Page 98 of Coordinates of Death

She tipped her head in acknowledgment and answered the call. “Hunt here.” A pause. Her eyes widened. “Okay, I’ll put you on Speakerphone, Dirk.” She hit the button. “Go ahead. Tell Kordell what you said.”

“I just received an odd phone call from a robotic voice claiming to be SBK. He—or she, I couldn’t tell which—said to call you right away.”

“I’m not surprised. SBK is observing our every move.” Kordell pointed to the secret camera and waved.

Aurora lowered his arm. “Don’t egg him on.”

“Rory, tell me what’s going on. Are you okay?”

Kordell noted Aurora’s tightened stance at Dirk using her nickname. She obviously didn’t like it, and truth be told, neither did he. Rory was reserved for close friends, and Dirk didn’t fit into that category anymore.

“Fine.” Aurora explained how they found Candace’s body, requesting his team’s presence. “It’s a two-hour drive and quite a hike through the woods. Can you also get Dr. Sharpe here? I can see a shadow box but don’t want to touch anything.”

“Yes, and back out of the room.”

She rolled her eyes for Kordell’s benefit. “I realize that, Dirk. We’ll wait on the lower level. I’ll send the exact coordinates and other obstacles we encountered on the hike to the mansion.”

“Obstacles?”

Kordell shared about the spiked branches. “Watch where you step, and listen to nature.”

Dirk harrumphed. “I’m not an idiot, Greene. It’s not like I don’t know what to do in our Yukon winter wilderness.”

Aurora frowned. “Dirk, he’s only trying to help.”

“I don’t need his help.”

Was the man jealous of Kordell? It didn’t make sense since he was married. Or did he still have feelings for Aurora? He raised his hands in surrender, not that Dirk could see him. “Noted. Won’t happen again.”

“I’ll let Wheeler know. See you in a few hours.” Dirk ended the call without waiting for a response.

Aurora stuffed her sat phone back into her bag. “The nerve of him. He’s so infuriating. I hope he brings lots of flashlights because it’s still dark.”

“We’d better back out of the room, or we’ll be reprimanded.” Kordell exited.

After searching the upstairs rooms for signs of anyone lurking and coming up empty, they positioned themselves on the main level to wait for the team.

Hours later, footsteps pounded on the front steps.

Kordell and Aurora bolted upright, hands on weapons.

“I’ll check it out.” Aurora shuffled to the door, peeking through the glass side panel. “It’s them. Dirk, the door is—”

Click.

Kordell checked his watch. “SBK is right on time. He said the doors would unlock at dawn.”

Aurora opened the door. “You made good time.”

“Yes, because I can lead others through the wilderness too.” Dirk set his equipment down in the foyer.

Kordell bit his tongue, suppressing the words he wanted to say at the man’s blatant sarcasm.

Dr. Sharpe stomped the snow from his boots. “Show me where Candace is. Let’s get her out of here and go somewhere safe.”

The man’s words held compassion for the victim.

Good on you, Doc.