Chapter 29

TWENTY-NINE

As Kane searched the cabin, Wolfe took a video. The place was small, with one bedroom. In five minutes, it was obvious to Kane that Sierra hadn't kept a woman there. The scent in the house was rank male sweat and he found no trace of anything possibly feminine. The fingerprint scanner showed identical prints all over. Sierra lived here alone. They went outside and found six dogs in half of the barn sectioned off. They appeared well fed and cared for and Kane found a sled and harnesses close by. The other half of the barn held bags of dog kibble, a ten-year-old Ford truck, a snowmobile, and cans of gas, along with tools and other supplies. He filled a trough in the dogs' area with kibble and noted the water supply was drip fed and constant. The dogs would be fine and he'd have animal protection drop by to collect them in the morning. He looked at Wolfe, who dropped his phone and stopped recording. "If he has a sled and a snowmobile, he could be moving around the forest, but I can't see any supplies from the aircraft here or in the house."

"He could be using this place as his base and we have no proof the killer held his murder victims anywhere." Wolfe hunched his shoulders. "This just tells me that he isn't the one who rescued Julie. Search and rescue tried to get to the crash site along this way and the trails are blocked by avalanches."

Kane rubbed his chin. "You mean the killer might be meeting potential victims in town and bringing them to the forest to murder them. Do you figure he drugged them?"

"Unknown at this time." Wolfe removed examination gloves and pulled on his thick sheepskin-lined ones. "I'll do a drug analysis ASAP, but the problem is the freezing. The process of freezing and thawing can degrade drugs. The results aren't usually good enough to convict anyone. I'm hoping we'll discover foreign DNA. I don't believe the victims have been frozen long enough to destroy trace evidence. Well, frozen, thawed, and frozen would have an impact, but from the cell degeneration I've seen so far, these victims were frozen once and not allowed to thaw completely, but it's not conclusive yet. Just an observation."

Kane removed his gloves and rolled them into a ball. "I'll bring Jenna up to date." He made the call.

"If you're not convinced it's him, how far are you from Steven Oberg's cottage? Rio mentioned they were along the same trail." Jenna cleared her throat. "It would save time if you dropped by. I assume the shooter is stable and Rowley is okay to travel back to town?"

Leaning against the barn door, Kane nodded. "Yeah, Sierra is angry and would be in pain, but Wolfe filled his shoulder with local anesthetic. He'll be fine for two hours or so. We'll go and check out Oberg. We should be okay. I'll turn on the lights on our approach just in case he decides to open fire at us, but we'll be safe in the Beast."

"Okay, call me when you're done." Jenna paused for a beat. "Shane. Do I need to insist Rowley goes to the hospital to get checked out?"

"Yeah, I'll call it in now and they'll be expecting him." Wolfe raised both eyebrows. "He'll complain but make him go."

"I will." Jenna disconnected.

They headed back to the Beast. In the back seat, Sierra was leaning back with his eyes shut. Kane slid behind the wheel. "You okay back there?"

"Oh, I'm just fine." Sierra's mouth turned down and he let out a string of curses. "I won't forget this, Deputy. No, sir. I don't forgive or forget."

Kane shrugged. "Neither do I." He looked at him in the rearview mirror. "I can get you to the hospital faster if you know where we can find Steven Oberg. He's a neighbor of yours, right?"

"Yeah." He indicated ahead with his chin. "He lives up there somewhere. I see him pass by and he drops by here to collect his mail. Seems I get all the mail. His place must be invisible or something." He winced. "I've never had a reason to go there."

Following the dirt road with the thickening snow was slow going. The snowplow attachment on the Beast was handling the drifts for now but not for much longer. Kane sighed with relief when they came to a cabin set deep in the forest with barely enough room out front to turn the truck around. The wig-wag lights sent blue and red flashes across the brilliant white snow. Kane used his loudspeaker. "Sheriff's department. Steven Oberg, are you inside?"

The door opened and a man stepped out, buttoning his coat and then pulling on thick gloves. A large dog slipped out beside him and Oberg bent and pushed him back inside before shutting the door behind him. Kane doubted he was carrying a weapon. He glanced at Wolfe, who nodded and then slid from the truck. "Hi there. We're in the local area searching for survivors of the plane crash at Bear Peak." Behind him Wolfe was out of the truck and making his way toward him.

