since Noah’s murder. It had comforted her knowing he’d worked so closely with her husband.
“Good.” She stepped back to put space between them. “This is Brycen Cage.” Why she felt awkward introducing him, she had to wonder. Was her attraction obvious? Although she had tried to subdue her reaction to Brycen, nature kept bringing her closer to that point when she could no longer resist. The strength of the temptation made her feel guilty. She wasn’t betraying her dead husband. The guilt came from knowing and not wanting to face that she couldn’t recall feeling the same degree of desire with Noah. Theirs had been more of a comfortable companionship, a close friendship that had grown into love.
“Brycen.” The trooper offered his hand with no sign of animosity.
They shook hands briefly, Carter noticing the slight cut on Brycen, who’d removed the bandage shortly after it had been put on.
“I heard you were on your way. It’s an honor to have you, and if there’s anything we can do to help with your investigation, just let me know.” He turned to Drury. “We did our best, but we’ve reached a wall.”
“You did a thorough investigation. I read the report,” Brycen said. “But maybe fresh eyes will see something new. In my experience, it’s sometimes all a case needs. I distance myself from a case for a while, just so I can come back to it later with a new perspective.”
Carter gave a single affirmative nod. “If you find something to crack open my partner’s case, I’ll forever be in your debt.” His head bowed with the heavy weight of his failure to find a friend and partner’s killer.
“I’ll catch his killer,” Brycen said. “But I’d appreciate some assistance from your office. Access to resources and a crime lab if we need one.”
Carter gave another nod. “Whatever you need.” He took out his wallet and removed a card. “That there is my cell phone.” He pointed to the third number listed on the card. “You can reach me anytime. Or just call here and someone will radio me.” He grinned as though he had a confession. “Service is patchy once you get away from the city.”
“Of course.” Brycen put the card in his back jean pocket. “On the sexual assault call that Noah responded to, did you happen to interview any other suspects than the hunters?”
“When I questioned the victim, she didn’t report any other suspicious contacts. We spoke with her ex-boyfriend, but he broke up with her several months prior. She had a falling-out with a friend, but that led to nothing, and her coworkers said she was nice. I didn’t find anyone else who’d fit the profile and could place none of them at the scene. My other thought on that was that it could have been random.”
Drury agreed a stranger could have singled the victim out and attacked. “Have there been any rapes reported since then?”
“Almost every day.” Carter grunted sardonically. “This is Alaska. In the cities there’s more control, but law enforcement can’t always reach the remote areas in time.”
“The report said you have no fingerprints or other evidence,” Brycen said.
“No, only a vague description from the victim. It was dark and the man wore gloves and a mask. All she could say is he fit the body type of the hunter who came in to the restaurant and started harassing her.”
“Can I see the evidence?”
“Sure. I arranged for you to get in the room before you got here.” He started walking back toward the way he’d come. “Follow me.”
Carter had always worked hard to find Noah’s killer. At first he’d been ridden with guilt and grief, wishing he could have stopped the shooter somehow. But he hadn’t been there.
Passing through two hallways, Carter stopped at a metal door and used his badge to enter. The evidence room wasn’t large, but it had a decent capacity for the allotted space. Rows of shelves took up most of the room, with a small space for a table and an officer behind
“Good.” She stepped back to put space between them. “This is Brycen Cage.” Why she felt awkward introducing him, she had to wonder. Was her attraction obvious? Although she had tried to subdue her reaction to Brycen, nature kept bringing her closer to that point when she could no longer resist. The strength of the temptation made her feel guilty. She wasn’t betraying her dead husband. The guilt came from knowing and not wanting to face that she couldn’t recall feeling the same degree of desire with Noah. Theirs had been more of a comfortable companionship, a close friendship that had grown into love.
“Brycen.” The trooper offered his hand with no sign of animosity.
They shook hands briefly, Carter noticing the slight cut on Brycen, who’d removed the bandage shortly after it had been put on.
“I heard you were on your way. It’s an honor to have you, and if there’s anything we can do to help with your investigation, just let me know.” He turned to Drury. “We did our best, but we’ve reached a wall.”
“You did a thorough investigation. I read the report,” Brycen said. “But maybe fresh eyes will see something new. In my experience, it’s sometimes all a case needs. I distance myself from a case for a while, just so I can come back to it later with a new perspective.”
Carter gave a single affirmative nod. “If you find something to crack open my partner’s case, I’ll forever be in your debt.” His head bowed with the heavy weight of his failure to find a friend and partner’s killer.
“I’ll catch his killer,” Brycen said. “But I’d appreciate some assistance from your office. Access to resources and a crime lab if we need one.”
Carter gave another nod. “Whatever you need.” He took out his wallet and removed a card. “That there is my cell phone.” He pointed to the third number listed on the card. “You can reach me anytime. Or just call here and someone will radio me.” He grinned as though he had a confession. “Service is patchy once you get away from the city.”
“Of course.” Brycen put the card in his back jean pocket. “On the sexual assault call that Noah responded to, did you happen to interview any other suspects than the hunters?”
“When I questioned the victim, she didn’t report any other suspicious contacts. We spoke with her ex-boyfriend, but he broke up with her several months prior. She had a falling-out with a friend, but that led to nothing, and her coworkers said she was nice. I didn’t find anyone else who’d fit the profile and could place none of them at the scene. My other thought on that was that it could have been random.”
Drury agreed a stranger could have singled the victim out and attacked. “Have there been any rapes reported since then?”
“Almost every day.” Carter grunted sardonically. “This is Alaska. In the cities there’s more control, but law enforcement can’t always reach the remote areas in time.”
“The report said you have no fingerprints or other evidence,” Brycen said.
“No, only a vague description from the victim. It was dark and the man wore gloves and a mask. All she could say is he fit the body type of the hunter who came in to the restaurant and started harassing her.”
“Can I see the evidence?”
“Sure. I arranged for you to get in the room before you got here.” He started walking back toward the way he’d come. “Follow me.”
Carter had always worked hard to find Noah’s killer. At first he’d been ridden with guilt and grief, wishing he could have stopped the shooter somehow. But he hadn’t been there.
Passing through two hallways, Carter stopped at a metal door and used his badge to enter. The evidence room wasn’t large, but it had a decent capacity for the allotted space. Rows of shelves took up most of the room, with a small space for a table and an officer behind
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