‘And it’s not shit. Everyone loves that song.’
‘OK, OK,’ said Bob. ‘Maybe it’s just hard to sing …’
‘I ain’t missin’ you at all,’ she sang again.
‘Well, you won’t have to for much longer.’
‘Why?’
‘We found a body on Quandary Peak.’
‘Another –’
‘No. We found Jean Transom.’
When May had come and gone and June had brought snow across Summit County, Ren thought Jean Transom’s body would never show. And when the sun blazed in July and still didn’t draw the body from the melting snow, Ren figured it had been thrown down a mineshaft – that Misty the dog had located Jean Transom on that snowy slope the night of the avalanche and given someone the chance to bury her again.
‘I don’t believe it,’ said Ren. ‘Where?
‘Where we expected,’ said Bob. ‘Up on Quandary.
‘How do you know it was her?
‘Her clothes, her hair, her watch, her ankle holster – which was empty,’ said Bob.
The air-conditioning was on high in the Jeep and the outside temperature was rising.
‘Not the best conditions,’ said Bob.
‘No,’ said Ren. ‘But at least we’ve got her.’
‘What’s your position on the case now?’ said Bob.
‘Your guess is as good as mine.’ She paused. ‘Gary Dettling got paged when I was at Safe Streets – was that you?’
‘No. I asked Mike to.’
‘Well, Gary’s been informed and he still let me leave. It’s not like he called me in to let me know. I mean, I’m still coming to the scene – Glenwood Springs is the closest RA. Gressett and Todd will be there. Whether I have any more involvement than that, who knows.’ She heard beeps on her phone. ‘Bob, looks like I’m just about to find out. That’s Gary on the other line. See you in a little while.’
‘Ren, hey,’ said Gary.
‘Hey.’
‘Jean Transom’s body’s been found on Quandary.’
‘Oh my God. Really?”
‘Yes.’
‘That’s good news, I guess.’
‘I know – doesn’t feel that way.’
‘ I’ll let Todd and Gressett know.’
‘Ren?’
‘What?’
‘By special request, you’re back on the case.’
‘Whose special request?’ said Ren. ‘Paul Louderback?’
‘No. Mine.’
‘Thank you, Gary. Thanks.’
‘See you at Quandary.’
Ren called Gressett. ‘Hi, it’s Ren. Jean Transom’s body’s been found … on Quandary Peak.’
She could hear his breath catch. ‘Sweet Jesus,’ he said. His voice cracked.
‘I know. I’m heading out right now. See you there.’
‘Yes,’ said Gressett, trying to find his composure.
‘Could you do me a favor?’ said Ren. ‘I was coming back this afternoon to talk to that little girl from the Hot Springs thing this morning. Would you mind bringing that file over for me?’
‘Not a problem.’
Ren drove up Blue Lakes Road past cars and 4x4s full of moved-along hikers. When she reached as far as she could go, she parked and got out, walking past the groups that were hanging back in case they missed any action. She flashed her badge.
‘Guys, there’s no point in hanging around. Nothing’s going to happen for quite a while, and it will be boring when it does – nothing you haven’t seen already on CSI.’
‘Oh, OK,’ they said.
‘Wow,’ said Ren. ‘Thank you.’ How did I ever end up in a position of authority?
She jogged up further and waved at Mike Delaney. ‘Hey.’
‘Ren,’ he said, giving her a hug.
‘Well, this is weird.’
‘I’m afraid it’s a liquid lunch up there.’
‘Jesus,’ said Ren.
‘You got your boots on?’ he said, looking down at her feet.
She nodded.
They walked up the first steep incline and through the trees. Ren stopped when the path leveled and the clearing revealed the spectacular view across the valley.
‘It’s so beautiful up here,’ she said, moving off again. ‘I don’t think I can face seeing Jean … like she is.’ She paused. ‘It’ll be hard, I guess.’
‘You don’t have to –’
Ren smiled patiently.
‘It was worth a try,’ said Mike. He squeezed her shoulder. ‘Come on. Let’s just do it.’
Up ahead, one of the young detectives sat on a log with an attractive, fit-looking blonde woman who had just sat up from having her head between her knees. Her skin was the palest gray, her eyes rimmed red. She was in light hiking clothes, with a fleece wrapped around her waist. There were flecks of dried vomit on her sneakers.
The detective stood up. ‘This, uh … lady found the body,’ he said to Ren. He turned to the woman. ‘She is the FBI.’
‘The entire FBI,’ said Ren. She smiled. ‘I’m so sorry you had to see that,’ she said. ‘It can’t have been pleasant.’
‘I needed to pee … that’s how I found the body,’ said the woman. ‘I didn’t actually … hit the body or anything.’
‘OK,’ said Ren. ‘Well, we’re going to go ahead up.’
‘Good luck with your investigation,’ said the woman. She groaned and leaned into the undergrowth
