“His.” Nick didn’t fire his weapon randomly, especially not in populated urban areas where stray bullets could take innocent lives. “Who was the moaner?”
Royce’s jaw tightened. “Frank Richards.”
“The guy we came to help?”
“Some help we were.” Royce drew in a breath and let it out slowly, his lips forming a tight line. “We were a few minutes too late.”
“Damn. Did he give you a clue as to who might have done it?”
His boss shook his head, a frown drawing his brows together. “He died without uttering another word. But I found this and a pen lying on the bathroom floor close by.” Royce held up a small pad of paper with a page half ripped off. “I think whoever shot him took the message.”
“Let me see that.” Nick took the pad and tipped it back and forth until the light cast enough shadow over where the pen had dented the pages below the missing one. “What does it say?”
“North Pole, AX or AK. Help Santa.”
Nick barked out a mirthless laugh. “The man was clearly delusional. Already in the throes of death.”
“No. He wrote it before he was shot. There’s no blood on the pad or the pen and his fingers had blood on them when he died. I think he means for us to help someone.”
“There is a town in Alaska named North Pole. It’s close to Fairbanks. You suppose that’s what he was talking about?”
“Maybe.”
“Why there? Do you think Santa is a code word for something?”
“I don’t know. What I do know is that whoever did this was after something, and I’d bet my reputation they didn’t find it.”
“And they weren’t afraid to kill for it.” Nick stared down at the man lying on the floor, his face pale and tinged gray. “You think our shooter will look in North Pole, Alaska next?”
“Perhaps.” Royce’s gaze fell to the man lying on the floor. He wore a New York Knicks sweatshirt and jeans.
“How do you know Richards?” Nick moved to the living area.
Royce followed, the pad in his hand. “I met Sergeant Major Richards when I was an active duty Navy SEAL. He was a member of the Army Special Forces assigned to participate as a subject matter expert in a joint task force training exercise. We had a few beers after the training and since then, I’ve always kept in touch. When I’d come up to New York, I made it a point to look him up.”
A computer sat on a desk in the corner, with several bullet holes in the CPU.
“Look at this.” Nick bent to examine it. “Any reason why a shooter would target a man and his computer?”
“I’ll have Swede look into it.” Royce jerked the cord out of the wall and unhooked the CPU from the monitor. “In the meantime, I want you up in Alaska. If they were after something and didn’t find it, there’s a chance that’s where they’ll look.”
Nick shivered just thinking about the cold. “Couldn’t he have chosen Florida or Texas?”
“Whoever killed Frank might kill in Alaska.” Royce pushed back his shoulders and stared toward the bathroom where his buddy lay. “I want you there ASAP. I’d go with you, but I’ve got another case on the hot plate. Soon as I can, I’ll join you.”
“What am I looking for?”
Royce glanced at the pad. “Start with Santa.”
Chapter 2
“First name, please.” The agent behind the counter stared at the computer, fingers poised for input.
“Mary.”
“Last name.”
Mary sucked in a deep breath and let it out. When you had a last name like hers, you did a lot more explaining than if you were christened with a name like Jones, Smith or Henderson. “Christmas.”
