Casper stood up and started rolling up his shirt sleeves. «We'll know the motive when we know the killer. We're just guessing until then. Susan, you got your gear? You can take my prints first.»
She nodded, pulled the cards and ink pads out of her bag. «Let's try and do everyone he had contact with, from the pilot on the plane that brought him in here. I can only investigate what happened after he got to the island, Peter. If his sister's rapist saw him somewhere else, on the plane from Seattle, in the airport, wherever, followed him and killed him, then he
somehow got back off the island without us finding him. I don't know, Peter. Let's just do the basics, and see what comes up. God is in the details.» «Susan, do we have a problem with rape on the island?»
Her face closed a bit. «Peter, anywhere there's a problem with alcohol, there's a problem with rape. Most of the time I don't hear about it except whispers and gossip. I would say nine times out of ten, I don't hear about it. But yes, we have a problem with alcohol. So we have a problem with rape.»
Peter went into the kitchen. Sebastian was standing at the big window, hands on his hips, staring out at the brilliant blue water that seemed to go on forever. «Wishing you were somewhere else? You don't have your bags packed, do you?»
Sebastian turned around, but he didn't speak, just looked at Peter for the longest time. Then he turned back to the window. «Nope. Wishing I hadn't been gone so much, Peter. Wondering if you've had enough.»
Peter couldn't think of anything to say. He joined him at the window. How long since he had stood in the sunshine and enjoyed this view? «Wondering if I've had enough of what?» «Of me. Of us. Peter, want to walk into town with me? I'll buy you a tangerine.»
«A tangerine! There hasn't been fresh citrus fruit in the store since Christmas!»
«It's spring, big guy. There was a crate of California tangerines coming across with me on the ferry.»
Peter looked at him, felt his heart squeeze a little in his chest from love. Love warm and deep and forever. Sebastian was wondering if he'd had enough. Like he'd had enough of sunshine and stars. Like he would ever get tired of looking at the moon in the night sky. «Yes, thank you, Sebastian. That would be lovely. I can't remember the last time we went for a walk together.» Peter heard his voice become very formal, the way it did when his
emotions threatened to overtake him. Sebastian heard it, too. He reached across and took Peter into his arms.
«His face was transparent, and what did you see when you looked at him? I don't think you can read my feelings when you look in my face, Peter. I don't even know if you want to. But that doesn't mean that what I feel for you isn't strong. What's between us is like a tree that's been growing a long time, with deep roots. I didn't hurt your boy, Peter. I promise you, I would never hurt some kid just because he fell in love with you. How can I blame him for that? I did it. I do it all the time.»
«Sebastian!» Peter was stuttering in shock, his arms reaching around Sebastian's waist. «I know you didn't do anything to Jacob. You couldn't hurt someone. Don't be ridiculous.»
«It's not ridiculous, Peter. It's the most logical explanation.» His arms tightened, and he bent over Peter, spoke softly into his hair. «I don't want to be arrested for young Jacob's murder, Peter. Because they'll haul me off, and you'll be left alone here. With a murderer.»
Chapter Five
When Sebastian was younger, just making a name for himself in the competitive world of Alaskan sled dog racing, a photographer had taken pictures of him camped out with his dogs on the third night of the Yukon Quest. The camp fire had turned his face to gold, and the camera caught him playing with them after a long day on the trail. The dogs were leaping, tongues out, trying to lick his face, and he was cuddling them in his arms.
Alaskans loved their sled dogs, and the hint of Native blood in his dark hair and eyes made Sebastian the favored hometown son across much of Alaska. He only took sponsorship offers from the local businesses that he knew, the sno-go repair guys, the kayak rental places, the village knitting co-op run by his Auntie Ty. He missed out on the big money, going for love instead. And Alaska loved him for it. Peter always forgot how big a star Sebastian was until they went out in public together.
Two black-haired boys with freckles on their noses came running out of the general store when they saw him, shrieking, «Uncle Sebastian! Uncle Sebastian!»
Susan's twin boys were just finishing an exciting first year of school, and it was rumored that the kindergarten teacher was requesting early retirement.
Sebastian held his arms out, and each boy hung on to a forearm. He lifted them off the ground by his arms, swung them around and around until they went flying off, tumbling over each other in the grass.
«Be careful!» Peter warned, pulling a handkerchief out of his pocket to wipe off muddy hands and faces.
Sebastian grinned at him. «Want me to toss you around, too?» He rubbed a shoulder as the boys scrambled up again and flung themselves at him, hugging him ferociously around the waist. «Actually, I probably won't be able to do that much longer.» He addressed the boys, his big hands stroking their black hair. «I think you two are gonna be bigger than me when you grow up! When's your birthday again?»
«It's June first, Uncle Sebastian.» Sam had lost his front teeth, and Peter bent over for a closer look. James gave a jack-o'-lantern grin; his teeth were gone, too. «Why do you want to know about our birthday, Uncle Sebastian?» «Oh, no reason. None at all.»
The boys giggled behind their hands. «Uncle Sebastian, did mom say anything to you? About Super Mario Brothers for Nintendo DS?»
«Never heard of it. But I might have something else that will be just about old enough by June the first. We'll see. Where are you two supposed to be?»
James was carrying a plastic grocery bag with a can of evaporated milk. He held it up. «Better get home, then. Dad's cooking for you, huh?» «Hamburger Helper! Double Cheeseburger Macaroni!»
In the store Peter went over to the tangerines. They were glowing like a basket of bright orange jewels against the weathered gray boards. Everyone in the store stopped what they were doing to talk to Sebastian and shake his hand. A younger man Peter didn't know pulled Sebastian aside, asked him about his dogs.
«Man, I couldn't believe it when I heard you were retiring! Sampson said he got a couple of your yearlings, and I heard Douglas got some, too. What have you got left? Any puppies? You still gonna train some young ones?»
Sebastian shook his head, glancing briefly at Peter, who stood frozen, a tangerine in each hand. «Sorry, man. You're too late.» He reached for the waistband of Peter's corduroy trousers, tugged him over until he could wrap an arm around Peter's waist and pull him in close to his chest. «You know Peter Moon? Peter, this is Stone Macalister.»
«Hello.» Peter didn't offer a hand, hearing something in Sebastian's voice. Stone appeared frozen in shock, then he jerked like an electrical wire had just touched his ass. «Right! Well, okay, good to see you, man.»
They watched him scramble out the door. Sebastian kept his arm around Peter's waist, kept him pinned against his chest. «I hate that prick. I know somebody who saw him spank one of his dogs with a trail marker.»