Chapter 57

CHAPTER 57

A ndi’s thoughts raced. “I can’t believe we didn’t see it.”

“Please, tell us what you’re thinking.” Duke’s intense gaze met hers, an urgency to his tone.

She quickly shuffled through the facts to make sure she wasn’t off-base.

She wasn’t.

“The utility worker—the week he died, he was working on candy cane light poles,” Andi started. “The gardener grew poinsettias. The planetarium guy liked stars.”

Realization rippled through Duke’s gaze. “The gift shop owner represented gifts, and the neonatal nurse represented babies.”

“My parents represented reindeer.” Juniper’s voice cracked as she said the words.

Andi nodded. “Everyone who’s died has represented a different aspect of Christmas.”

Silence stretched a moment.

Finally, Ranger leaned forward and said, “So this killer . . . he really hates Christmas for some reason. But how does that help us to find this guy?”

“That’s a good question.” Andi began pacing again. “Why would he still be focusing on this reindeer camp? Why repeat an element he’s already covered?”

“What else hasn’t he covered?” Simmy asked. “What symbol of Christmas?”

“I’m not sure,” Andi said. “Wise men? Shepherds? Wreaths?”

“It’s anyone’s guess,” Mariella said. “But he seems determined to strike here again.”

“He did draw that beard on the mirror,” Matthew reminded them. “Could that represent Santa?”

“None of us have any connections with Santa,” Andi said. “Am I right?”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

“The beard, to me, indicated that this guy would be targeting either Duke or Ranger,” Matthew said. “Maybe he sees one of you two as the kingly types.”

“Why would he think that?” Duke sounded earnestly confused.

“I don’t know,” Matthew said. “Maybe because you’re tough and strong. You’re natural leaders. You’re confident. Who knows?”

“Anything is a possibility,” Andi said. “But I stand behind the idea that this guy has a personal connection with this place.”

“Like Caleb or Tim.” Juniper crossed her arms and frowned.

“They’re our best guesses right now,” Andi said. “Unless you have other ideas.”

“I don’t.”

Before they could talk about it anymore, the cabin went dark.

Any sounds around them went silent—the hum of the refrigerator, the heat blowing through the air vents, the whirring of the dishwasher.

Someone had cut the electricity, she realized.

Most likely, the killer.

As soon as the cabin went dim, Duke rose. So did Ranger.

Without saying a word, they both stalked toward the windows. Peered outside. Looked for a sign of anything suspicious.

All Duke saw was snow.

“The storm could have taken down a power line,” Juniper offered.

That was a plausible explanation. But given everything that had happened, they needed to be on guard.

“Isn’t there a backup generator?” Duke asked.

“I . . . I thought there was one.” Juniper shrugged. “But wouldn’t it have come on by now?”

It would have . . . unless someone had tampered with it also.

Duke’s jaw tightened.

“What should we do?” Andi stared up at him from her seat on the couch.

Duke didn’t like the fact they were trapped here. That they could be at a killer’s mercy.

For all he knew, this guy could be watching them right now as he plotted his next move.

However, there were seven of them in this cabin plus Tundra, and only one killer. How did this guy think he would take them all down? If they all stuck together, they should be okay.

In theory.

Matthew closed his computer. “And there goes the internet as well.”

If the internet was down, there was a good chance the phones wouldn’t work either.

Duke disliked this more and more all the time.

Thankfully, they had the fire and a decent amount of wood outside. At least they could stay warm.

“Maybe we should get one of the snowmobiles and try to get out of here?” Juniper said. “I almost think I’d rather take my chances that way.”

“You said you’re not sure if you have enough gas to make it back to Fairbanks though,” Duke said. “It sounds risky to me. Plus, there’s Tundra.”

At his words, Juniper began to stroke her dog’s fur.

The lights flickered back on above them.

Duke glanced at the ceiling. Maybe the power hadn’t gone out for a nefarious reason after all. Maybe it truly had been weather related, and they were all just overreacting.

But nearly as soon as that thought crossed his mind, music began to blare again from the HomePod.

This time, it was the song from the Disney movie Frozen . The one about wanting to build a snowman.

Duke knew that wasn’t a coincidence.