Northern Lights

1 Twelve Barrels

Grayson unhooked his oil line from the pipeline, came down the ladder with the capped oil line. He slipped the line into its tube mount on the frame above the oil barrels. He put the ladder alongside of the tube and strapped it in place. He made sure all twelve barrels had their fill and vent openings tightly secured.

This was the exact process that he had practiced for the past ten years.

He took the oil from the pipeline, transported it to Valdez, and sold it to his contact, Miles Walker, who worked for an oil company but had his own side hustle buying oil from small oil producers.

He made two trips a week and sold twelve barrels each time. Miles provided him with twelve empty barrels and paid him sixty percent of the current market price for oil. He wondered where Miles got his empty barrels, but he never asked. He took them, filled them, and returned them.

For the last ten years since he had quit working on the pipeline as a welder he had made his living by tapping into the pipeline in several locations where he had installed the taps before he had quit working on the line. The taps were inconspicuous and did not show up on any of the pipeline drawings.

He was his own boss, had plenty of time off and was making around ninety grand a year. It took him about ten minutes per barrel or two hours to fill all twelve barrels. Thirty minutes to set up and the put away his line and ladder. And then there was the drive to Valdez that ate up sixteen hours each way three times a week. So, in total he spent about sixty working hours a week, made eighteen hundred dollars or around ninety grand a year. That put him at the top of the money-making ladder. He felt really good about that.

Often after one of his trips he would go out to celebrate another successful run by splurging on a nice dinner and enjoying a few drinks. That periodically included going out with the one of the few available women that resided in Valdez or Fairbanks.

At first he had just stayed at a bed and breakfast but then he had purchased a home. He spent about two thirds of his time at his house and during the summer weather he would walk around the track that surrounded the Valdez High School football field or go fishing in the harbor. He felt that he had successfully set himself up for life.

He was well known at the five hotels in Prudhoe Bay and Deadhorse where he had stayed if the weather kept him from making the trip back to Valdez. He hated to do it because it meant that he had to keep his truck running the whole time so he would not risk ruining his engine due to the cold. He learned that timing the filling of his barrels and then getting on the road was a critical factor. He followed a strict routine and usually got home before bad weather kept him out.

Then one day he climbed the ladder to his oil tap line and found that someone had sealed it so that he could not open it. He could figure out how to open the valve safely without the risk of breaking the line and creating an oil spill. He decided that he needed to find out who had sealed the valve and he needed to eliminate that individual or else his he faced the certainty of having to work for some company once again for a pittance. He felt that his future was at risk, and he was not going to accept that risk without a fight.

He found a high point where he had a good view of the above ground part of the pipeline. His taps were spread along the four hundred twenty miles that were above ground. The specific locations were determined by the fact that he could reach them with his ladder and have his truck close enough that his hose could reach all of the twelve barrels. That meant that most of his taps were closer to Prudhoe Bay area or in the few spots that were farther south. He had a few others that were harder to get to, so they were seldom used.

For several trips he would slowly drive along Dalton Highway and follow the pipeline. He was trying to find who might have discovered his taps. He was aware that each of the large oil companies had inspection teams that drove the pipeline to make sure that there were no leaks. That inspection happened every day and took in all four hundred twenty miles of the above ground pipe. His taps were on the opposite side of the pipe of where the inspectors drove so they could not be visually seen from the road.  He was looking for someone who was looking from the tap side of the line.

It took him almost six months to finally see someone walking on that side of the pipe. He stopped his truck, took out his rifle and looked through the scope at the person. It was clear to him that he was an Inuit. They had fought for years to block the pipeline but had lost to the money handlers who had bought off the Inuit leaders as well as all the Alaskan politicians. The money had talked, and the pipeline went in.

He had no idea who this individual happened to be.

He watched as the individual stopped at a point where one of his taps was located. In this area he always filled the oil in the dark of night. He knew that he needed to take action because he could not afford to lose any more taps, especially taps in the easy to access areas.

He looked around to make sure there was no one on the road, or with in site and made his decision.

He looked through his scope put the cross hairs on the person’s chest and pulled the trigger. It should have been a kill shot but his target had at the last moment bent over to pick something up from the ground and the shot had hit him, knocked him down but he saw the person crawl away.

He jumped off the truck and ran toward the pipeline. When he got there[rh1] , he was surprised to find nothing.

He looked along the creek and again he saw nothing. He looked for a trail of blood and found nothing. He knew that he had not missed but he found nothing. He walked along the creek looking for any sign. He finally gave up and returned to his truck. He picked up the single casing from the back of the truck bed and put his rifle back on the rack and strapped it in.

He drove about ten miles to where he had another tap, filled his oil barrels, and then drove on toward Valdez. He knew he had to return as soon as he could and set himself up to shoot anyone else that might show up.

