And they set about doing that, seeing who needed to be airlifted out first, Fenton was glad that Frank seemed to only come out of this with only a twisted ankle and a touch of the flu.

Still, he had a bad feeling that his boys weren't out of danger yet. He had a strange feeling that this wasn't over yet.

Within a couple of hours, the process of airlifting victims away from the wreckage of the lodge was well underway, using Jim Witherow's helicopter, and two others that had flown in from Winter Rose and another neighboring town. From Winter Rose, the injured who needed more serious medical attention were then being airlifted onwards to a major medical center in Juneau.

By the end of the process, Frank, Joe, Fenton, and everyone else who had arrived on the scene of the disaster were all thoroughly exhausted. By now, Alaska State Police detectives had arrived on the scene to begin their investigation, and had already taken statements from Frank and Joe, and a couple of the other less-seriously injured lodge guests. They had all told the investigators of the two mysterious helicopters, which had seemingly caused the avalanche.

A helicopter had just lifted off with the final lodge guests besides Frank and Joe. However, these three poor souls had been the unlucky ones. They were all being airlifted - to the morgue - in Winter Rose, having not survived the malicious attack on what had been the peaceful wilderness resort.

"Well, Dad," Frank commented, as they grimly watched the helicopter baring the remains of those who hadn't survived fly away. "What next? Is there anything else we can do here?"

Just as Fenton was getting ready to reply, a State Police detective walked over to where Fenton and his sons were standing. "Mr. Hardy," he said, "We have just had radio contact with the FBI's field office in Juneau. Special Agent Duerson and his men and women are on their way here now, via Winter Rose. He requests that you meet him in Winter Rose immediately to discuss the investigation."

Fenton nodded, then as the detective walked away, explained to the boys that Special Agent Fred Duerson was an old acquaintance of his, who had transferred to the FBI's office in the Alaskan capital city some years earlier.

As Jim Witherow's helicopter flew them over the frozen landscape back towards Winter Rose, Fenton commented to Frank and Joe about one of the victims of the avalanche.

"I'm sure that this will make headlines around the globe," Fenton remarked.

"Oh, I'm sure it will too, Dad," Joe agreed, "I mean, what sense does it make for someone to attack a ski lodge full of innocent vacationers like that?"

"Yes, son," Fenton replied, "That is true, however, knowing the media, the fact that Mrs. Dilmer was so seriously injured is most likely what they'll probably be mainly focusing on."

"Mrs. Dilmer?" Frank questioned.

Joe vaguely remembered having gotten some water for the gray-haired, injured lady that someone had referred to by that name.

"I remember her, but I didn't realize she was some sort of celebrity or something," Joe remarked.

"Well son," Fenton replied with a bit of a chuckle, "I don't suppose you boys would be that familiar with Mrs. Eunice Dilmer, but your Aunt Gertrude is certainly one of her staunchest admirers."

"Oh really?" Frank asked, "Just what sort of celebrity is Mrs. Dilmer, anyway?"

"Well, she is a well-known advice columnist for a couple of the nation's most popular women's magazines."

"Oh," replied Joe with a laugh. "No wonder we didn't know who the poor lady was."

"But Dad," Frank remarked thoughtfully, "Surely you don't think that some sort of advice columnist who is a hero of Aunt Gertrude's would have really been the target of this sort of obviously well planned attack?"

"No, Frank," Fenton replied grimly. "Not if that was all Mrs. Dilmer was."

"What do you mean, Dad?" Joe asked a bit impatiently.