Chapter 2 Cold Case Thawing? #3
“No idea.” Luke spread his hands. “Her name is Martha Masterson. She’s the housekeeper for a local dentist and his wife.
Relatively new in town, so it’s surprising she could identity someone as elusive as Running Bear.
He rarely leaves the rez. To verify her story, we reviewed the security camera footage from the police station, but it’s inconclusive.
The man dropping off the bones never looked directly at the camera. ”
April pursed her lips, thinking hard. “May I see the recording?”
“Of course.” Luke opened his electronic notepad, tapped a few buttons, and held it out to her. He pointed at the triangle at the bottom of the screen. “Push this button when you’re ready.”
“Thanks.” She accepted the tablet and tapped the triangle. A shadowy figure moved across the screen, approaching the drop box with a knobby bundle clutched in his gloved hands. “Definitely a man,” she confirmed, “but it’s not Running Bear.” An enormous sense of relief filled her.
Gil Remington’s jaw dropped. “How do you know it’s not him?”
It was an answer she could give with both confidence and clarity.
“The facial profile doesn’t match the councilman’s.
” Whatever trace evidence remained on the bones would hopefully prove he also had nothing to do with her death.
It could take hours, days, or even weeks to determine how the woman in the morgue drawer had perished.
“Retired councilman,” Luke corrected. “He retired about a year ago.”
“Really?” She was surprised to hear it. “Isn’t he a little young to retire?” He was still in his fifties, only a few years older than her. It wasn’t the typical retirement age.
Luke shrugged. “From what I’ve heard, he left the tribal council to open his own business.”
“More like expanded his business,” Gil explained. “He’d been hosting wilderness retreats for years, but now he’s doing it full time.”
“I see.” April was happy to hear that Running Bear was doing something he enjoyed. Per the few conversations she’d had with him, attending the dusty, old council meetings had been a chore. He was more a man of action. The outdoorsy type who enjoyed physical activities.
“It may have had something to do with losing his wife,” Luke added. “Her poor health kept him close to home, but now he can wander the forest and surrounding mountains as much as he wants.”
Her heart stuttered a few beats. “I didn’t know he was a widower.” Empathy swept through her at the thought of him enduring such a tremendous loss in his fifties. How sad!
Gil dropped his hands on his hips, pinning her with an incredulous look. “I wouldn’t mind circling back to how it only took one glance at the video for you to know it wasn’t him.”
She felt her cheeks grow warm. “The man in the video doesn’t match his facial bone structure.
” She returned Luke’s electronic notebook to him.
“A person’s side profile is as unique as their fingerprints and signature.
” She clasped her hands calmly in front of her.
“The man who dropped off the bones isn’t even Native American.
That I can tell you. Plus, he’s an inch or two shorter than Mr. Dakota.
” She’d memorized Uri Dakota’s profile during her four-day trek with him through the foothills.
Thanks to a photographic memory, she rarely forgot a profile.
His was one she’d thought about more over the years than she’d had any business thinking about.
The puzzled wrinkle on Gil’s forehead deepened. “It sounds like you know him personally.”
“We met a long time ago.” She raised and lowered her shoulders.
“It was right after my parents moved out of the country. I went on one of his wilderness outings to mope and clear my head.” The challenges they’d encountered and overcome during those four memorable days had helped her make some important life decisions.
Gil gave a low whistle. “You were one of his original guinea pigs before he refined his torturous retreats. Color me impressed!”
She laughed, which wasn’t something she did often. “It wasn’t that bad.”
“Hundreds of people would disagree with you. Maybe thousands,” Luke informed her with a grimace. “New groups pop up on social media all the time, created for the sole purpose of venting about the rigid guidelines of Running Bear’s wilderness escapades.”
“You’re kidding!” She hoped he was kidding.
“It’s mostly bragging disguised as venting.” Gil grinned. “His wilderness outings are in pretty high demand by sports enthusiasts and thrill-seekers alike, plus business executives looking for one-of-a-kind team-building events.”
“The designer suits he attracts as clients make up the demographic that puzzles me the most.” Luke shook his head.
“Running Bear is as backwoods as it gets, demanding that his guests stay one hundred percent offline during his events. He doesn’t allow them to carry cell phones, GPS devices, or any other electronics. And, boy, do they complain about it!”
