She stiffened as if she’d been hit by lightning.
“I’m trying to help! And don’t you give me this holier-than-thou speech! I know how to cooperate. I’ve worked with the FBI, real FBI, good FBI agents! They were all there when the Archangel came on the Destiny and—”
“What?” He leaned forward suddenly, staring at her as if he was convinced that she had suddenly announced that she was the Archangel herself.
She foundered. “I was last supposed to be performing on Celtic American Cruise Line’s Destiny. We never did do the show. There was a storm at sea and a killer on the ship and, thankfully, Special Agents Crow and McCoy and...”
Her voice trailed off. He was still staring at her.
“Look. I’m sorry. I know I’m being rude. I’m sure you’re an excellent agent.” She stopped speaking again. She was afraid she’d spill out something like So, you see, I do know how agents should act! You think you’re tough, huh. Yeah. You’ve got the look. You could be an actor. You’d make an excellent Viking. I could totally see you in The 13th Warrior. And you’d have been great in Thor, given Chris Hemsworth a run for his money—move over, Stellan Skarsgård.
Thankfully, she managed not to speak.
They were both still staring at each other when there was a rap at the door and it opened a shade.
“Thor?”
Clara knew the voice; she knew it because she had depended on Jackson Crow as if he were a lifeline when she’d been on the Destiny.
The man in front of her blinked. He stood, recognizing the new arrival, as well.
“Jackson,” he said.
Clara leaned back for a minute, just breathing. Then she, too, rose to her feet and turned to the door.
Jackson Crow had arrived. He was busy shedding a huge parka. He hadn’t taken note of her yet; he walked across the room.
She’d expected that maybe such manly agents greeted one another with stiff handshakes, but she was mistaken. The two embraced in a fierce hug instead.
“How the hell are you?” Crow demanded.
“Pretty good—until this morning,” Thor Erikson said.
“Yeah, me, too,” Crow said, and Clara was startled by the timbre of emotion in his voice.
She didn’t know what was going on. Surely, neither of these men had known the victims.
They spoke quickly for a moment in a conversation that meant little to her—but seemed to make perfect sense to the two of them.
Crow first. “You heard, then.”
“Didn’t believe it. How the hell...?” Erikson responded.
“It’s the system. Criminals who are incarcerated will find a way out.”
“Damn, someone out there should have known—should have watched him better.”
“Should have. But this isn’t—”
“The same. No. I’ve seen the remains.”
And then, it was as if they both realized she was in the room. They were an intriguing pair, both so tall, the one dark, the other so light. And while they were perplexed, there was also something solid and reassuring about them together—as if they were godlike sentinels of old.
Jackson Crow saw her then. “Clara, poor Clara!” He walked toward her.
She hurried to him and he encompassed her in his arms.
“I’m so sorry, so sorry,” Crow told her.
Agent Erikson cleared his throat. “I’m just beginning to get the gist of this. You were all aboard the Destiny when the Archangel was caught.”
“Myself and Jude McCoy, Miss Avery and her actor friends out there,” Jackson Crow told him. Clara realized she was still clinging to Crow like a lifeline. She managed to straighten herself. Agent Erikson was looking from one of them to the other. He shook his head and sank back in his chair.
“Miss Avery found the second body,” he said.
Jackson Crow looked at her. “Clara, Lord, how horrible. I’m sure you came up here to get away from what happened in the Caribbean.”
Clara shrugged uneasily, aware that Erikson was looking at her as if she somehow brought bad things with her wherever she went, like an unlucky penny.
Jackson Crow looked over at Thor Erikson. “What else did you need from her?”
“Anything, everything. When you met with Ms. Fontaine and Ms. Carson, Miss Avery, were they nervous in any way? Did they make any comments of being afraid of anyone in Alaska? Did they suggest that they had received any threats?”
Clara shook her head. “We met. Natalie made sure I was aware that Celtic American was wholeheartedly for the cast joining her show for the segment—it would be wonderful publicity for them. I’d already signed all kinds of waivers for the show.”
“Which, of course, you didn’t really read,” Thor said.
Clara stiffened but forced a pleasant smile. “Actually, I did read what I was signing. The problem is that you sign for the parent company, which meant they could use us in their silly Gotcha show, as well. I didn’t realize it at the time—hindsight is wonderful. Have you never thought that, Agent Erikson?”
“I don’t think there’s anything more that Clara can give you right now,” Jackson Crow said quietly. “Give her some time. If there is something, she’ll think of it. And she will help in any way she can.”
Erikson inclined his head.
“I need to speak with everyone involved,” Thor said. He looked at Clara. “So, your entire cast was on the Destiny with another serial killer.”
“Not the entire cast, no,” Clara said. We have one new member we haven’t worked with yet—she’s not on the island, though.
She really hated the third degree she was getting. She might have been brutally victimized here—and the man behaved as if he was suspicious of a group of actors escaping the horror of what had happened.
“For your information, Special Agent, Simon was nearly killed himself while trying to save a friend of ours from the Archangel. He’s still healing from a broken leg he received from a brush with the killer. He is certainly something of a hero. You have no right to treat us as if we’re involved in this horror in any way. Ask Jackson—he sailed on the Destiny.” Clara hoped her righteous indignation was cool and mature.
“Miss Avery,” Erikson said, “I’m sorry for what you endured—in the past, and today. The Archangel is dead. Whoever is responsible for this butchery might have just gotten started. I’m doing my best to see that the killer is caught before someone else is murdered. If that offends your sensibilities, I do apologize. But it doesn’t change the fact that you all are on an island where a woman has been cut in half. So, I will ask you all, bear with me.”
How the hell could she be so right and this man still be able to make her feel like a plaintive schoolgirl?
She thanked God for her theatrical training and didn’t react in the least.
“Shall I send someone else in?” she asked.
He nodded at her. “Yes, please.” He looked at her keenly, and she had the odd feeling that he was inwardly shaking his head at her behavior—despite the fact that Jackson Crow had spoken so well for her.
Well, you’re a jerk! she thought. Tackling me into the snow—twice!
“I