The Thaw by Susan Slater

Author:Susan Slater
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: amateur sleuth, native american fiction, crime fiction murder, police procedural mysteries, american indian mysteries, small town mystery fiction, alaska mystery
Publisher: Columbine Publishing Group, LLC

Chapter 19

Ben didn’t have long to wait. He’d just had time to reschedule the interview with the possible intern, leave a message at the airport for Pete to bring Doc Kane to his office, and have a second cup of coffee when Marie called out that the doctor was coming up the walk.

“Welcome to America’s Outback where we lose people faster than we can bring them into the world. I’m Elijah Kane.” The man in the doorway walked toward Ben with his hand outstretched. He was short, a head shorter than Ben’s six-foot two frame. The dusting of fluffy, gray hair that ringed an otherwise bald head was only revealed after he’d taken off a stiff-brimmed, leather Aussie Breezer hat with a chin-strap. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. You’re a boon to this community—setting up a clinic for addicts is just what the doctor ordered. And I mean that literally.”

“Doctor Kane, good to meet you. Unless I can get you a cup of coffee, let’s walk over to the clinic.”

“I’m good to go. I understand I’m looking at two deceased individuals? Both males?”

“Yes, one is a local and has apparently spent most of the winter on the tundra in a prone position. The other is a recent visitor—supposedly here as a reporter/photographer for the Seattle Times getting some background on dog racing.”

“I keep forgetting that the big day is coming up. Only a couple weeks away. I hope Raven does well.”

“You seem to know this community fairly well.”

“Been coming out here for more years than I care to remember. I have five villages along the river who have had access to my services. It’ll be nice to have a co-op health care center and hospital one of these days. I admit it’s a touch of modernism and convenience that I’ve longed for.”

In five minutes both men were walking up the steps to the clinic. Ben helped the doctor roll the gurney, with Andrew Cook strapped to it, in from the hallway and place it in the middle of the room under a bright ceiling light.

“Should be a clipboard in that first drawer. Can you hand it to me, that is, if you don’t mind a little work as my assistant?”

“Not a problem; I’d like to feel useful.”

“Good. Then, first off, I’ll ask you to record the time and date at the top of the first form.”

Ben followed directions and filled in the information.

“Do we have a name for this individual?”

“Here’s what the EMT’s filled out. Looks like this is Andrew Cook.” Ben smoothed out the single folded sheet and clipped it to the clipboard in his hand, then stepped back to watch as the doctor loosened the straps and began his examination. A quick inspection of nasal passages, mouth, throat including a cursory palpitation of the salivary glands beneath the jaw and the doctor put his instruments in a tray and stood back.

“Constricted airways—caused by rapid swelling of tissue in the throat. My guess is a reaction to nuts—the common peanut is probably the bad guy.

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