“That’s what I thought.” Sarah lit a match and set it to the wick in an oil lamp on the peninsula separating the small kitchen from the living room. She pulled out the rough wooden stool and sat down, facing them. “I asked you to meet me because that detective is getting too close to the truth.” She aimed a smile at me and Mina. “It’s actually rather convenient that you two happened upon our rendezvous. You can tell us what you know.”
“Probably not a lot more than you,” Mina said. “Ozzie plays things close to the vest. We only know what we’ve uncovered in the building.”
“Oh, please,” Miranda said, jumping into the conversation. “I know Claire Holmes. She could convince the devil to repent and ascend to heaven. There’s no way she hasn’t gotten informationout of Detective Quartermaine. They live together.” She jabbed a finger at Mina. “And if she knows something, you know something, because you two are best friends.”
“If Ozzie swears her to secrecy, she doesn’t tell me. She wouldn’t betray his trust like that.”
Miranda hummed a non-answer.
“We know she’s told you something, so tell us.” Sarah’s gaze traveled to the rifle she’d rested against the wall behind her, out of our reach, then back to us. “I don’t have to keep you two around.”
I held up a hand. “All we know is how she was identified and that she was pregnant at the time of her death.”
Walter stilled at that. Miranda blinked in surprise.
Sarah, however, didn’t bat an eye.
“Really? That’s all you know?” She arched an eyebrow. “Then why is the detective’s brother asking questions about the Myers Mansion and other property Edna Myers owned down at the docks?”
Mina quickly jumped in. “The body was found in a building Walter owned.” She gestured to him. “It’s only natural that the police would look into other property associated with him.”
I wanted to smile and high-five her for thinking so fast, but that would only raise suspicion, so I kept my expression neutral and my gaze fixed on Sarah.
The woman narrowed her eyes but didn’t disagree with Mina’s statement. A moment later, she hopped off her stool. “Walter.”
The man’s attention snapped to her.
“You need to stay here and watch these two. Miranda and I need to go back to town and make sure Ellis Quartermaine doesn’t find out anything he shouldn’t. Preferably before his brother returns.” She picked up her rifle, then turned to Miranda. “Wait here for a moment.”
Before any of us could respond, she walked to the back door and went outside. It slammed shut, then we heard hammering.
“What is she doing?” Mina looked at Miranda.
The other woman shrugged. “Probably keeping you from escaping while we’re gone.”
Walter frowned, moving toward the window when it went dark. “I’m here too. Who does she think I’m going to run to and tell? I’m in as deep as you two.”
“Maybe she’s just worried you’ll ditch us,” Miranda said.
“Does it really matter? We’re all on the run. Who cares if we’re together?”
He continued to frown as the window on the other side of the small cabin went dark as well.
With each hammer blow cementing the board in place, more trepidation skittered through my system. Unless there was something in here to help us pry off the boards, we could very well be stuck.
Once the windows were boarded up, a few seconds later, the front door swung in. Sarah had her rifle ready but not aimed.
She fixed her gaze on Miranda. “Let’s go.”
Miranda huffed and didn’t budge. “Are we really walking all the way back to Juneau? It’s getting late.”
Sarah cocked a hip and rolled her eyes. “No. There’s an ATV stored in the shed. We’re taking that. Let’s go.”
Giving Walter one last look, Miranda moved toward the door. “We’ll be back.” She moved out the door past Sarah.
“There’s plenty of food in the cupboards. You won’t starve.” With that, Sarah yanked the door shut. More banging erupted moments later.
I waited. Until the footsteps on the wooden porch faded and the ATV rumbled to life and sped away, I waited. As soon as I was sure they weren’t coming back, I sprang off the couch.
