Mountain Ghost: A Polar Task Force Thriller, Book #2 (PolarPol) by Christoffer Petersen

Author:Christoffer Petersen [Petersen, Christoffer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aarluuk Press for Arctic Noir, Action Thrillers and Greenland Crime
Published: 2020-11-02T22:00:00+00:00

Evelyn reached between the seats to slap Etienne’s knees with a pair of thick mittens, waking him and pointing out of the window as Gina made slow progress along a white road cut between drifts of snow.

“Kebnekaise,” Evelyn said, as Etienne yawned. “You can just about see it.”

Etienne leaned forward and peered through the windscreen, enjoying the glimpse of winter sun on a low, slow orbit in the sky. The two peaks were just visible, and he nodded that he could see them.

“Better if you lowered your hand,” he said, smiling as Evelyn dropped her hands into her lap. “And what’s that ahead? Is that a kennel?”

“Kebnekaise Kennel,” Gina said. The tyres of the patrol car squealed in the snow as she slowed to a stop alongside a row of spacious sled dog kennels. “Not mine,” she said. Etienne caught the wistful tone of her voice, before following Gina and Evelyn out of the car and into the snow.

A tall woman with long, wiry brown hair hugged Gina as they met halfway between the car and the house. Gina introduced her as Rika Stendahl.

“Finest musher west of Kiruna,” Gina said, laughing as Rika pretended to be insulted. She recovered, then pulled back the long sleeve of her thick wool sweater and shook the Polarpol officers’ hands.

“Gina said you were coming. I have coffee ready. We can chat inside before we go.”

“Go where?” Etienne asked.

“Oh, along the trail, about seven kilometres. The road is blocked. It will be faster if we take the dogs.”

Evelyn clapped her hands, batting the thick mittens together, before reigning in her enthusiasm as she caught a glimpse of Etienne’s face.

“What?” she said. “You don’t like dogs?”

Etienne raised his hands in apology. “It’s not that I don’t like dogs. I’m just not very good with them.”

“But…” Gina glanced at Evelyn.

“Yep,” she said. “He’s a Mountie.”

“Based in Québec. We’re a progressive police force, you know. Helicopters? SUVs?”

“But you have sled dogs?” Rika’s breath misted in front of her face as she spoke.

“Yes, and horses, although – prepare yourselves – I don’t ride.”

“I don’t know, boss,” Evelyn said. “I think I suddenly lost all respect for you.”

“Well,” Rika said. “Let’s get him inside, anyway. Poor thing looks cold.”

Etienne shook his head as the three women laughed. “I am never going to live this down,” he said, following their tracks in the snow as they walked back to the house.

The rich scent of coffee, together with the heat inside Rika’s house, helped Etienne adjust to the idea of sledding into the mountains. He removed his boots and jacket and slid along the bench at the kitchen table beside Evelyn.

“You’re enjoying this, Trooper, aren’t you?”

“Just a little,” she said. “Indulge me.”

Etienne snorted softly, and said, “You’re indulged.”

Rika’s coffee was as strong as the aroma suggested. She served cold cinnamon rolls from a tin, apologising that they weren’t warm, but she had run out of flour.

“I thought about going to the store last night, after Gina called,” she said, sitting down in the chair beside Gina.

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