right behind Mike. “He’d been told to stay in the lobby with
the others because he’s not a law enforcement ranger,” Renie
explained, tossing the towel aside. “When none of you came
downstairs, I had a heck of a time convincing his partner
that we ought to see what was happening.”
While mother and son embraced, Frank Killegrew
blustered. Judith’s newly found cachet of giving birth to a
park ranger lent her credibility. Nunnally went up to the third
floor to see if there really were bodies stashed in the dormer
SNOW PLACE TO DIE / 273
rooms. Westervelt found Nadia lying on Leon’s bed, then
called for backup and several ambulances. Killegrew continued to bluster.
Mike, who had been filled in on the situation by his aunt,
spoke sharply to the CEO. “The less you say, mister, the
better. I may not be a police officer, but at least I know that
much. Stick it, will you? You’re getting on my nerves.”
Killegrew looked astonished. “You! You’re just a punk
kid! Do you know who you’re talking to?”
Mike turned to Renie. “Who’d you say this guy was?”
Judith regarded Killegrew with unconcealed loathing. “He’s
a captain whose ship has been torpedoed. He may not admit
it, but he’s just about to hit rock bottom.”
Renie started to say something, but Killegrew hurled
himself between her and Mike. Wrenching the gun out of
Renie’s hand, he flew into the bathroom. Mike started after
him, but it was too late. A sharp report and a flash of light
stunned them all. Killegrew’s body fell to the floor with a
sickening thud.
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!” Renie whispered, crossing
herself.
“Don’t look,” Mike ordered, and kicked the bathroom door
shut.
Judith had slumped onto one of the twin beds. “I’m…sick,”
she said in a weak voice.
Westervelt and Nunnally came rushing in from the corridor
where they’d been conferring about the carnage the younger
officer had found upstairs. Mike assumed responsibility,
succinctly explaining what had just occurred.
“Maybe he was guilty,” Westervelt said in amazement. “My
God!”
Nunnally offered Judith his apologies. “I’m kind of new
on the job, ma’am, and when you run into some big, important guy like Mr. Killegrew, you tend to…ah…um…”
Judith was trying to pull herself together. “I know, I
274 / Mary Daheim
know. You tend to think he’s right because he’s got a corner
office. Don’t worry, you’ll learn better as you get older.
Power and privilege have absolutely nothing to do with virtue
and goodness.” She turned a wan face to Mike. “Can we get
out of here?”
“Sure.” Mike gave his mother a hand and raised her from
the bed. “You’ll probably have to answer a bunch of questions, though.”
“Not here,” Judith said with a definite shake of her head.
“Anywhere but here. Park headquarters, the ski lodge at the
summit, a gopher hole—I don’t care, just so it’s not here. I
don’t ever want to see this place or what’s left of these people
again.”
Mike grinned, the slightly off-center, engaging expression
that Judith loved so well. “I don’t blame you. It must have
been quite a weekend. Hey, Aunt Renie, would you really
have used that gun if you’d…”
The caterer, the graphic designer, and the park ranger
quickly cleared the cousins’ belongings out of the guest room
across the hall. Ten minutes later, they were in Mike’s official
park service four-by-four, heading for the pass. Judith never
looked back.
Joe was soaking his feet in a galvanized tub and watching
the eleven o’clock news when Judith finally arrived home
that Sunday night. He barely looked up when she came into
the third-floor den.
“Hi,” she said, trying to sound cheerful despite her state
of exhaustion.
“Hi.” Joe’s gaze was riveted to the TV screen.
Judith leaned down and kissed his forehead. “I got back
sooner than I…”
“Shh!” Gesturing at the TV, Joe cut her off.
“…Leading national park service law enforcement officials
believe that Killegrew may have killed at least three of his
employees in an attempt to retain his position as
SNOW PLACE TO DIE / 275
president and CEO of OTIOSE.” The pert Asian anchorwoman was shown against a stock shot of Mountain Goat
Lodge and an inset black-and-white photo of a smiling, benign Frank Killegrew. “While rumors spread this weekend
that WaCom plans to merge with OTIOSE, it is not known
how the tragedy in the mountains will affect the independent
telecommunications company’s future. An unidentified
spokesperson told KINE-TV this evening that customer service should not be affected, however.”
The screen changed to highway footage, showing
snowplows working along the interstate. Joe hit the mute
button.
“Good Lord,” he said, staring at Judith. “Why didn’t you
tell me?”
Judith sank down next to him on the couch. “I started to,
then I lost my nerve. You sounded so grumpy.”
“I was.” Joe put an arm around Judith. “It was a rough
weekend. But not as rough as yours.”
“They forgot Barry.” Judith bit her lip and pointed at the
silent TV.
“Barry?”
“The staff clerk, the body we found by the creek. Killegrew
killed him, too.”
“Jeez.” Joe shook his head. “Want to make us a couple of
drinks and tell me all about it?” He indicated his soaking
feet. “I’d do it, but…”
Judith grinned. “Yes, you would. You’re not like some
men, who have to be waited on.” She got up to fetch their
nightcaps.
They had finished their drinks by the time Judith got to
the part about Mike’s unexpected arrival. Naturally, Joe was
astonished.
“Mike and Kristin got their transfer midweek,” Judith explained. “Because of all the snow and avalanche danger in
the pass, they were shipped out of Idaho right away. They’ll
both be working in the national park, just an hour away.
Isn’t that wonderful?”
“It’s great,” Joe enthused. “You see, Jude-Girl? You
276 / Mary Daheim
worry about all kinds of things that don’t happen.”
“I know.” Judith snuggled against Joe. “I worried tonight
I wouldn’t get home, but the driving wasn’t bad at all. Of
course the rangers who brought us home knew what they
were doing. The worst part was when we got to Heraldsgate
Hill. We came up on the north side, to drop Renie off first.
That’s much easier than coming up the south side. It’s so
steep. The only problem is, Renie tried to drive the Chev.”
“I thought she didn’t drive in snow,” Joe said.
“She doesn’t. The Chev’s piled into a gas station pump at
the summit. I’m afraid it’s totaled. Bill will be awfully upset.”
Joe grimaced. “I don’t blame him. I remember when you
ran your Nissan into the wall at Falstaff’s Grocery.”
“Maybe Bill won’t retire, now that they have to get a new
car,” Judith mused. “Have you thought any more about it?”
Joe gave a single nod. “Sure. I’m not changing my mind.
Bill won’t either. Hell, we’ve both earned retirement. Why
not?”
Judith started to say something, nebulous thoughts about
financial uncertainty, changes in lifestyle, the future of the