“Why?” Iz asked. “Never mind. Dumb question. I get it. Prevent mass hysteria.”
Joel nodded. “We can watch the guys’ faces. See who reacts differently. The person who killed him will know we’re lying.”
“Double whammie,” Iz said. “I like it. Now, what do we do with Brady?”
“I’m going to do an exam.” Joel strode toward the bed.
“What for?” Iz stepped back.
“It’s a murder investigation. After we’re rescued, I want to hand the case off to the cops, knowing I did everything I could to help.”
“I’ll help too,” Cassie said.
“You sure?” Joel asked.
“Positive. It’s my job too.”
Between Joel’s first-on-the-scene details and her minimal autopsy exam—the best she’d be able to do under the circumstances—they’d have a solid start for the cops when this nightmare was over.
“Since I’m not needed...” Izzy said, moving for the door.
“Jayce,” Joel said over his shoulder. “Go with her.”
“And do what?”
“Tell them we found Brady, and we’ll be out soon.”
“They aren’t going to leave it at that, bro.”
“You’ll think of something.” He clapped his brother on the shoulder. “I trust you.”
“Thanks.” Jayce sighed on a whistle, then locked and shut the door behind him and Iz.
“Okay.” Joel cracked his neck and knuckles. “Let’s do as much of this by the book that we can. We’ll have to find a way to examine him without leaving prints.”
“I think we just get as close as we can with our gloves on.” She leaned in. One of them would have to hold and position the flashlight just right to get the best pics. “Take zoomed-in pics on your phone, which I’m guessing still has—”
“Zero signal,” he confirmed. “The avalanche must have knocked the cell tower out like we thought.”
“Or the blizzard. But at least your phone still has power. You can get some good shots for the cops. I’m guessing you got some of where you found him?”
“Yeah.” He handed her his phone, and she swiped through them. “Man, poor dude. Looks like he has two wounds based on the blood splatter.” She pointed. “His head trauma from the fall, along with his neck in that region, but also lower down...”
“Yeah, his lower back...” He looked at where the blood pooled in Brady’s snowsuit at the back of his left kidney. “If we can determine which cut came first...”
“We can recreate what went down.”
Someone rapped on the door.
“It’s me,” Jayce called.
“Hang on.” Cassie moved to open the door.
Joel looked up at his bro. “What’s up?”
“Most people aren’t buying the story. I’m going to head outand see if I can find where the murder took place. I’ll sneak out and check the outer buildings.”
Joel clapped him on the shoulder. “Great idea. Use the passageway.”
