Jessica spent eight hours in her lab poring over data. She’d trialed a frost lavender potion on an ailing puffin she’d named Addy a week ago. Addy not only recovered but according to the data, the repaired muscles were stronger than the non-injured ones.

Outwardly the puffin appeared just like every other puffin she’d seen in Alaska with bright dark eyes, red curved beak and black and white feathers. However, this puffin had a severe wing gash that prevented flight. Most likely the local bullies, the Skua birds, were the culprits. Her frost lavender potion boosted by a healing charm accelerated any normal healing time.

Addy was now able to fly about the lab. She’d taken to dive-bombing Jessica’s head when she was hungry.

At midday, Luanne delivered a lunch tray. The fox shifter’s eyes darted around the lab. Did she think Jessica was plotting escape? Laughable when she’d perish outside without proper clothing. And really, where could Jessica go? She was at the end of the world as it was.

Jessica ate her grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup in silence except for Addy’s campaign for her bread crust. Jessica’s brain hummed with Carson’s presence.

Even when they were separated she was aware of him moving around the station. It was a strange kind of ache that happened when she missed one certain person, especially a super annoying one who turned up right where he wasn’t wanted.

Seriously, he could’ve sent anyone here. Anyone else. He couldn’t be the only marshal available here. And that vamp. Jess was not a fan of vamps in general but the way she looked at Carson made Jessica want to bite her.

After lunch, Jessica returned to data mining. Maybe Carson would let her sleep in here. He could have a cot delivered. It was insane the other paranormals suspected her. She was glad her Amazon past was a secret. She’d renounced violence in all forms. She was incapable of hurting anyone now.

At the end of her eight hours, she made sure Addy had plenty of fresh water. She set aside her notes to prevent a bored Addy from shredding them. She liked life in the lab. It was tidy. She was in control, unlike life outside the lab. But she enjoyed the freedom to move around at will better.

Sure enough, right at five o’ clock Luanne returned to escort her back to her trailer. Jessica savored the clean, cold winter air. She would make a horrible prisoner. Just knowing she couldn’t leave the lab made her anxious to get out by the end of the day. Luanne was silent again on their walk. After Jessica stopped at Luanne’s trailer, the fox shifter waved her to keep on going.

“You can stay at your place tonight.”

“Oh, thank you!” Jessica wanted to hug Luanne but resisted. Shifters were very particular about their personal space. She turned back to give Luanne a wave.

“Thanks.”

“Don’t let the bastards get you down.” Luanne turned around without waiting for an answer.

Jessica was hopeful. Perhaps Carson had already made progress in finding the killer. He was an excellent marshal. She’d seen him in action. Once this was cleared up, he’d be on his way and she could try to focus on her research for her remaining time.

Inside her trailer, Jessica went about removing her parka and boots.

Unlike Luanne’s single trailer, hers was a double-wide with the same impersonal touch of institutional rooms everywhere. Science posters decorated the blank wall, some even tacked over others, like a form of tagging. She shook her head. Jessica knew better than most that scientists who studied the Arctic were the weirdest of the weird. Most of them were trying to get to Antarctica and using this to build resumes. Not Jessica—after this she was going home to Fairbanks.

But first a shower to wash away the day’s worry. Hustling in to her room, she shucked her too short pants and panties along with her socks, dropping them on the floor. She entered the bathroom and turned on the shower to give the water time to warm up.

With the room warming with steam, she pulled her borrowed sweatshirt over her head. Crap. She was stuck.

She pulled at her tangled mess, wiggling the reset of her body in hopes of getting unstuck. The bathroom door shuddered. Someone had opened an outer door, letting in a draft.

“Hello?” she called. “Luanne? I’ll be right out.”

No answer.

Fuck.

Maybe not Luanne. Was the murderer out there waiting to finish her off? Great—she was about to die in the most embarrassing of ways.The bathroom door opened, and a gush of cold air rushed in.

Jessica wiggled faster. She freed her arms and head of the accursed clothes. Her hair released a wave of static.

She blinked.

Carson.