Judith was searching the drawers in the laundry room. “I
know, plus we have to wait at least a half-hour for our clothes
to dry. Ah, here’s a flashlight.”
Renie stared at Judith. “What are we doing?”
“We’re going back to the cave.” Judith was now at the
linen closet. She tossed a blanket at Renie.
“Come on!” Renie cried. “It’s almost dark! What’s the
point?”
Judith was covering herself in a striped Hudson Bay
blanket. “Are you coming or not?”
“Not.” Renie planted both feet firmly on the floor.
“Okay.” Judith swept out into the kitchen, the blanket
trailing behind her.
It wasn’t quite dark, but it was very cold and a few drops
of snow were drifting down. The wind had picked up,
blowing from the north. Judith had to hold up the pants legs
of Ava’s slacks while trying to keep the blanket wrapped
around her. She didn’t try to cross the creek this time, but
squatted on the opposite bank and turned on the flashlight.
“Has he moved?” The voice belonged to Renie, who had
crept up behind Judith.
Judith gave a little start. “He’s still there.” She handed
the flashlight to Renie. “Look. See if you see what I thought
I saw.”
Renie, who had only glimpsed the skeletal remains of the
dead man, steeled herself. “I see a really convincing Halloween costume. Except this is January, and it’s not very
funny.” She shuddered, then tried to give the flashlight back
to Judith.
Judith rebuffed Renie. “Look again.”
Sighing, Renie complied. “I see what’s left of his
clothes—jacket, pants, shirt, whatever. It’s hard to tell.
Oh—he’s got a watch on his left wrist.” Starting to shiver
again, Renie had trouble keeping the flashlight from wavering. “There’s a leather thong around his neck, but I don’t see
any medal or jewelry or decoration.”
“That’s not what it’s for,” Judith said in a hollow voice.
As the snow began to fall harder, Renie steadied the
flashlight with both hands. “Then it must be part of whatever
he was wearing.”
Judith took the flashlight from Renie. “No. I saw it from
the back when I was in the cave earlier. It hasn’t anything
to do with apparel. It looks as if it’s been twisted around
something at the base of the neck. I believe you call it a garrote.” She stood up and switched off the flashlight. “Barry
didn’t freeze to death, coz. He was murdered.”
FOUR
“IT WAS ONE of those things you see, but you don’t take in,”
Judith explained as the cousins trudged back to the lodge.
“It was such a shock finding the body in the first place, and
