What the hell? It was better than sitting on my thumbs. I could be useful and keep the heat on the Ruben investigation at the same time.

And prove my sobriety.

“Can you provide a facility?” I asked.

“What do you need?”

“What will I be looking at?”

“The remains fit into one plastic tub.”

“That doesn’t sound promising.”

“No. What do you need?”

“I can only do a preliminary evaluation. Any microscopy or specialty analysis will have to be done at my lab.”

“Understood.”

“Not much,” I said. “A worktable. Gloves, masks, aprons. A means of magnification. Calipers. X-ray capability.”

She pulled out a small spiral and began a list. “I’ll need to obtain forms signed by the next of kin. Contact the cemetery for burial location. Round up a crew.” She scribbled as she spoke. “Arrange transport for the coffin.” She looked around. “We can do the analysis here. It’ll take some time.” She jammed the tablet in her purse and pulled out her phone.

I handed her one of my cards. “My mobile number.”

“Snook can’t afford your fee. And our budget doesn’t allow for external consults.”

“This one’s on me.”

“Let’s dig him up,” she said.

“Let’s dig him up,” I said.

*  *  *

Normally, the justice system moves at the pace of continental drift. By “time,” I assumed King meant a couple of days.

I underestimated the sheer doggedness of Yellowknife’s deputy chief coroner.

I was downing lo mein at the Red Apple on Franklin when my iPhone rang.

“Can you be at Lakeview Cemetery at six o’clock?”

“Give me directions.”

“Take Old Airport Road north out of town for about a mile. Hang a right toward Jackfish Lake. You can’t miss it.”

“I’ll be there.”

I looked at my watch: three-twenty. King and I had parted only forty minutes earlier.

Pure pit bull.

I loved this woman.

I called Ryan to tell him what I was doing. He sounded surprised but rendered no opinion. Mostly, he sounded frustrated. “The tip on Unka was a bust. The asshole’s still in the wind.”

“I don’t suppose Ruben’s body has turned up.”

“No.”

“Is anyone looking for it?”

“I’ll keep you in the loop.”

At the Book Cellar, I bought a volume on the search for diamonds in the Arctic. Another on Canadian diamond mining. Then I returned to the Explorer.

Before going upstairs, I went into the woods for another go at Tank. Though I called and called, the dog made no appearance.

I stood a moment, breathing the odor of the dark, sticky pitch running through the trees. Who was I kidding? The dog was dead.

Feeling a deep ache, I returned to my room.

Four P.M.

I dug out my warmest clothes and set them on a chair.

Four-ten.