Snowblind by Margaret Haffner

Author:Margaret Haffner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2017-03-21T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 7

The next morning Simon announced he’d be staying in camp to correct a problem with the radio. Anne generously volunteered to remain and help but eventually he convinced her it was a one man task. Then, to his annoyance, both Tony and Jeff hung around doing odd jobs. But by ten-thirty Tony had sharpened his corer, Jeff had tagged his last sample and they had departed in opposite directions. Simon dived back into his tent, prepared to search Wally’s belongings for a sample of his handwriting. It won’t be difficult, he thought, Wally has several notebooks of data. Carefully he drew the boxes out from under his tent mate’s cot. Rows and rows of sample bottles confronted him, but no notebooks were visible. He lifted a few of the bottles but there was no room for anything beneath them—the boxes were made for the sample bottles. ‘That’s funny,’ Simon muttered. ‘I could’ve sworn he kept them under here.’ He shoved the samples back under the bed and reached for Wally’s duffel-bag. Instinctively he wrinkled his nose as he pawed through Wally’s dirty clothes, but he found nothing resembling notes. Why would he carry all his papers with him, Simon wondered? They’d be unnecessary weight … He sat back on his haunches, remembering how much Joan wanted Wally’s data. She wouldn’t steal it … would she? But Wally didn’t trust her, that was certain … Simon got up in disgust and brushed off his jeans. So much for that.

He made another cup of ersatz coffee while he waited impatiently for his eleven a.m. radio link with Sergeant Bill Harkness.

Bill usually sat in when Simon interviewed witnesses and his character assessments were uncannily accurate. For a man who appeared serene and phlegmatic (except where food was concerned), he sometimes expressed very cynical views about his fellow men. In his fifties now, and out of uniform into civilian clothes, Bill bore an amazing resemblance to Alfred Hitchcock. His only vice, as far as his friends knew, was gluttony, and he fought a losing battle against perfecting Hitchcock’s pear-shaped figure.

Simon whistled tunelessly through his teeth. He doubted the motive for Phillip’s murder was centred in Polar Bear Pass. The threads leading to his death had to be rooted in the past and Bill would have to help trace them backwards in time and distance. Up here, he needed to verify means and opportunity. Simon shook his head in disgust. Great work! As far as he could tell, everyone had the means and no one had the opportunity.

He checked his watch yet again. Eleven o’clock. He clamped the earphones on to his head as he took one last look out the open tent flap. No stray scientists had appeared but Simon hoped the connection to Bill would be clear so he could talk quietly.

A voice crackled in his ears. ‘Victor Echo 8735, this is Viking, come in, please. Over.’

Simon recognized the voice of Colonel Fernald as he responded.

‘I have your connection, Hollingford, please hold. Over.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.