The Glacier Gallows Read Online Free PDF

Glacier National Park had arrived, Derek had radioed Blake Foreman’s team of searchers and had then gone to meet them. Mike Hook from the governor’s office and Jessica Winters, the head of the Cool-it! environmental group, had returned on their own. When Derek finally returned, he explained that when Blake heard what had happened, he went to search for signs of someone else having been up on the plateau with them. Derek had searched with Blake for a few minutes and then given him strict instructions to return within the hour.
    â€œI think so . . .” Cole said in response to Derek’s question.
    The woman straightened, and three men exited the helicopter. Two of them carried heavy-looking backpacks, and one had a massive hard-side Pelican case in his hands. Cole guessed this was the RCMP forensics team. As the woman strode past the hikers and over to where Waterton Lakes park wardens and Glacier Park rangers were holding conference, she saw Cole. She wore a heavy-equipment belt, complete with a Smith and Wesson sidearm and extra magazines, and an RCMP ball cap. Though her eyes were concealed by aviator sunglasses, Cole felt a moment of recognition pass between them. It appeared as though Sergeant Reimer, formally of the Oracle, Alberta, RCMP , was now part of a Major Crimes Unit stationed in Southern Alberta. During the Mike Barnes affair in Oracle, Alberta, Reimer had raked Cole Blackwater over the coals while he tried to save the Cardinal Divide from a mining company.
    â€œShe looks serious,” said Derek as Cole sat back down. “What do you think they’re doing?”
    â€œWalter is showing them where the border is. I’d say they were trying to figure out who has jurisdiction here, and how to interrogate us.”
    Reimer indicated a broad area at the edge of the cliff above the spot Brian’s body had been found, and one of the rangers started to cordon the area off as the crime scene, laying yellow tape down and placing heavy boulders on it to keep it from blowing away.
    â€œI do not like the sound of that,” said Tad, who was sitting next to Derek. He took off his watch cap and scratched his head through a thick mat of dark hair.
    â€œGentlemen,” said a ranger from Glacier National Park who was standing nearby, “until we’ve had a chance to interview each of you, you’re not to discuss matters pertaining to this case. We’re going to ask that you put some space between one another.”
    It appeared as if Reimer was taking over. After another minute she gave instructions to each member of the team. Reimer, two members of the forensics team, one ranger, and Walter Blackwater walked to the edge of the cliff, careful to avoid a broad swath of the mountaintop that was considered a crime scene. They peered over the edge and then three of them started down the trail toward the body. The officer with the heavy case remained at the top of the cliff. He took off his pack, put on a pair of latex gloves, and opened his case.
    Derek was about to speak when a US park ranger approached the group, and everybody fell silent. A little like sheep, thought Cole, as a wolf approaches.
    â€œLadies and gentlemen, I’m Allan Doyle. I’m the chief ranger and incident commander for Glacier National Park. As I’m sure you’ve all gathered by now, the circumstances that surround Mr. Marriott’s death are suspicious.”
    â€œMr. Doyle, I’m Tara Sinclair with the Globe and Mail . Are you prepared to say that Mr. Marriott has been murdered?” Her fingers were poised on her iPhone.
    â€œWe have opened an investigation. That does not preclude the possibility of foul play. But until the Mounties do their work, and until the medical examiner arrives on scene, we won’t know for certain the cause of death. That could take several days.”
    Sinclair hadn’t stopped scribbling in her notebook and posting updates from her iPhone