Romance on the Edge 01 - Hooked

camera and took some more shots.
    Garrett investigated the wound. “A knife didn’t do this. Something curved did.”
    “Like what?”
    “Possibly a hook of some sort. A mold will tell us for sure.”
    “That’ll be up to the medical examiner in Anchorage,” Judd said. “Skip’s probably already radioed for a silver bullet.”
    “Silver bullet?”
    “Yeah, lightweight aluminum coffins for cases such as this. All the evidence and the body get stuffed into the bullet and airlifted to Anchorage. It’s not like we have the means or the forensic equipment to completely handle a full investigation. It comes down to old-fashioned legwork out here.”
    “Gotcha. Hand me the thermometer so I can get a liver temp.” Judd handed Garrett the thermometer out of the tool box, and he inserted it into Kendrick’s liver.
    They finished and zipped the body into the double-lined body bag, leaving it on the RHIB as they boarded the Calypso .
    “I’ve called for a silver bullet from King Salmon,” Skip said when they joined him in the cabin. “Troopers will meet us at the Naknek City Dock. Hunt, I want Judd staying behind to help you question Sonya and her crew.” Skip gave Garrett a long stare. “By the book, Hunt.”
    He nodded. Here was the test whether or not he could objectively handle Sonya and the job he had to do.
    He had his doubts.
    “I want statements from everyone onboard and try to get a look around. I’m leaving Corte with you, while I accompany Foster and the body to the dock. We’ll reconvene later.”
    They broke apart. Judd and Garrett boarded the Double Dippin’ to find her crew much the same as they’d left them.
    His gaze immediately gravitated to Sonya. He wanted to hold her. Take her away from all this nastiness. Instead he stamped down his feelings and let the cop inside of him do his job.
    “We’ll need to question everyone on board,” he directed his statement toward Sonya. She was pale yet holding it together better than most in her situation would. Her t-shirt today had a red salmon rocking on an electric guitar with the words, “The Dead Red,” written across the top. Life imitating art? “While Judd and I do that, would you mind if Officer Corte takes a look around?”
    “You need a warrant for that,” Aidan interjected. He’d been shooting daggers at Garrett since he’d arrived.
    “Not if Sonya gives us permission.” Garrett a raised brow at Sonya. “What do you say?”
    “Go ahead.” She shrugged. “I have nothing to hide.”
    Garrett motioned for Corte to take a look around. “All right, this is how it’s going to work. Judd and I are going to question you individually. Sonya, can we use your pilot house?”
    She nodded. “How long do you think this will take?”
    Garrett glanced at her, and her crew, then at Aidan. “Depends on the level of cooperation we receive.” He motioned for Sonya to lead the way. “We’ll start with you.”
    “Sonya?” Peter’s voice held worry and a touch of anger. It was the first word he’d spoken since losing his breakfast.
    She turned to him and took his hand in hers, squeezing it. “Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.” She turned to Aidan. “Can you and Wes round-haul the rest of the net in?”
    “Of course.” Aidan reached out and wrapped his arms around Sonya, rubbing her back. “I’ll take care of everything.”
    Garrett wanted to rip them apart. He wasn’t sure what he would have done if Sonya hadn’t broken out of Harte’s embrace.
    “Thanks, Aidan.” She nodded in Peter’s direction. “Keep an eye on him.” Without a glance toward Garrett or Judd, she led the way to the pilot house.
    Garrett tried to forget what he and Sonya had been doing a mere few hours ago. Sonya dropped into the captain’s chair like the weight she carried was getting too heavy to bear. Judd took a seat on the bunk, while Garrett remained standing next to the stove.
    Judd flipped open his notebook, and Garrett began asking questions. “Tell me again from the top what happened this morning.”
    She gave him a run down of her actions since her crew came aboard until they’d pulled Kendrick up in the net.
    “That’s quite the coincidence,” Judd commented. “You’re in a fight with Kendrick at the Pitt last night, threatened that he’d be ‘floating belly-up’, and then he ends up your catch of the day.”
    Garrett didn’t believe in coincidences as a rule. After all, what were the odds? What were the odds that