Page 33 of River Ride

Twenty minutes later, Billy parked behind Ted and they both jumped out of their trucks.

“You said he was in the garage?”

“Yep, laid out in the garage.”

“Guess on the COD?” asked Billy.

“Chest wound,” said Ted. “Can’t say it matches the three to the heart on Treadway, but it’s a similar pattern.”

“Shit,” said Billy. “You’re thinking it was the Carpenters.”

Ted shrugged. “No idea, boss. The Doc will have a better idea. This wasn’t a case of trespassing or poaching, so it might not be linked.”

“Groveman is linked to the same group of hunters,” said Billy, “so there is a thread connecting them.”

They walked to the garage and Ted opened the side door. The overhead door was down.

Billy had a look at Brian Groveman’s body and while he was in the garage, he opened the lid of the chest freezer.

“All the meat is gone, Ted.”

“No shit? I didn’t open the freezer, boss.”

Billy scrolled to Kody Kollard’s number and gave him a shout. “Kody, I’m here at Brian Groveman’s place—the guy with the freezer full of out-of-season meat.”

“Yeah, I know who you’re talking about. Is he home now?”

“Yeah, he’s here Kody, and he’s dead. You didn’t confiscate the meat that was in the freezer, did you?”

“Nope, I wanted to talk to Groveman first. Ticket him, pull his license and take his rifle, then I’d take the meat and give it to the food bank or take it to the res. Like that.”

“Okay. Just checking on where the meat went. I’m waiting on the coroner. I’ll be in touch.”

“Sure, waiting to hear from you, Billy.”

Billy called Molly next. “Molly, see if you can get hold of Chuck and Terry. I forget their last names. Those friends of Wayne Treadway’s.”

“I know who you mean, Billy. I have their numbers from the last time I called them.”

“I want them in the office at three o’clock to answer some questions.”

“Copy that. I’ll call and have them here at three.”

“Thanks, Molly.”

Doctor Olsen arrived and while he examined Groveman’s body, Billy and Ted went through the house one more time looking for anything useful.

“Do you have your print kit with you, Ted?”

“In the truck. You want me to get started, boss?”

“Start in the garage.”

“Copy that, boss. Let me go get my gear.”

Steve’s Big Wheels. Lethbridge. Alberta.

11:30 a.m.

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