Aeneas barked and bounded through the snow to them. Snow covered his nose as well as a green jacket that protected his body from the elements.
“Hi, boy,” she said, her teeth chattering.
Using bright flashlights, three officers followed the dog, all wearing heavy Fish and Wildlife coats, ski pants, and wonderfully thick-looking boots. Laurel recognized Huck, Monty, and Ena. Huck and Ena carried a stretcher between them. Laurel waved and her freezing arm protested.
Huck set the stretcher to the side and reached her first. He dragged a silver blanket from a pack strapped to his back. “You’re too cold.” He settled the material over her shoulders as Ena did the same for Walter. Even in the storm, he smelled like pine and mint.
Laurel caught herself before she could move into Huck’s heated body to warm up. The guy was not inviting, and there was a heater calling her name from her SUV.
Monty flashed his light over the dead woman. “She’s frozen solid. Let’s lift.” He gingerly stepped into the clear river and grasped her ankles as Huck reached for her shoulders. They easily lifted her and set her on the stretcher.
Huck finished securing the body with straps. “I want to put a blanket over her.” His face was a hard mask.
“I know,” Laurel said, stepping closer to his solid form. “I do as well, but if there’s any evidence on her, we don’t want to contaminate it if possible. She can’t feel the cold any longer, Huck.”
“Small comfort.” He stopped staring at the woman’s icy face. “Let’s get out of here. We’re all going to be okay.” His face still held fury, but his voice was deep and reassuring, even heard through the screaming wind. “We cut in a decent trail on the way here, although the snow is starting to pile again. Aeneas will lead, then Ena, then Walter, and then Laurel. Monty and I will bring up the rear with the body on the litter. Go. Now.”
Nobody argued. Apparently Huck took point out in the wilderness rather than Monty.
The wind battered Laurel’s freezing face and the snow bombarded her, but she tugged out her flashlight to light her path as she followed Walter. Even though he was gasping for air, he maintained a decent speed. After a while, Laurel moved on autopilot. One foot in front of the other. When her ankle protested, she tried to put more weight on the other foot. Walter stumbled and she reached out to help him, but he caught his balance first.
The cold became freezing and then nothing. Not a good sign. She had no choice but to keep moving forward. When the numbness became unbearable, she flicked throughThe Iliadin her head as a tribute to Aeneas.
Finally, blue and red swirling lights flashed through the snowy trees.
Laurel kept moving.
They rounded a bend to find an ambulance and paramedics waiting. Huck and Monty hefted the body into the back of the ambulance, strain on their faces.
Huck looked at Laurel. “You both need to get checked out.”
“No,” Walter said, his steps sluggish. “I’m going home and taking a long shower with a bourbon in my hand.” He wiped off his windshield and opened his door, looking over his shoulder. “Do you need a ride, Agent Snow?”
“No,” she said, her throat hurting. “Thank you, though. After this, you should call me Laurel, don’t you think?”
“Sure.” He started his truck, waited a moment, and then slowly drove out of the lot. Could he even feel his hands? His gloves had been high quality, so maybe he was feeling better than she did right now.
“You’re not driving,” Huck said, crossing his arms.
Her hands weren’t working, so it was difficult to argue with him.
The paramedics shut the ambulance door.
“I don’t need medical care, but I shouldn’t drive,” Laurel said.
Huck nodded to the paramedics. “She’s okay. Take the body to the ME’s office.” He tossed keys to Ena. “You okay to drive?”
“I’m fine,” the woman said.
“Great. We’re up late, so let’s get some sleep tomorrow. Pick me up around ten in the morning. By then, the ME should have a preliminary report for us. Thanks.” Huck took Laurel’s arm and escorted her to her SUV. “Keys?”
Laurel tried to dig them out of her pocket.
Huck took over, easily extracting them before opening the passenger side door and helping her in. “Hold tight for a sec.” After shutting the door, he wiped the snow off the front window, then took off his coat and tossed it across the back seat for Aeneas to sprawl on. Finally, he slid inside, started the engine, and turned on the defroster. “Tell me now. How bad are your toes and fingers?”
They were warming up already now that she was out of the storm. “They tingle and hurt, but I have full feeling,” she said, holding back a gasp at the pain.
“Good.” Huck reversed out of the lot and swung around to drive down the road. “You need warm food and possibly compresses, and my place is closer than your mother’s. Let’s go there and check you out. After I feed you, I’ll take you home. Deal?”
