his gun low and out of sight. Birdie was in the shadows, illuminated by the green glow of the exit sign above the door. Thick beaver fur mittens dangled from a braided cord yoke around the neck of her parka. Snow melted off a wolverine ruff thrown back from her face.
Lola heard the commotion and was already up, standing at the book-room door in black wool long johns, pistol in hand. She slumped a little when she saw it was Pingayak, and turned, scratching her butt with her free hand as she disappeared back into the book room.
Cutter slipped on his pants and then waved Birdie over. He held up the phone so she could see it in the scant light of the exit sign. “Troopers,” he said.
She nodded, folding her hands in front of her.
“Ms. Pingayak just came in,” Cutter said.
Warr gave a low groan. “Am I on speaker?”
“No, but hang on a second.” Cutter held the phone away from his ear and cocked his head, looking at Birdie. Jolene waited at the library door, dressed in sweats and a heavy parka. Cutter braced when he saw her. He shot a look at Birdie. “Did Sascha come around?”
She shuddered, but waved the idea away. “No, nothing like that. I just didn’t want to leave her home alone, in case.”
“Okay,” Cutter said. “This is Lieutenant Warr. Just one minute.”
“Oh, sure,” Birdie said.
“Everything all right?” Warr asked when Cutter put the phone back to his ear.
“I think so,” Cutter said.
“I’m sure she’s not going to be happy to lose a teacher,” Warr said. “Think you could do me a favor and pick up Donna Halcomb or Taylor or whatever she’s going by at the moment? I don’t want her slipping off before we get a trooper there to talk to her. Earl should be able to fly back to Bethel from Nightmute inside the hour. Until then, I have four troops gearing up to head your way in the 185 the second we get any kind of a window.”
“I’ll check in on her,” Cutter said.
“You watch herself,” Warr said. “Don’t forget, she’s got a history of being quick on the trigger.”
“Always.” Cutter nodded at Birdie. “Let me check with Ms. Pingayak before we hang up. Now I’m putting you on speaker.” He lowered the phone and held it flat in his palm between them. “What’s up?”
“Not sure if this means anything,” Birdie said. “But Donna Taylor is hooking up her dogs to go out.”
“Are you kidding me?” Warr loosed a string of expletives. “At three in the morning?”
“She runs them for Mr. Gordon,” Birdie said. “Could be she just wants to do a quick circuit and get back before time for school. Anyways, I figured I should let you know.”
“Does she have a rifle?” Warr asked.
Birdie’s eyebrows shot up, then she realized Warr couldn’t see her. “Sure. Everyone does.”
Cutter looked out the window at the falling snow. It was coming harder now and the spots that had been mud were now covered with a blanket of white. “I’ll go stop her.”
“Oh, she’s not going anywhere,” Birdie said. “I already called Ned Jasper. He’ll beat us there.”
“Ned’s going to Donna Taylor’s right now?” Warr’s voice carried more than a little panic. “Well, shit . . . Sorry, Birdie . . .”
The Yup’ik woman shuffled back and forth on her feet, stunned at the reception her news had garnered. “He said he was. Why? What’s happened?”
“I’ll call you back,” Cutter said, already putting on his gun.
CHAPTER 33
Cutter rode on the back of Birdie’s ATV. Her 7mm-08 rifle was in a hard plastic scabbard mounted by the rear fender. She assured him the magazine held three rounds but there was nothing in the chamber. Good information to know if Donna Taylor decided to shoot it out. He loved the Colt and he held a grudging affection for the Glock, but the relatively small 7mm-08 would reach out better than a handgun.
Cutter didn’t quite know what to do with his hands as they rode. The frozen ruts and new snow decided for him and he had to wrap his arms around Birdie’s waist to keep from getting bucked off the ATV. Her heavy parka smoothed out her form, and made it a little less awkward. She’d thrown the thick hood back so she’d be able to hear over the wind and growling engine. Taylor’s house was less than a five-minute ride from the school and Cutter brought her up to speed on the way.
Birdie half