"Yeah, I saw the smoke and heard the impact." Oberg leaned back against his door, remaining under the porch roof. "I went out to take a looksee but we had an earth tremor and snow was falling down the mountain all over. I haven't seen anyone. I'm sure they'd come to the door if they were in trouble. It's a long way to town from here."

"We're looking for a young woman." Wolfe straightened. "We've spoken to your neighbor and he mentioned often seeing women here. Do you have anyone staying with you at the moment?"

"Not right now." A flash of annoyance crossed Oberg's eyes and then vanished. "It's not a very inviting place to bring a woman in winter but summer, well skinny-dipping in the river is romantic and they love the thrill." He indicated over one shoulder. "You're welcome to take a look inside, but I don't really want you traipsing snow all through my place."

Taking a step forward to gauge his reaction, Kane met a face devoid of expression. Nothing flickered in Oberg's eyes to determine distress. If he had anything to hide, he was keeping it together well, and why would he take the risk of offering to allow them inside? "Can anyone verify your whereabouts over the last month?"

"Nope." Oberg pursed his lips. "I've been into town a few times, did a few odd jobs, but days run into each other in the forest. I can't be specific. Why is this relevant to the air crash?"

"It's not." Wolfe lifted his chin. "There are a few other people we're hunting down in this area, but if you were here all the time, you wouldn't have seen them."

Kane thought for a beat. "Luke Sierra, down the trail a ways. Do you see him often?"

"Nope." Oberg stamped his feet. "We almost done? My feet are numb."

"Do you have a girlfriend?" Wolfe pulled his hat down firmly on his head. "Anyone special in your life that you bring here regular?"

"Nope." Oberg's attention moved to Kane. "I'm not planning on settling down for a time yet. This place here is just a steppingstone. It's cheap to live here and I can do just about what I want, when I want."

"What do you do—when you feel like working?" Wolfe leaned against the Beast but didn't appear to be the least interested in the conversation.

"A variety of things." Oberg shrugged nonchalantly as if he had all the time in the world to chat. "I know the forest, so sometimes I apply to be a guide for the hunters or the hikers. I've held licenses and pay my taxes. Other times, I get work on a ranch. There's always work available on most of them. I can bus tables, clean. You name it and I can set my mind to it." He smiled and indicated to Kane. "Being a big guy like us has its advantages. The bosses know we can work hard and the women fall at our feet. I'm saving to get me a nice place closer to town. I like living here. It's been two years now."

Kane rubbed a hand under his nose. He didn't like this guy. Heck, anyone who laid hands on a woman inappropriately made his hands ball into fists. How any of these guys failed to make the sex offenders lists baffled him. "It's just as well you've changed your ways. The sheriff in this town doesn't tolerate any form of abuse. I've read your sheet, so don't try and deny it." He gave him a long look. "You're on our radar."

"I came here to make a clean start." Oberg gave a great impression of being taken aback. "Hey, man. I've changed. I was young and impulsive. If you've read my files, you'd know I've never been accused of rape. I figure they just got a little scared with my enthusiasm. Now I know better and I'm a real gentleman. They never complain when they leave here. In fact, all of my ex-girlfriends are still close friends. I'm sure they'll sing my praises if you ask them."

"We'll be sure to." Wolfe checked his watch. "The snow is getting heavier. We'd better go."

Kane handed Oberg a card. "If anyone comes by from the crash, call me. We'll come and get them." He gave him a long look. "The crash site is a crime scene. When you can get through the trail, keep away. The investigations are ongoing due to the weather."

"I understand." Oberg tucked the card into his pocket. "Although, I doubt anyone will come by. There's no way through and it will be like that until the melt. I'm planning on spending the time at home." He placed a hand on the doorknob. "If that's all, I'm going inside."

"Yeah, thanks." Wolfe stamped the snow from his boots and climbed inside the truck.

Opening the door to the truck, Kane looked back as Oberg slid back inside his cabin. He looked at Wolfe. "I'm not too sure about him. I'll keep his name on the list of possible offenders I keep in my daybook. I have a feeling we'll be running into him again someday."