Ignirtoq looked along the pipeline that he had walked multiple times from one end to the other. He had walked the many miles of exposed piping and he had walked over the miles where the pipeline was buried. He understood that it was purposely built to have a zig-zag pattern in case of a significant earthquake. He had been a young boy when the plans to build the pipeline had been made public and had participated with his Inuit brethren that objected to having it built.

Money ended up winning. The state and federal government politicians were influenced by the desire for the oil money and succumbed to the allure of the tax income, the royalty income, and the promises of other improvements. The North Slope Borough representing the Inuit was allotted enough shares of stock that they were convinced to approve the pipeline and were now getting six hundred million a year in dividends and had become the wealthiest company in Alaska.

Ignirtoq had come to accept the pipeline and the fact that his people as well at the other indigenous people had also benefitted. He had taken advantage of the situation and had attended University of Alaska Fairbanks and had majored in forestry. He had stayed in the university to earn a graduate interdisciplinary degree that spanned across mechanical engineering, linguistics of the region, and tribal governance. His resume and his Inuit heritage made him an attractive hire to the oil companies.

He was hired by one of the big oil firms and went to work for them after his graduation. He had accepted the role as a technical inspector of the oil line and became familiar with every above and below ground mile of the line. He worked for more than ten years and rose to a mid-level manager.

His life in his community took on a political slant and he was elected a local tribal leader. He saved almost his entire income and when he quit the oil company to pursue other avenues, he knew that he had enough to live comfortably.

It was at this point that he got married to the young woman who he had met while at the university. They had only one child a son, Kaskae who after his wife died of lung cancer, he raised on his own. The two of them were close and they still lived together. They had hunted and fished together, and he had taught him all the ways of surviving in the Iñupiaq Region. He had shown him how to survive where the ground could not support large trees and he had taken him to the mountains where the snow depth often would reach more than twenty feet.

There he had taught him how to shuffle through the snow on large snowshoes and to build a shelter using the snow and then being able to sit inside where a large candle would provide enough heat to allow them to sit in, take off their coats and be comfortable in their thermal underwear.

All of this was going through his mind as he closed the opening to the crevasse at the edge of the stream. He needed time to assess how badly he was hurt, and he had to make sure that the person who had shot him could not find him. He had his own weapon, but he needed to recover before exiting and making his way back to his all-terrain snowmobile scooter that he had left not more than a mile away hidden in under some brush.

Kaskae had been expecting his father home. He knew that his father was most likely on one of his many inspection tours of the oil pipeline and perhaps had forgotten the time. If he had planned to be out for more than a day, he would have let everyone know. There was no word from him, and he did not show up to dinner.

He called his cousin Atiqtalik, who was a local forest ranger, to see if she had heard anything only to learn that she had not. She shared that his father had let her know that there was someone stealing oil from the pipeline. He didn’t care about the thievery, but he was worried that the thief might create an oil spill.

Kaskae asked how anyone could possibly tap into the pipeline since it operated at a very high pressure.

Atiqtalik said that she had wondered the same thing and had asked his father who explained that the taps would have had to be put in during the construction of the pipeline and since they had not been noticed then they would have been put in by someone working during the construction of the pipeline and be installed in such a fashion that the tap would blend in with the other equipment that might be part of the various pipe joints.

She added that she and her team had been stumped and had reported the possibility of someone selling stolen oil. She had been informed that there were several sellers of small quantities of oil by the barrel that fit the profile but most of them did have their own small oil wells and it would take some time to check them all out.

She said that she would get her unit to go along the pipeline and see what they could find.

A few days later she replied that she had found the all-terrain snowmobile hidden in the brush. She had left it in place just in case her uncle came back he would have it if he needed it.

Grayson returned to the area where he suspected the person he had shot should be. He again checked everywhere and after spending more time than he wished he decided to take his oil to Valdez. He had used up a full day in hopes of finding the person he had shot and who he knew he had hit. It puzzled him how that person could disappear in an area that had no place to hide.

He decided that he would next use one of the taps that was farther south and stay away from the area where this mysterious person had appeared. He continued to be worried about the fact that the person had somehow been able to identify the oil tap. It was well enough disguised that it had never been noticed by anyone inspecting the line. Whoever the person was they had to know a lot about the pipeline to have found the tap.

He decided that he would curtail his oil runs and return and focus his efforts on finding and eliminating anyone looking for the taps. He felt he had to protect his investment.

Ignirtoq assessed his wound and decided that it was superficial. He thought about the situation and decided that everyone needed to think he had been killed. He needed to be dead so that he could get the person who he knew would solve the mystery of who was stealing the oil, and she would only come if he was thought of as dead. He had been impressed with her ability to solve cases that others failed to.

