‘I’ll be honest, Sterling,’ he said when they were safely on the chairlift. ‘I’m tempted to bring you out because of the threat Garrett could potentially pose. This harassment could escalate. When’s your next shift?’

‘Tomorrow. I have today off.’

‘That’s good. Stay here as long as you can. That’s an order.’

‘It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it,’ Sterling said with a laugh.

‘Hopefully we’ll learn more about Garrett today.’

Sterling curled her hands around the safety bar. ‘Can I ask you something? I feel like Art Lorrimer’s death changed the focus of what I was sent here to do, which was to help find the person who killed Scruffy Freidman.’

Ryder nodded. ‘Things have taken a turn that way because you’re working with Heidi. And you’re right, we’re concentrating on Art Lorrimer’s death because it was a plane crash, it made the nightly news and people want answers.’

‘Yeah. I guess Scruffy’s ending wasn’t nearly as dramatic.’

‘Scruffy died as Scruffy lived. Don’t worry about our shifting focus. It’ll come together at some point.’ Ryder paused as the chair rattled past a pylon. ‘You’re a good detective, Sterling; you took a risk yesterday, and you picked the perfect time to do it.’

‘Thanks.’ She took off a mitten and tightened the chin strap on her helmet. ‘I need to see if Heidi comes back to me with something.’

Ryder glanced at her. ‘You’re sure you want to go through with it?’

‘I’m certain. There’s a chance she could introduce me to someone in that drug ring.’

They were almost at the unloading ramp. Ryder removed one of his gloves and dug in his pocket for the single key. ‘Room 10, Crystal Lake Motel, Jindabyne,’ he said, passing it to her with great care. ‘Put it on your key ring as soon as you can. It’s a bolthole should you find yourself needing one.’

Twenty-six

Flowers was still in Sergeant Thalia Cooper’s office when Ryder arrived at Jindabyne police station. Confident his partner would be getting the rundown on Rodney Garrett, Ryder found the bathrooms and hit the shower.