[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.You didn’t see them reelecting him to Congress.”“So he has a history.”“He’s been known to do things for the cause,” said Eric.Dousing a rag in hot water, he started wiping down the microwave.“Maybe this time he was hoping to prove his theory to the general public.”“Then he may have succeeded.” Lark’s fingers inched up the weave of her braid.“Right now the general Elk Park population isn’t exactly embracing the NPS burn policy.Of course, if we’re going on the-killer-surprised-Wayne-in-the-woods theory, there could be any number of suspects.Campers, hikers.”“Linda Verbiscar,” offered Eric.“Why her?”“She was very anxious for fire footage.The moment the first blowup occurred, she and her cameraman bolted toward Eagle Cliff Mountain.”“Did they get to the fire line?”“I don’t think so.” Eric made a mental note to ask Pacey Trent.“But she was desperate for close-up footage.”“Enough to create her own?”Eric recalled Linda’s grilling, how she had twisted his words, and her tenacity at the press conference regarding Wayne.“She’s a tough bird.”“Tough enough to kill someone?”“That’s the real question, isn’t it?” Eric hung the rag on the spigot, and Lark slid off the counter.“If we’re looking at all the possibles, there’s also Gene Paxton,” she said.Eric cocked his head.“Rumor has it the guy used chintzy building materials.He didn’t have as much invested in Shangri-la a as everyone thinks, but he’s reported substantial investments and stands to make a ton of money when the insurance pays off.Not to mention the amounts he’ll collect from the Park Service and Wayne Devlin’s estate.”Insurance fraud?Eric flipped out the light.Placing his hand on the small of Lark’s back, he ushered her toward the door.“I wonder what the first thing to do is.”“Check everyone’s alibis,” said Lark with the voice of experience.“We know Jackie and Trent are out.They’re accounted for at the time of the murder.”Eric slid the Raptor House door shut.“Do you think Dorothy can vouch for Nettleman?”Lark shook her head.“She and Cecilia were waiting for me at the house when I came off the fire.I remember Dorothy saying Forest had left the Wildland Center an hour before she received the evacuation order.”“Which means Forest Nettleman had plenty of time to climb Eagle Cliff Mountain.” Eric yanked hard on the lock, then steered Lark toward Bird Haven.“Do you know, does Nettleman own an ATV?”The Elk Park Ornithological Chapter meeting hadn’t formally convened by the time Lark and Eric arrived.The usual attendees—Miriam Tanager, Forest Nettleman, Harry, Dorothy, Cecilia, Andrew and Opal Henderson from the valley, and Gertie Tanager—along with a handful of irregulars had gathered in the living room at Bird Haven.Rachel Stanhope was the only regular missing, having returned to New York in the fall.Overhead, a chandelier constructed of tangled antlers, electric wires, and candlelike lightbulbs cast a pale light over the crowd.Warm lamplight reflected off leaded glass windows, and burnished floors.A soft, leather, burgundy-colored couch anchored the room, along with scattered rugs and a moss rock fireplace.Forest Nettleman perched on the hearth.Tall and gangly, he straightened when he saw Eric.“Well, speak of the devil.”Eric wondered if he meant it literally.“Come over here a minute, Eric.Perhaps you can settle something.” Nettleman made a circular motion with his hand.Eric groaned.Lark elbowed him in the stomach.“Be nice.”“Sure,” he wheezed, sidestepping a second blow.Leaving her to talk with Miriam, he crossed the living room toward Nettleman and Andrew Henderson.Nettleman extended his right hand but didn’t stand.Henderson—a super-sized man with a super-sized appetite and a scraggly goatee—sat on the couch.He stuffed a cracker into his mouth, and waved.“We’re in the midst of a debate,” explained Nettleman, gesturing between himself and Henderson.“As you no doubt know, I’m a staunch opponent of prescribed burning.I have been from the start.Andy, here, disagrees with me.”Henderson’s face reddened.“The name is Andrew, if you don’t mind,” he said, forcing his words around the hors d’oeuvres in his mouth.“Right,” conceded Nettleman, acting like he’d just remembered.Never mind that he’d known Henderson for years.“Anyway,” he continued.“From what I hear via the grapevine, Eric, you and I were on the same side.You were against the burn, too.”“On this one, ja,” admitted Eric.“I told you.” Nettleman beamed at Henderson, then focused his piercing blue eyes on Eric.“Do you mind telling us why?”Eric chaffed under the questioning.He didn’t like being played, and he suspected Nettleman was setting him up.“Is there a prize for the right answer?”Henderson choked on the cracker.Nettleman frowned.Eric waited another beat, then said, “In my opinion? The fire danger was too high.”“And you were right,” said Nettleman.A small consolation, thought Eric.“I was also concerned about the number of breeding birds in the area,” he said.“A lot of towhees and warblers have moved in.They were nesting, and I hated to see them driven out.”“Very admirable,” concurred Nettleman.“Not even someone as pro-burn as Henderson could dispute that logic.”Henderson wiped his mouth on a napkin and started to speak, when Nettleman bulldozed over him.“Humidity and avian factors not withstanding, you support the burns, Eric.” Nettleman rested his elbows on his knees.“I’d like to know why.”Swinging his leg up along the back of the sofa, Eric sat down.“Honestly, I think the fire management policy speaks for itself.Prescribed burning accomplishes one main thing
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]