He sent his brother a cryptic message that he had been shot, was dying and that he should contact an Alex Evercrest, in Cincinnati, Ohio and see if she could be hired to solve who had killed him.

He figured it was a long shot, but he had enough food and water that he could last for several weeks, and he had a fishing line that he could throw into the stream below to catch a few trout.

Atiqtalik learned of the call that her father had received. She looked up the person who her uncle had called out by name and was impressed by what she learned. She wondered when her uncle had learned about her, but she decided she would make the call to see if she would take on the case. She decided to go through the official organization channels. She wanted to make sure that she got a positive response to getting this “Alex” involved in a case that was taking a very weird twist.

She had the tribal leaders to deal with. She was a forest ranger and not a criminal law enforcer. She wanted the help if she could get it.

She asked Kaskae if he had the money to pay for such a venture.

He said that he was on his father’s bank account and there was more than enough money available if she thought involving a Qallunaat would do any good.

Atiqtalik laughed and said that the person she was getting involved was not a Qallunaat but was black.

That caught him by surprise. He asked why she was asking for her. She replied that she had a reputation for solving cases that no one else could and that his father had somehow zeroed in on her.

Kaskae said that if his father had specifically called this detective out then he had to support getting her to Alaska.

Grayson returned from Valdez to the location where he had made the shot that he knew had hit the person he had aimed for. He came prepared to stay and wait for his quarry to show himself. He did not plan to set up a camp, but he had a portable one-person hutch that he could sit comfortably in, stay warm and enjoy his coffee. He figured it was just like a hunting trip, but he was hunting a very specific two-legged game. He found a location where the hutch camouflage disappeared into the background.

He laughed as he thought about the well-known saying, “there is a woman behind every tree.” It was a joke about the fact that there were so few women in this northern region and no trees that anyone could hide behind. In this case he was the shooter that was waiting behind those same trees.

He would wait until he either saw the person who had somehow hidden from him or saw his body hauled away.

2 A Call Out of the Blue

T

he Chief listened to the person on the other end as she explained the reason that he should grant the request to have Alex help to solve a potential murder case that involved her grand uncle. The details seemed to be sketchy and not clear to him and he was skeptical of taking the case on since it was in northern Alaska along the oil pipeline. He wondered whether Alex would even be interested in taking on such a case.

He asked the person on the phone to hold on for a moment. He went to the door and signaled Alex and Trey to come to his office.

They entered and he briefly explained the call and then put the call into speaker mode and let the caller know that he had called Alex and her partner into his office to listen to her request.

Atiqtalik introduced herself and shared the fact that she was a forest ranger in the northern part of Alaska and lived in Wiseman which was just east of Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve. She chuckled and asked if either of them had a clue where she was located.

Alex laughed and said that she certainly would need to look on the map of Alaska to have a clue. She went on to ask why she was being asked to investigate a potential murder.

Atiqtalik replied that her grand uncle had disappeared, but he had contacted his brother, her father and let him know that he had been shot but hoped to recover but if he did not return in a day or two that his brother should call in Alex Evercrest to find the person who had killed him.

Alex asked if her grand uncle’s body had been found.

Atiqtalik was silent for a moment and then she said that it had not. She had found his all-terrain snow scooter hidden in low spot under some brush along the oil pipeline. She went on to explain that her grand uncle constantly patrolled the pipeline to ensure there were no leaks. He had recently become convinced that someone was stealing oil from the pipeline, and he was trying to find out who and how that was being done. He was sure that such activity would lead to a major spill.

Alex looked at the Chief and asked if he had the funds to let her, and Trey do an initial investigation to determine if there was a case.

Atiqtalik spoke up and said that she was prepared to cover the cost of that initial investigation and any additional cost if Alex took up the case.

Alex said that the initial investigation would be having her, and her partner come to the location that was specified.

So, the expenses would be to get there, get a hotel room, and then have some sort of transportation.

Atiqtalik replied that she would cover that but if it became a longer-term case, she was not sure how that would be handled.

Alex suggested that they should take it one step at a time.

Atiqtalik suggested they fly into Prospect Creek, and she would meet them there with her partner and take them to the hotel were they could stay.

After the call Alex looked over at the Chief and commented that this was very different than the start of some of the other cases.

He laughed and said that he no longer evaluated how her cases did or did not start. He agreed that it was different than being shot at on her bike ride into work, or having a child dropped off on her porch, but it was similar to getting a call from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and asking her to help them on a case that turned out as a hunt for a serial killer black widow.

Alex looked at Trey and asked if he could leave the following day.

Trey nodded and said that he and Lindsey did not have any plans.

She let the Chief know that she was going to get his support associate to arrange the flight to Prospect Creek, Alaska.

The Chief laughed and asked what the population was at Prospect Creek happened to be and how large the plane taking her there was going to be.

