“Most of the humans who live here suspect us of every crime that occurs in Churchill,” Stig said with remarkable calmness. “We’ve done nothing to aggravate the situation. We’re trying to pull our weight as part of the community. Churchill is our home and we want the town and the residents to prosper.”
The RCMP studied each of them and nodded. He shut his notebook and frowned at Stig’s rapidly healing wound. “Miss, is it possible to send us a copy of your photos?”
“Fiona McDonald,” she said, holding out her hand. “Yes, I’ll download them right now.”
The corporal handed over a business card. “Email them to us. I’d like one of you to show us where you were when the shots were fired.”
“Arve and I will follow you,” Leif said. “Is that all right?”
The younger RCMP gulped noisily, but Corporal Jager radiated stern determination.
“We’d appreciate that,” he said.
“We’ll be there in a few minutes,” Leif replied, keeping his tone polite when he wanted to roar. He needed to hug Fiona before he left.
An hour later, he and Arve returned.
“Did you find anything?” Josef asked from his position on the couch.
Fiona and his brothers were watching anotherDie Hardmovie.
“We found a bullet embedded in the wall,” Leif said.
“We calculated the angles and discovered where the shooter stood to take the shot,” Arve added.
Runt’s eyes narrowed. “Did you get his scent?”
“We think so, although the track crossed with others and intermingled. We followed the trail to the Tundra Inn. The RCMP informed us they’d take it from there. It could be any of the guests or a smart local trying to muddy the trail. It didn’t help us much,” Arve said in frustration.
“So what do we do next?” Fiona asked.
Leif growled low in his throat. “We can’t do anything except watch our surroundings.”
Fiona tapped her fingers on her knee. “This might not be connected, but while I was in Winnipeg, there was a shooting. A lady right next to me died. I remember thinking my clumsiness saved me.”
The scared note in her voice didn’t go unnoticed by any of the brothers.
“What if the shooter meant to shoot me and missed?”
The next day.
“Fear has a scent.” Josef slung his arm around her shoulders and squeezed her with affection. “It’s coming off you in waves.”
“Well, if someone shot at you, you’d waft fear too,” she retorted.
His brows rose. “Waft?”
“Whatever word fits best.”
“The two events might not be related,” Leif said as he handed her a cup of coffee.
Arve scratched his chin. “But they might be. We should never discount our instincts, and it seems odd that Fiona was present at two shootings in two different towns.”
“Fiona will stay here in safety,” Leif stated.
“That’s a big, fat no,” she said before one of the other brothers agreed. “I am here for an adventure. You promised to take me out on the tundra again. I’d love to see more bears and I still haven’t managed to snap an owl photo. I should be safe enough with five big strapping bears surrounding me. This morning, we should go ahead as normal and approach the local business owners about using our service. You need me along for these talks because seeing you in a group makes people nervous.”
“She is right about her helping the humans approach us. We sold our produce because of her,” Stig said.
