Sebastian glanced at him out of dark eyes. The new, ice blue fleece pullover made his eyes and hair look silky black. «Okay, let's just put you and me aside for the time being. We need to think. We should be able to figure out who killed Jacob with a little brainpower, and we need to do it quick, before the state cops come down here and start reading me my rights. Let's just think it through. It doesn't matter about motive. It's like Casper said. When we know the killer, the motive will make sense. Of course, out of all of us, Casper is the one I actually suspect has probably killed someone before. In the line of duty, isn't that what they call it? You can see it in his eyes, like toughness or something. Travis has it, too, but his just looks like pain. Most of you were at Tiny's place for the contest, right? Only Mike and Travis stayed behind.»

«Nelson was in his cabin, I think. I guess he was around, because he was going to drive the van to the airport for Jacob's flight. But it could have been anyone who waited until we left, then went up to the hotel. Anyone, Sebastian, could have seen the van, or even waited until we got to Tiny's, seen who was there. Knew who was left back at the hotel. Anyone at Tiny's could have run back to the hotel in fifteen minutes, if they were in good shape.»

Sebastian shook his head. «For now, let's just consider that those of you who were at Tiny's for the Elvis contest could not have done it. Otherwise we have to consider the entire island. So are you thinking someone saw that the hotel was nearly empty and took the opportunity? That might be it. Here you go, little squirrels! Yummy! Fresh from California!» He tossed a curl of tangerine peel into the woods. Peter ignored him. «What about the phones? Somebody called the guest line, right? That upstairs phone?»

«Everybody's got cell phones. And I've got the numbers for the hotel posted around town. Anyone could have it.»

«Are we sure Mike was in his room when Jacob got the phone call on the guest line?»

Peter thought. What had Travis said? He'd heard the phone ring, maybe? No, Travis had said Jacob went down into the kitchen and talked to someone. It was Mike who said he'd heard Jacob on the phone. «If Mike is telling the truth…» «But why would we assume that, Peter? He uses drugs. He's a lawyer.»

«He is? Oh, fuck me, a lawyer got knocked on the head in my upstairs hallway? He's probably one of those personal injury lawyers. How do you know? Did you hear him threatening to sue?»

«He asked me and I asked him. He said, 'So you ride around in a sled pulled by dogs? For a living?' And I said yes and that I was also a studio potter, and what did he do for money? He said he was a tax attorney, and I said I didn't let my dogs bite my ass…» «Sebastian!»

«He's got the hots for you, Peter. It might have been him. I've seen the way he looks at you. He wanted you, and he was jealous of Jacob.» «Don't be ridiculous. Somebody bashed him in the head this morning, Sebastian,» «Maybe he did it to himself, to throw our suspicions off.»

«Oh, brilliant. Thank you, Mr. Holmes. He nearly bit his tongue in two when you came running out of the bedroom naked, holding a shotgun.»

«Hey, that reminds me. Jesse and Phillip asked me if they could take my picture.» «Naked and holding a shotgun?»

«Yep. I believe those young entrepreneurs are planning a calendar of Alaskan men. Something rugged and hairy and half wild. Wild men holding sled dog puppies to show our soft side. I'm not sure I want the puppies exploited like that. Some sick bastard could be staring at the pictures, pulling his…»

«You don't want the puppies exploited? God. I may have to retire, too, Sebastian. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed.» Sebastian flung an arm around his shoulder. «How about a nap when we get home?»

«Fine, whatever. Anything for a peaceful life. So how long have you been planning to retire from racing?»

«I started making arrangements this season. It was hard and long and cold, and I missed you like…like I always miss you, only more. I kept turning around to tell you something, and you weren't there. I didn't sleep good up at the cabin, and I think it was because I would reach out to pull you close, so I could keep us warm, and you weren't there, and then I'd wake up and…and miss you again. At first I was mad at you because you weren't with me. I thought the hotel couldn't be so busy all the time, not the whole frigging winter, that you couldn't get on a sno-go and make your way upriver to see me. Then I didn't care anymore if you were supposed to be with me, or I was supposed to be with you. There is no such thing as neutral ground, Peter.» «Neutral ground? What do you mean?»

«I don't know. I think it used to matter to me, how long we spent in your place, how long we spent in mine. Now I think I was acting like a fucking child, stomping off to the Yukon alone. I guess I was happy there, Peter, living that life, but that happiness wasn't enough to make it worth giving you up. Being alone is only good for me when I'm alone with you, and a bunch of dogs and books.» «Uh-huh.»

«What, you don't believe me? I would rather have you than the dogs.» Sebastian's voice was wheedling, and he was grinning out of the corner of his mouth.

«Would I buy a used car from this man? I guess I believe you, but let's not put your sled and snowshoes in the long-term storage, either.»

«That reminds me, I got you some new snowshoes. This Inuit guy I met upriver made them the old way, bent willow and moose sinew. So we can go camping or something, some slow weekend next winter. I've been ready to get out of racing for a couple of seasons now. There're so many new kids coming into racing, most of them are not even from Alaska.

They're in it for the money, not the dogs. Not the fun.» Sebastian's face was indignant. «Can you believe that shit?» Peter sighed. «Yes, Sebastian, of course I believe it.»

«I'm the one out of step. That's what you've been saying to me, isn't it? The only thing I never considered, Peter, was that you wouldn't be waiting for me. That you would decide to move on without me. Never crossed my mind.»

Peter looked up at him, and Sebastian slipped his last piece of tangerine into Peter's mouth. «You could break my heart without trying too hard, Peter, looking at me like that. You eat the last piece. Listen, I've been thinking. Maybe Susan was on to something, what she was talking about. Lots of people do that.»

Peter was having trouble keeping up with these life-altering changes in topic. His head still felt like it was stuffed with cotton wool, his heart beating a desperate tattoo against his ribs. «Do what?»

«People come to Alaska and hide out. It doesn't have to be Miriam's rapist. It could be something else. Maybe his cop lover arrested somebody who skipped, and he thought Jacob would recognize him. Maybe the killer made a mistake, got him mixed up with some Athabascan guy.» «Sebastian…»

«Maybe the killer decided not to wait for Jacob to remember whatever he was going to remember, and tell you about it. We only have Mike's word that someone was in Jacob's room. Mike was sitting in the living room when Travis said something about Jacob having a journal, and he's from California. He could have known Jacob before. We're depending on his word too much, Peter.» Sebastian's arm tightened around Peter's shoulder. «Maybe the bastard thinks Jacob said something to you. And he's just waiting for you to remember. Waiting to get you alone. You could be in danger.»

Chapter Six

Tiny was gone from the living room when they got back from town. Elsie Seward, the housekeeper who claimed a family tie with the famous explorer from the wrong side of the blanket, was running the vacuum under the sofas. Most of the teenaged girls in town worked for her cleaning company at some point, making college money. Her face was settled into its usual calm and sorrowful lines until she caught sight of Sebastian. She switched off the vacuum and hugged him, her tiny, work-roughened hands patting him gently on the back. «Sebastian, I knew you would come!» «You did?»