Tyne shook Ryan’s hand, mine, then slapped a palm to his bare chest. “I was about to do my sweating. Helps the circulation.”

Ryan launched in, using a tactic that implied more familiarity than we actually possessed. “I’m Andy. This is Tempe. We got your name from Nellie Snook. We’re associates of Annaliese Ruben.”

For several beats Tyne said nothing. I thought he was about to tell us to hit the road when he grinned ever so slightly.

“Annaliese. OK. We’ll go with that.”

“Sorry?”

“Nice girls, those two. Known them all their lives. And their kin. Used to get themselves into some mischief. Annaliese left here some years back. Wouldn’t mind hearing how she’s doing.”

“We think she’s returned to Yellowknife.”

“Seriously?”

Did I imagine it, or did Tyne’s eyes narrow ever so slightly?

“Annaliese was living in Edmonton. We’ve come from there. We know her former landlady. When Ms. Forex heard we were headed to Yellowknife, she gave us some belongings Annaliese left behind. We’d like to find her before we leave town.”

Each sentence, taken by itself, was absolutely true.

“Come on in.” Tyne stepped back. “You tell me what you know, and I’ll tell you what I know.”

We trailed Tyne through a dimly lit foyer to a living room furnished in standard-issue Sears. The flooring was linoleum trying to be brick. The air smelled of onions and bacon.

Tyne gestured to the couch. Ryan and I sat. He offered coffee. We declined.

When Tyne dropped into an armchair opposite us his bony knees V’ed out, providing an all-too-clear view of Mr. Happy and the Bong Bongs.

I was glad I had not eaten lunch.

“Please feel free to put on warmer clothing.” Ryan smiled. “We don’t mind waiting.”

“Don’t want the lady distracted by my squeeters.” Tyne winked.

Ryan smiled.

I smiled.

Tyne left, returned moments later in a sweatshirt and jeans. “So. Let’s put our heads together.”

That image was almost as revolting as the prospect of the squeeters.

“First off, thanks for talking with us,” Ryan began. “We won’t take up a lot of your time.”

“One thing I’ve got, it’s time.”

“That’s a luxury.”

“Not when the bills roll in.”

“You’re unemployed, sir?”

“Worked fifteen years at Giant. One day they up and shut her down. ‘Sorry, buddy. You’re shitcanned.’ Did some staking for a while. Some trucking. Not a lot of opportunities around here.”

“Giant is a gold mine?” I asked.

“Was. For decades gold was the lifeblood of this region.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“’Course you didn’t. Everyone’s heard of the Klondike gold rush. Well, Yellowknife had her own day in the sun.”

“Is that so?” Ryan had no interest in gold. I knew he was trying to loosen Tyne up.