “Maybe do some camping and fishing.” He dropped his finger.
A bright smile bloomed on Claire’s face. “That sounds great.”
“Good.” An answering grin turned up the corners of his mouth, but just as quickly, it descended into a mock scowl as he turned to me. “You get to watch our dogs.”
“Ozzie! That’s a bit presumptuous, don’t you think?” Claire said.
I laughed and waved a hand. “It’s fine.” I glanced at Luke. “Maybe we can take them on a hike?”
“Sure.” He glanced down at the dogs, who now sat at Ozzie and Claire’s feet, then looked at me with a frown. “Will they make it on a hike?”
“Probably not,” I said with a chuckle. “Be prepared to carry one, or both.”
“I have a pack you can use that you can put at least one in to carry them. Then your hands are free.” Ellis laid the last filet on the plate.
“I’ll take you up on that,” Luke said.
Ellis nodded once, taking a step back to open the spice cupboard. “I’ll bring it by Mina’s shop tomorrow.” Taking out several bottles, he set them on the counter, then sent a look at his brother from beneath his lashes. “I know you said no more talking about your case, but I have something to add.”
Ozzie’s mouth thinned. “What is it?”
“I talked to a few of the older fishermen who’ve been around a long time. Flat out asked what they knew about Walter Shuman. They know who I am and who you are, so it didn’t make sense to beat around the bush. Anyway, Bob Dietrich remembered seeing Walter arguing with a dark-haired woman around the time Moira went missing.”
“Could he tell you whether it was Moira?” Ozzie asked.
Ellis picked up a container of dill and sprinkled it over the cod. “No. He couldn’t even say what they were arguing about. They were up the hill from the dock, near the parking lot, he said. All he saw was a dark-haired woman, some wild gesticulating, then she stormed off. I tried to get him to pin down a better timeline, but he couldn’t. He only remembers it was that year because it was the same year the Myers Mansion sold.”
“That’s the property Walter stole out from under Sarah Cole’s nose. It was his aunt’s house.” Pulling the corner of his mouth between his teeth, Ozzie worried the inside of his cheek. “Why would Bob Dietrich remember that detail? What was important about that house?”
Ellis wagged a finger at Ozzie. “Good question. One I thought of too.” He grinned. “See? I could do your job if I wanted.”
