Midnight Sun (30 page)

“
I
understand
that,
”
Lonnie
said.
“But it
may
be
necessary
to
contact
you
later
as
a
witness,
and
since
you
are
not
from
here,
we
will
need
a
local
contact.
”

“
I
work
for
Tech-Cor.
I
have
a
company
mobile
phone,
”
he
replied.
“
I
will
be
within
reach.
”

The
officer
approached
them.
He
looked
young, probably
less
than
a
year
from
the
academy.

“
Yes,
m
a
’
am?
What
can
I
do
for
you?
”

“
I
’
m
Trooper
Lieutenant
Lonnie
Johnson,
from
Fairbanks.
I
was
at
the
wedding
and
called
in
the
accident.
Mr.
Farrah,
”
she
pointed
to
him,
“
and
these
other
men
claim
they
witnessed
the
driver
of
the
pickup
going
at
considerably
high
speed
just
prior
to
the
accident.
Here’s his
ID.
”

The
officer
took
it
and
wrote
information
from
the
card
onto
a
notepad,
then
asked
for
the
man
’
s
contact
phone.
Farrah
gave
him
a
number,
but
not
his
real
one.
The
officer
held
out
his
hand
to
the
cousins
and
took
their
cards.
One
had
an
Oregon
license, and
the
other
had
only
an
Immigration
and Naturalization Service
Green
Card.

“
Do
you
speak
English?
”
he
asked
the
two
men.

“
I
do,
”
said
Leka
with
a
heavy
accent.
“
Cousin
Kreshnik
not
speak
English.
He
come
from
old
country
not far
ago.
We
come
with
Steven
for
job.
”

“
Okay,
”
said
the
officer.
“
In
the
event
we
need
to
get
hold
of
you,
what
is
your
number?
”

“
We
sharing
Steven
’
s
mobile,
”
Leka
said.

“
I
see.
” T
he
officer
noted
that
on
his
pad.
“
Okay,
you
too.” He gestured
to
Kharzai.

The
fuzzy-haired
man,
still
keeping
his
back
to
the
camera,
patted
his
trouser
pockets,
his
breast
pocket,
and then
felt
his
pants
pockets
again.

“
Ruh,
roh,
”
he
said with an innocent grin.
“L
ooks
like
I
left
my
wallet
behind.
Sorry,
officer.
”

“
What
is
your
name,
then?
”

“
Samuel
McGee,
”
Kharzai
replied.

***

Lonnie
watched
the
three
men
walk
back
to
the
Audi.
She
turned
to
the
officer
beside
her.
“
Give
me
an
evidence
bag.
”

“
Excuse
me,
ma'am?
”

“
I
need
an
evidence
bag,
now.
”

She
pulled
her
left
hand
from
behind
her
back.
A thin
line
of
blood
seeped
between
her
fingers.
The
officer,
a
shocked
look
on
his
young
face,
quickly
produced
a
plastic
Ziploc
bag
from
his
utility
belt
and
she
dropped
in
the
wedding
ring
that hugged
tight
to
the
knuckle.
I
t
glittered
back,
a
reflected
flash
of
sunlight against the blood smeared appendage.