“Hey. That’s not fair, Daws.” This from Griffin.
Dawson rounded on him. “Yes, it is. And I don’t blame you, Griff.”
His words scraped through Keely, turned her hollow. “What?”
Dawson glanced at her. “We found tracks around the barn this morning. From more than one sled.”
She walked over to the group. “What does that mean?”
“It means whoever attacked Griffin is back,” Donald snapped. “And this time, he attacked me and set our barn on fire.”
“The barn might have been an accident, Don,” Nance said. “One of the propane lights could have ignited it.”
Donald gave her a tight look.
Griffin held up his hand. “Whoever they are, yes, it looks like they came back.”
Keely folded her arms against herself. Met Dawson’s eyes. “Thornwood.”
“Maybe,” he said quietly. “I’m not sure where he would have spent the storm, but I can’t figure out why he’d come back.”
“Me?”
He drew in a breath, his expression grim. “Could be.”
“I don’t understand why he wants me.”
“You saw him take down the plane. You can identify him.”
“So can Wilder! And that’s who he was after.”
“Wilder Frost?” Landon stood with one foot on the bench, one arm perched on his knee. “You were on the plane with Wilder Frost?”
“I don’t know his last name. Brown hair, in his thirties.”
Landon nodded, put his foot down. “Sounds like Frost.” He glanced at Dawson. “I heard the Sorros trial was beginning down in Juneau. I’ll bet he was headed down to testify.”
“What trial?” Griffin asked.
Dawson was nodding, and Keely could almost see the gears working in his detective brain. “Frost is a local musher.” He folded his arms across his chest. “Three years ago, he was out with his dogs and just happened across a group of ... well, let’s call them a group operating outside of the law. Drugs and weapons, and we’re not sure what else, but we do know the Sorros brothers were involved—Mars and Jago and Conan, all led by their father, Brand. Brand was caught about five years ago and charged with drug dealing. But the boys were stillout, running the operation. Three years ago, Wilder witnessed them murder a DEA agent. Unfortunately, they knew this and came after him. They killed Wilder’s wife, but he managed to escape with his daughter. He’s been living in Copper Mountain ever since. The brothers scattered, but Conan and Jago were caught and arrested. Since Conan pulled the trigger, according to Wilder, they had him on first-degree murder charges. Then Jago was killed in prison a couple months ago. He had a plea agreement to testify against Conan, but when he was killed, they turned to Wilder. They were probably bringing him in to testify...”
Dawson glanced at Keely. “Can you describe Thornwood again?”
“Just a lumberjack. Dark beard, kind of scraggly, and he had a scar on his cheek, right here.” She touched a place under her eye. “Big guy.”
“Could be any of the Sorros brothers,” Landon said.
“Conan Sorros escaped from prison during a transfer a month ago,” Dawson said quietly.
A chill spread through Keely. “Are you saying that Thornwood is Conan Sorros and that’s who was on that plane?”
“I don’t know,” Dawson said.
“If Wilder knew him, why didn’t he recognize Sorros?” Landon asked.
“Sounds like he wore a disguise. Or—”
“Thornwood got on the plane last,” Keely said. “He sat in the back seat with me. Maybe Wilder didn’t get a good look at him. They were sort of standing apart from each other.”
