Stone Cross (Arliss Cutter #2) - Marc Cameron Page 0,51

fan of face tattoos, on either gender, considering them job-stoppers. But the lines on Birdie Pingayak’s chin were nothing short of breathtaking. She wore nice khaki slacks and a blue polo shirt with a Stone Cross timber wolf mascot on the left breast. Her office was sparse and neat, as if Marie Kondo herself had done the decorating.

She spoke to the boy in hushed tones, glancing up just long enough to tell everyone she needed another moment. She listened as much as she spoke, letting the boy have his say. Then she reached behind her desk to retrieve a canvas purse. She took out her wallet, handing the boy a twenty-dollar bill. He began to sob again. She touched him softly on the shoulder before sending him out of her office.

“Waqaa,” he said as he ran past, still sniffing back tears.

Jasper whispered, “Clarence says hi.”

The others all said hello back, but the boy was already out the door.

Birdie rested her hand on the door frame of her office, leaning toward the school secretary at the front counter. “Clarence is not allowed on school grounds for the rest of the day,” she said.

“Okie dokie,” the woman at the counter said, smiling. She’d seen the passing of the twenty dollars as well. “Good job, Ms. Pingayak.”

Birdie shook hands with everyone in turn. “Sorry to keep you waiting. My friend there had himself a little anger issue right before you arrived. He threw a chair at his teacher, Ms. Donna.”

Markham’s eyebrows shot toward the ceiling in surprise. “Good Lord! A chair? Is she all right?”

“Miss Donna?” The principal gave him a sad smile. “She’s fine. You saw Clarence. He’s so scrawny he can barely pick up a chair, let alone toss it with any force. You’re probably wondering why I gave him money.”

“The question did cross my mind,” Markham said.

Birdie motioned them all into her office with the flick of her hand. “I heard you met Archie Stepanov.” She stood behind her desk, singled Cutter out of the group with her gaze, and gave him a quick once-over.

“Are you the marshal?”

“Why doesn’t anyone ever ask if I’m the marshal?” Ewing groused.

Birdie swung her gaze to him. “Are you?”

“No,” he said, incredulous.

“Right,” Birdie said. “I’m guessing you’re one of the lawyers.”

Cutter liked this woman already.

“Anyway,” she continued, “if you’ve had the great pleasure of meeting Archie Stepanov, then you’ve seen the effects of our local home brew. Clarence’s parents are good people, but this new batch of hooch is making the rounds in the village. Everybody suffers, but kids suffer the most. Clarence is the oldest of four, so he feels the brunt of the responsibility to take care of his siblings. It’s a heavy load for a nine-year-old to carry. I gave him twenty bucks so he could buy some food.”

“What’s to keep him from buying candy with it?” Ewing asked.

“I’m guessing you’ve never looked at the eyes of a hungry sibling.” She sighed. “No, Clarence is a handful, but he cares deeply about his brother and sisters.”

Brett Grinder, Markham’s clerk, frowned. “What about Child Protective Services?”

Birdie gave a scornful chuckle but said nothing.

“CPS tries,” Jasper said. “But it is what it is—”

The cell phone in his vest pocket began to play a Bob Seger ringtone. “Sorry,” he said. “I have to take this.” He held the phone to his ear, listening intently. His expression grew darker with each passing moment.

Aften Brooks, the high school math teacher they’d listened to earlier, came running up the hall and into the outer office. She stopped short when she saw the crowd and began to wring her hands.

“I just heard from Vitus on his VHF,” she said.

“Vitus Paul?” Birdie asked. “He took the day off to go hunting for the elders.”

“He is,” Aften said. “I asked him to check in at Chaga Lodge as a favor. I haven’t been able to get in touch with Sarah or David since yesterday.”

Ned Jasper ended his call. He breathed deeply, gathering his thoughts.

Birdie put both hands flat on her desk, looking from Aften to the VPSO. “What is it?”

“That was my office,” Jasper said. “Patching me through to Vitus on his VHF. He said the radios at the lodge have been destroyed—and Rolf Hagen’s body is lying out in the snow. Looks like somebody shot him.”

CHAPTER 17

Everyone including Aften Brooks crowded into Birdie Pingayak’s office and shut the door. Ned Jasper got through to Lieutenant Warr on his cell phone on the second try. He put the call on