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“It’s Tucker—”
“Did you know?”
“Sorry? Know what?”
“That Beau Grainger kept the heads of Aaron and his family as trophies. Stuck up on the goddam fucking wall.”
A silence.
Barbara sighed. “You did?”
“I wasn’t in any position to take them from him.”
“Jesus Christ, Tucker. I thought you were different from the rest of this town, but you’re just as bad.”
“I got shot trying to save Aaron’s life. Back then, I might well have found my own head up there, too. I couldn’t help them once they were dead.”
Barbara seethed, but she knew he was right. It wasn’t his fault. She was angry and taking it out on him.
“I’m getting a warrant to have them repossessed and returned to the Colony,” she said.
“Good.”
“Why are you calling?”
“I have Grace, Reverend Grey’s assistant, in custody.”
“What? Why?”
“I caught her trashing your room and leaving you a message from God on the wall.”
So, Grace was the mysterious message leaver. But was she acting alone, or on the orders of her guardian?
“She say why?”
“She’s not saying anything right now.”
“Okay. I’ll be there in five minutes.”
Barbara put down her phone and guided the truck carefully down Main Street. She could feel the truck’s tires having to work harder to push through. The windscreen wipers moved slush around the screen but didn’t do much in the way of wiping. She squinted through a tiny patch of clear glass.
A small group of people stood in a huddle outside the café. Talking about this morning’s meeting perhaps, or Beau’s strange behavior. Or maybe just seeking safety in numbers. Ultimately, humans were pack animals.
She pulled up outside the police department, climbed out of the vehicle and traipsed through the snow up to the door. She let herself in. Grace was sitting inside one of the small cells, head bowed, hands clasped in prayer. Tucker was in the office, just putting down the phone. Barbara shook snow out of her hair and looked at him questioningly. “So?”
“I’ve taken fingerprints. She’s declined legal representation—or at least she shook her head—which is just as well, seeing as the nearest lawyer lives in Anchorage.”
Barbara was impressed at his efficiency. “She talking at all?” she asked.
“Only thing she has said is to ask for the Reverend Grey to be here.”
“Oh goody. I take it that’s who you were calling?”
“Yup.”
Barbara let out a sigh of irritation through her teeth. “Any idea how she got in?”
“Found this on her.”
