She put her hood over her hair and followed him outside, stopping to lock the door before walking down and climbing into his truck as Monty slid into the driver’s seat. “All right, give me the details.”
He sighed and started the engine. “Somebody hit a personal locator button signaling an emergency that notified Fish and Wildlife. Two of their officers went to investigate, and they found a body next to Witch Creek. All I could get from them is that she’s blond and frozen to the ground, face down.”
“So being blond seems to be a pattern.” Dread slid through Laurel. “Jason Abbott’s first victim was found next to Witch Creek, and she’d engaged a PLB, so somebody is referencing the crime scenes from our previous cases. This is no longer a possible coincidence. Has Huck been notified?”
Monty turned down the country road. “Negative. I decided not to call Huck. He’d head out there immediately, and we have to shield him from this investigation.”
“I understand,” Laurel said. “Yet he’s the best tracker we have in the state.”
“I know,” Monty said. “But we’ll have to do this one without him.”
She took a sip of the herbal tea.
“Your mom called last night and said this trip was a whirlwind created by you. What’s going on?”
She shrugged. “My mother was already scheduled to travel to Asia, as she does every year, to buy supplies for her tea business. I merely talked her into moving the trip up a couple of weeks.”
Monty flipped on the heater, and her toes instantly started to warm. “That’s a good idea with everything going on around here. We have someone killing blondes. Plus Abbott might be the murderer, and you know he wants to hunt you.”
“I know he’s coming for us regardless of whether these are his kills or not,” Laurel said. “So, yes, I pushed her out of the country.” It was an apt description and she’d take it.
“I don’t blame you,” Monty said cheerfully.
“Thanks.”
They drove to the edge of state forest land, where they met up with a young female officer waiting next to a fully enclosed UTV. “This is the easiest way to get out there,” she said, winking at Monty. “Long time, no see.”
He chuckled. “Very funny. Agent Snow, please meet Officer Jill Jordan.”
Laurel didn’t know what they were joking about. She climbed into the back of the UTV. “Nice to meet you.”
Officer Jordan drove, while Monty sat next to her.
“You sure you don’t want the front?” he asked for the third time, turning around to look at her.
“I’m good, Monty. Thank you.” The modern UTVs were lovely, with heated seats and warmth all around her. She stared out at the light dusting of snow on every tree. “How long does the snow usually last in this area?”
Officer Jordan drove quickly. “It’s Washington State. Sometimes we lose the snow in the mountains in February, and sometimes it’s still here in June.” She turned around a series of pine trees to follow a barely visible trail. “As myobasanused to say, ‘Even on snow, three years.’”
Monty turned to Laurel. “I suppose you know what that means.”
Laurel nodded. “It’s a Japanese saying that even something as fleeting as snow can last for a long time, metaphorically hinting that impacts or consequences can endure longer than expected.”
“Very good,” Officer Jordan said.
“Oh,” Monty muttered. “Like Jason Abbott. He’s lasting longer in our lives than we ever expected.”
The young officer nodded. “Exactly.”
Laurel angled her head to see the officer. “Your grandmother sounds like a wise woman.”
“She was,” Officer Jordan said. “She always found the beauty in life. That’s a rare gift, you know. She was a big believer inichigo ichie.”
“Ah. One time, one meeting,” Laurel murmured. “I agree.”
Monty looked over at the officer. “You’re Japanese?”
“Yes. My mother is half-Japanese,” Officer Jordan said. “I look like my dad’s family. They’re Scottish.” She sighed. “Unfortunately, I didn’t inherit the dark red hair.” She glanced at Laurel before focusing back on the trail. “Your hair is gorgeous.”