“Yet his retreats remain booked for months in advance. I’ve seen the signup sheet for myself at the steakhouse on the rez.
” A note of amazement crept into Gil’s voice, as if he couldn’t quite believe it himself.
“His tours aren’t cheap, either. The guy’s gotta be banking some serious cash.
You’d never know it by looking at him, though.
He’s all camouflage paint, hunting gear, and muddy hiking boots.
Oh, and something of a romantic figure now that he’s running solo again.
” He gave a derisive snicker. “There are social media chat threads galore about that, too, which would explain the growing number of women attending his gigs.”
Wow! Really? A prick of jealousy caught April by surprise.
She was still processing the fact that the rough-and-tough Uri Dakota had become a widower.
It certainly opened some new and previously unhoped-for possibilities, but not in the immediate future.
There was no way a man like him was anywhere near finished grieving for his wife.
The very idea of his wilderness outings suddenly being thronged by hopeful single ladies made her heart ache for him.
Give the guy some space, will you?
The most she’d ever hoped for in his direction was the opportunity to thank him someday for his kindness and encouragement all those years ago. Maybe she would finally get to do it soon. Without a website or phone number, however, he hadn’t been the easiest person to get in touch with.
Despite the tangle her emotions were in, she forced herself to meet Gil’s gaze again. “When was the last time you spoke with Running Bear?”
“A couple of weeks ago.” He waved a hand vaguely. “I ran into him at the steakhouse on the rez, but he’s been out of pocket ever since the bones showed up. It’s not unusual for him. He’ll resurface eventually.”
Luke’s expression turned sheepish. “After the Haywoods’ housekeeper said she saw him placing the bones in our drop box, I reached out to the police chief on the rez.
Apparently, he sent a few deputies out there yesterday, sirens blaring, to bring Running Bear in for questioning.
Fortunately, he wasn’t at home.” He winced at the recollection.
“I never meant for anyone to treat him like a common criminal.”
Sirens blaring? April nibbled on her lower lip, wondering if the sirens had served as more of a warning than anything else. A purposeful one. She seemed to recall the members of the tribal council being as thick as thieves with the rez police. Somehow, she doubted that had changed.
And if the police chief had gone to the trouble to warn Running Bear before their arrival, then Running Bear must have been at home. Yesterday. Not two weeks ago. Did it mean he was dodging the authorities? Was it a sign of guilt?
Tucking the troubling thought away, April opened her briefcase and pulled out her headlamp, donning it and tightening the strap. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to get to work on these bones right away.” The best thing she could do for Running Bear was to uncover the truth.
I hope.
“Perfect. We’ll get out of your hair.” Luke Hawling frowned speculatively at the partial skeleton.
“I brought along a DNA sample of the only missing woman we have on the docket. The bones could belong to anyone, of course, but it makes sense to start with a local cold case. It makes even more sense after your initial observations about her Native American heritage.” He produced a small specimen container.
“It certainly does.” Gil flipped on the bright overhead lights and rolled a silver cart her way. “The coroner said you could help yourself to the x-ray imaging equipment, chemical solutions, and whatnot. If you need any supplies the medical center doesn’t have on tap, just give us a list.”
“Thank you.” April took the specimen container Luke was holding out, not surprised to see Tiana Dakota’s name typed across the label. A few faded strands of hair were nestled inside the container. “I’ll let you know if I need anything else.”
Preferring to use her own tools, she withdrew a pair of probes from her briefcase, along with a high-powered magnifying glass. Snapping on a pair of vinyl gloves, she bent over the old bones.
From the corner of her eye, she watched Luke head for the door.
“If you need anything,” Gil reminded in a low voice, “just give one of us a call.”
“Thanks.” She was grateful he and the sheriff didn’t intend to linger. She preferred to work alone.
“Oh, and…” Gil parked the silver cart by her elbow and withdrew a small envelope from the back pocket of his jeans.
“Here’s a copy of your reservation at the Heart Lake Plaza Hotel.
It’s a suite on the top floor. Room service is included, and everything is on the house.
” It wasn’t clear if the Heart Lake Police Department or Lonestar Security would pay for her hotel stay, but that was none of her concern.