He shrugged. “Nosy people get shot at around here.”
She sat on the sled. “I want to go back to the body. We’re safe in numbers, right?”
“Body?” Christian asked.
Brock straddled the sled, holding out an elbow so she could swing on behind him. “Yeah. Follow us.” He pushed the ignition button and the engine roared again before he turned the machine and drove toward the river. Ice already covered the area where she’d fallen through, but her black coat could still be seen trapped down low.
She shivered at the memory.
Brock stopped the sled.
She pushed off, sinking in the snow and looking at the pristine white mounds. “He’s buried?”
“Maybe.” Brock moved close to the river and then took several wide steps away before stopping. “The body lay right around here.” Slowly, he began kicking snow out of the way in every direction. Soon, a little bit of red ice spread out.
Ace emerged on his sled through the trees, stopping near Christian, who sat on his machine watching. “I found a decent vantage point, but the storm destroyed any evidence of a shooter.”
That figured.
More red ice spread out as Brock kicked.
Ophelia’s breath caught. “You found his blood.” She moved to help, kicking snow as gently as she could. They cleared a decent area but only discovered more red snow sparkling like rubies in the sunlight.
She looked up, meeting Brock’s gaze. “The body is gone.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
After an unsuccessful argument with Ophelia about having the doctor take a look at her, Brock stopped the snowmobile at Sam’s Tavern, where several sleds lined up neatly parked outside. Ace leaped off his and strode inside, no doubt wanting a double. Christian had disappeared a mile before town, quietly and without a goodbye.
Brock could use coffee. A lot of it.
Flossy hustled outside, her black coat worn in several places and her boots sliding across the ice before she regained her balance. Brock frowned. The elderly woman needed a new coat, and he’d have to find a way to get her one without ticking her off. He partially straightened.
She shook her hand at them. “Are you two all right? Where did you stay the night?” She paused, and her papery skin dusted with pink. “Oh. Did you stay with Brock, Olly?”
Ophelia made a strangled sound.
Brock shook his head. “We got caught in the storm after taking a tumble into the river, and we waited it out.”
Flossy’s thin eyebrows rose. “My goodness. Has Doc checked either of you for frostbite?”
“We’re fine, Flossy,” Brock said. “Just want to get some food and drink before I go back out searching. Olly will stay here with you.” He didn’t care if Ophelia argued because she needed rest to get over that dunking. There was no reason for her to go out searching, especially since it would be for a body and shooter as well as Wyatt.
Ophelia turned her head and sneezed.
“Bless you,” Brock said automatically, focusing back on Flossy. “Is there still food at Sam’s, or should we head to the diner?” They both needed warm food, and now. He moved to get off the sled.
Flossy shook her head, her red-feathered earrings shaking. “The food is warm at the diner, and I think Gus made his chili, so go there. But first, the Miller boys found Wyatt. He’s at Doc’s right now. I heard something’s wrong with him, Sheriff.”
Brock paused. He wasn’t the sheriff and had no right to check on Wyatt.
“Let’s go,” Ophelia said, tugging him to sit.
Well, she was an FBI agent, and she did need a ride. Good excuse. Plus, maybe Doc could examine her feet for residual frostbite. “You’ve got it.” He sat and twisted the ignition, circling around to head toward Dalika River Road and then driving a block. The town was set in a grid with three roads coming off the river drive with buildings on either side. The hospital, Doc’s office, and dentist all shared a heavy wooden building that abutted Dalika River Road and First Street, which ran parallel to Main Street, with Second Street on the other side of Main.
He pulled the sled up front to the double doors and waited for Ophelia to slide off before following her.
She shook snow off her pink pants and sighed before stepping across the shoveled walk and pushing her way in. He followed, kicking snow off his boots on the rubber mat right inside. She did the same.
