McKenzie put a tray with tea and some Christmas cookies down on the dresser. Todd looked across the room at her and gave her a half smile before he turned back to looking at the sleeping Jackson.

The young man was wrapped in bandages, his hands the most. McKenzie was now standing on the other side of the bed.

"Has he spoken much?" She asked.

Todd sighed and closed the book he hadn't focused on for hours. "Not really. Molly's Dad says he's doing okay, and so did your EMT."

"Yeah, he said Dan did a good job."

"We're lucky one of us had some sort of medical background."

"That and the fact his wounds weren't life threatening, although I'm sure they could have been. Any idea at all what happened?"

"I told your officer everything I know." He finally looked up at her. "Why are you here?"

"I figure your family's been on alert now for quite some time, I thought I'd offer to provide a little relief."

Todd gave her a skeptical look. "So you can question him?"

"I'm afraid circumstances would dictate either one of his parents, a doctor – not a veterinarian – or his lawyer should be present if I want to do that."

"He didn't do anything!"

She held up her hands against his protest. "I'm not saying he did. But given his condition, and frankly, speaking as a mother of a young man about his age, I would prefer another adult be in the room. Besides, I'm not the investigating officer on this. I'm just the first responder, if you want to put it that way."

He accepted her answer and went back to staring at Jackson.

"I understand you've known each other all your lives?"

He nodded but didn't offer anything more.

"And the young woman that's dead…"

"Mara" he said.

"Yes, Mara, pretty name. Have you known her long?"

"Jackson introduced us about six months ago. But this is the first time we spent more than a couple hours with her. We'd go out once in a while, stuff like that. No extended time. I'm sure my family has already told you how long we've known her."

She nodded. "It's okay, no problem, just trying to get my facts straight. I'm the boss for the moment and want to make sure my men got all the information. There was one thing I wasn't totally clear on. You and your wife, Molly, were out in the woods when the accident, or whatever it was, happened, right?"

"Yes, but we were miles away, on the other side of the forest."

"Okay, thanks for the clarification. Umm, you knew where the wrecked greenhouse was though, right?"

"Not because we've been there. Mr. Westerby told us all not to go that way, so we didn't."

"Hmm, all of you? Well, obviously Mara wasn't good at following instructions. Thanks. I left some hot tea there, on the dresser, and some Christmas cookies, if you want them. Don't forget, if you want, one of my men will be happy to sit in for you so you and your family can get a little rest. Any questions?"

"When can we take Jackson down the mountain?"

"The snow looks like it stopped so I would guess late morning. Anything earlier than that and we might beat the snowplows. Not a good idea." She gave a quick smile and left.

Todd stared at the door for a long time, listening to her fading footsteps. Jackson stirred and muttered so Todd took one of his mother's sleeping pills from the bottle in his pocket and grabbed the water glass next to the bed.

"Come on Jackson, last one, I promise. We need to get you down the mountain."

****

Westerby looked at McKenzie as she put her shoes next to the fireplace. "That was sneaky." He said.

She shrugged. "It's not my fault he only listened and didn't make sure those footsteps were fake. Any idea what he gave the kid?"

" Probably one of his mother's sleeping pills. Or do you think he's trying to kill his friend?"

She sank down on the couch next to him. "I think he doesn't want anyone to question him until a lawyer is present. An idea I gave him."

"Sneaky, sneaky you."

"I try." She sighed.

"You look tired." He said. He pushed at her until she turned her back to him so he could knead at her shoulders.

"I am. A few more months and I'm done with this job."

"You don't sound particularly happy about it." He gave her a couple hard thumps on the shoulder to signify he was done and she turned to face him.

"I am. And I'm not. This last batch of young cops I've been working with run me ragged and every one of them is as near to perfection as I could want. I'll miss them."

He opened his arms and she sank into them and smiled to herself as he kissed the top of her head.

"How long have we known each other?" She asked.

"Hmm, two husbands and three – no you didn't know the first one – two wives," he paused, "seven kids and eight grandkids long."

"That long?"

"Uh huh." He nodded, still holding tight to her.

"Then you trust me?"

He pulled back a little to look at her, a wry grin on his face. "I was playing chess via skype with my grandson Kyle when the young lady was out in the woods. The game took three hours, it's all recorded."

"You know I had to ask."

He grunted at her.