Wintermoon Ice (2010) by Suzanne Francis Read Free Book Online Page B

stuff. People with delusions of persecution believe that they are one hundred percent sane. They have to, in order to make their world view the correct one. And it is perfectly possible for them to infect others with that same fear, even though it is all in their head."
    "It just didn't feel that way to me. He didn't seem afraid of the Polys, not really. I got the impression he would know just what to do if he met one."
    Jane raised an eyebrow at this.
    "Well, he is kind of... That is... I don't think I have ever met anyone so..." Tessa colored and didn't finish the thought.
    But Jane would not let it go. "Anyone so...?" she echoed, with a grin.
    Tessa poured herself some more tea, and sugared it before she remembered that she hadn't liked sweet tea since she was a little girl.
    You like milk and no sugar, right?
    How had he known that?
    "Tessa!" Jane banged the table with her teaspoon.
    "He just struck me as someone who is very physically... powerful. Like a big cat."
    "I think you are attracted to this man."
    "What? I most certainly am not." Tessa drank a big gulp of tea, rather enjoying the fierce sweetness. "For one thing, I am sure he is nuts, and for another, I am already engaged to Ted."
    "Are you?"
    "Engaged to Ted? You know I am."
    Her friend snorted. "You know what I meant. Are you so sure he is nuts? You came rushing over to the hospital just now to tell me about your new neighbor Jakob, and how scary he was -- but ever since you got here, you have been hotly defending him. Not to mention going on about his shirt.
    "It was like something from a museum." Tessa's voice was filled with wonder. "But on him it fitted perfectly."
    "See what I mean? I think you have found your ghost, Tessa Kivelson."
    Tessa groaned. "Don't start that again. I would almost rather hear some disgusting work story instead."
    Jane's eyes brightened. "You're on! I have a beauty. Something so awful it will take your mind off your crazy buddy, Thor."
    "He
isn't
my buddy, and his name is Jakob."
    "Mmm hmm... Well anyhow, you won't have heard that two bodies were found at the dockyards behind Provedore's the day before yesterday."
    Tessa nodded, frowning. "Too right. Go on."
    They work in pairs...
    "It seems these two kids were trespassing in one of the back blocks of the dockyards and had an accident. Somehow, they ended up under a shipping container, crushed to death. One of them was Police Chief Carter's son, and he is asking a lot of questions. I did the autopsies yesterday."
    If they had found you there they would have killed you...
    "What did you find?"
    "Fatal injuries consistent with massive blunt trauma," Jane said, with cheerful clinical detachment. "As expected. Except..." She dropped her voice low. "You can't repeat this, OK? It is part of an ongoing investigation."
    Tessa gave a baffled nod.
    "One of the boys had a broken jaw." Tessa opened her mouth and Jane continued, "I know, so what? Practically all his bones were smashed. Having a thirty ton piece of metal dropped on you can do that." Her companion shuddered. "Exactly. They found the kid on his side, half buried in gravel. The impact of the container had twisted his body. All nicely symmetrical breaks, except for the jaw. That was ripped cleanly, practically detached -- in the other direction. And..."
    "And?"
    "The distal portion of the tongue was missing. Completely gone."
    * * * *
    Tessa had taken Suvi's ancient Volvo out and driven to meet Jane for tea, rather than walk through the wharves. Now, as she tried to turn the car over in the bitterly cold winter air, the engine responded with a series of dull thumps. That sound reminded her of something else. A second later, she was on her mobile, using speed dial.
    "Dr. Piper speaking."
    "Jane?" Tessa was almost breathless. "How long had those boys been there?"
    "Under the container, before they were found, you mean?"
    "Yes. Could you tell the time of death?"
    "Not the exact time, no. Both bodies had decomposed food matter in their