Alex shook her head and said she had no idea how to answer either of his questions. She added that she knew that Fairbanks Alaska was ten percent the size of Cincinnati and that Fairbanks was around thirty thousand, so she figured that Prospect Creek was really small. She then added that they would most likely be flying in into Prospect Creek on a piper cub and both of them might have to peddled to provide the power for the plane.

She estimated that they would be gone for a week unless they actually had a case to open then she would talk with him to determine what to do next.

The Chief nodded and wished her a good trip.

She left the office and shared what had just happened with Johnnie, Bill, and Trevor.

Trevor looked at her and joked that she was probably using the trip as an excuse to go skiing and she was leaving those who were serious about doing actual work behind.

Alex said that as far as she knew she would be on some of the flattest terrain in Alaska and looking up at an eight-foot diameter oil pipeline. But if she found some good skiing she would make sure to give him a call.

She looked at Johnnie and let him know that she was riding home and that he was welcome to ride with her.

Trey said that he was going home as well and would pack for Alaska. He asked about the weather.

Bill said that it was the time of year when it would be very cold in the northern part of Alaska and long underwear would be appropriate.

On the ride home, Alex chatted with Johnnie and asked whether Mary might be able to spend a few more hours taking care of Aurea and making sure that Matt had some help in the evenings and early morning.

Johnnie replied that he was sure that Mary would be able to do that. He suggested that once they got to her house, she talk with Mary so that the two of them were clear on what was wanted.

She got home just before Mary and Aurea came home from school. They came in the back door because the two of them were still able to ride their bikes and the street behind the house was at the same level that they rode from the house to the school.

Aurea was surprised to have Alex home early and asked what was up.

Alex explained about the call and the trip she was going to make.

Aurea surprised everyone by commenting that Prudhoe Bay was the farthest north location in Alaska, it was where all the oil wells were located and that the coldest part of the year was just starting. She added that all of Alaska had less than half population of the greater Cincinnati area.

Alex complemented Aurea for knowing so much about Alaska.

Aurea said that was one of the places she had visited online.

She was fascinated by the fact that the oil pipeline was so big and traveled across a great deal of the state to a location where ships and trucks could be loaded year-round to move the oil to market. She went on to explain that it represented about twenty percent of the oil produced by the United States.

Mary said that it was time for the two of them to go to the library to their first seminar and she wanted to get there early enough so the two of them did not miss out on any of the refreshments. She took Aurea’s the hand and said that their cab was waiting. She made sure Aurea had her homework with her so that it would get done before they came back for dinner.

Alex spent a few moments with Johnnie after the two of them left. She clarified that she was planning to get him involved if she needed any specific information.

Johnnie nodded and added that cookies were still the currency of choice for any specific requests that required his magic touch.

Alex laughed, went to the cupboard, and took out a container full of cookies and said that she was paying in advance because she didn’t want to be stuck in ten feet of snow and not be able to get his help.

She then said that she had to get her things packed for the trip.

She packed both her thermal underwear, her full Kevlar suit and all the winter clothes she thought might come in handy. She managed to get all of it into one large hard-shelled suitcase. She had a second smaller case as a carryon for her computer and paperwork.

She had just finished when Matt came in, looked at the still open suitcase and commented that he was glad that he had come home before she ran away.

Alex laughed and said that she had just finished packing for a trip to the North Pole and planned to visit Santa and ask him personally for what she wanted for Christmas. She gave him a hug and then went down to the kitchen and said that she was going to start dinner.

She got him a snack and then let him know that she was going to Alaska to investigate a potential murder.

Matt listened and said that it sounded like a potentially dangerous investigation.

Alex nodded and said that she was going to be as safe as possible but as always, she would approach it as if someone was trying to shoot her.

Dinner was ready when Mary returned with Aurea from the library.

Mary excused herself and said that she and Johnnie had agreed to go to dinner and then take a walk around Hyde Park.

After dinner, the three of them spent a quiet evening chatting and reading in the family room.

Matt left to meet his EMT team at four in the morning. He quietly wished Alex a safe journey and went out to his team who had come by to pick him up.

Alex got up and made breakfast for her and Aurea.

Mary came in as the two of them were just finishing cleaning off the table and putting the dishes in the dishwasher.

Aurea gave Alex a hug and asked her to call and to send pictures.

Alex said that she would do that every day.

After Mary and Aurea left, Alex took her suitcases to the street in back, got into the cab and headed to the Airport.

She met Trey and the two of them went to the counter and checked in. They checked their luggage through to Fairbanks where they were to be met by Clay who would fly them on a Piper PA-18 Super Cub chartered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He explained that Atiqtalik had arranged for him to fly the two of them to Bettles, which was a change to the where she had previously said would be the final destination.

He explained that the new location was closer to where they would be staying and would save them a lot of time.

Thank you for reading this far

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