by C. M. Sutter
“I guess you’re right.”
A white sedan was coming from the east. It slowed down and clicked its right blinker. It turned then pulled along the shoulder. Both squad cars turned onto Spring Creek Road and pulled up behind the car. We saw the couple and the deputies exit their vehicles and begin talking.
“Guess that’s our cue to go introduce ourselves,” I said.
The sheriff pulled out and made the left-hand turn with Renz on his back bumper. We fell in line behind the other vehicles, then Renz cut the engine, and we exited our rental. The two deputies and the couple stood on the shoulder as Sheriff Burke, Renz, and I approached. The sheriff introduced us to Deputy Knight and Smythe and the couple. We’d said our plan was to have a conversation with them later, but first, we would follow them to the site where they’d discovered the girl.
“We aren’t one hundred percent sure where that spot is, only that we drove about fifteen minutes before we hit Highway 12.” Byron pointed at the wooded mountains in front of us. “Everything looks the same.”
I turned to the sheriff. “Was that dead man found off this road?”
“He was but farther in. There’s a trail head about five miles farther up the road, and that’s where the hikers entered. We have markers along the road that show where the first responders extracted the man.”
“That’s great. Let’s see how long it takes to reach that spot under normal speed limits, then the Philipses can see if anything in that area looks familiar. They can turn around and head south like they originally drove if we’ve gone too far. Maybe the area would appear more familiar if they were actually driving in the same direction they did yesterday.”
“I like that idea,” Tara said. “I think it might help.”
With everyone on board, Byron and Tara weaved their way north on Spring Creek Road. They would stop at the fifteen-minute mark, and we would reevaluate the area to see if we needed to continue on or backtrack. I glanced at my watch as we started out—10:13.
With Renz behind the wheel, we were the last vehicle in a row of five.
“So just before ten thirty, they’ll likely slow down, look around, or stop if they think we’re actually in the right place.”
Renz glanced out the window to his left. “I will admit everything looks the same out here. They could be off a mile or more in either direction when they stop.”
I sighed. “I know, and I doubt if finding the exact spot is going to be easy.”
Minutes later, the sheriff tapped his brakes.
“Looks like they’re slowing down,” Renz said.
The line of cars pulled off and parked next to the right-hand ditch.
“Let’s see what’s going on.” I leapt out of the car and nearly slid into the ditch.
Renz climbed out and shook his head. “Engage brain before you leap, Monroe.”
I swatted the air. “Yeah, yeah. I’m fine, and thanks for asking.” I hung onto the car as I walked the edge of the ditch and onto the shoulder at the front of our vehicle. “What’s the verdict?”
Sheriff Burke shrugged. “I guess Mr. and Mrs. Philips are going to cross the road. They think we’re in the general area, and Mrs. Philips said the woods seem familiar. She said she remembered a group of boulders about fifty feet in.”
“That might help since I think everything looks the same.” While they were gone, we waited at the vehicles. “How much farther are the markers? We didn’t pass them yet, did we?”
Deputy Knight looked up the road. “Nope, we haven’t passed them yet, but I believe they’re right around the next curve. The two incidents are close enough in proximity, in my opinion, to believe they’re related.”
The sheriff pointed his chin at Smythe. “What do you think, Dan?”
Smythe shielded his eyes and stared at the road. “I agree. I think the markers are right around that curve. As a matter of fact, I’ll go take a look. Anywhere between there and here, if this is the right spot, is fair game. I’ll head into the woods at the markers, walk toward you guys, and see if I spot that cluster of boulders. If not, we’ll spread out a little farther.”
“Go ahead, then. Radio me when you’re there and note the distance between here and the markers.”
“Roger that, Boss.” Smythe climbed into his squad car and left.
Chapter 34
Tara and Byron emerged from the woods. Embarrassment was written across Tara’s face. I’m sure she felt she was wasting our time.
“Anything look familiar?” I asked.
She shook her head. “Maybe if we just walk the woods instead of driving around. I think I’ll recognize the boulders if I see them.”
I shrugged. “Works for me. Deputy Smythe is going to walk the woods toward us from the markers.” I looked back the way we’d come. “And you don’t think we’ve passed the spot?”
Tara and Byron turned and stared down the road. “No, but we can’t be positive. It isn’t like anyone said there would be a quiz later. We weren’t actually looking at anything in particular. We were just enjoying the beauty of everything.”
Renz patted Byron’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. We’ll find the spot. No pressure.”
Byron sighed. “Yet somehow I feel pressured anyway.”
“Nah, we’ve been down this road before. It’s all part of the journey.”
I was thankful that Renz was usually a patient guy except when he was hungry. Then all bets were off.
“How about we lock up the cars and head into the woods?” Renz said.
Sheriff Burke’s radio squawked, and he lifted his finger. “One minute, folks. What have you got, Dan?”
“I’m a half mile ahead of you. It’s not really that far, so I’m going to walk in your direction about fifty feet in.”
“Copy that, and we’re heading your way.”
There were too many of us in our group, and Dan was alone, and it was easy for one person to miss something important. I’d mentioned it to Renz, and he volunteered to drive ahead, meet up with Deputy Smythe, and search alongside him. The five of us walked toward those two but never came across a large group of boulders. When we finally met in the middle, they said they hadn’t seen the boulders either.
I was let down, yet I knew Byron and Tara were doing the best they could. They were sure the area wasn’t closer to Highway 12, so we moved farther north and continued the search. We exited the woods and stood along the road while coming up with a new plan.
“I think we’re close.” Byron pointed. “That shaded area up along the shoulder looks like where the man’s truck was parked.”
Deputy Knight took over. “And didn’t you say that truck was about a half mile ahead of where you stopped your car?”
“Yep, we had just passed him, and then Tara said she needed to use the bathroom. I pulled along the shoulder, and she got out. I remember looking in the rearview mirror and noticing how the trees shaded the truck.”
“Okay,” Sheriff Burke said, “let’s search a little farther north. Just tell us where you think you stopped in comparison to that shaded area of the shoulder.”
We walked another hundred feet or so, and Byron stopped. “I’m pretty sure this is the area. What do you think, honey? Does it look familiar?”
“I’m not sure. I have to walk into the woods to see if those boulders are back there.”
We crossed the ditch and followed Tara. She picked up her pace, then she pointed.
“There! Those are the boulders. This is where I was.” She rushed to the area, spun around, and looked like she was recalling yesterday’s incident.
“Walk us through whatever it is you’re thinking, Tara,” I said. “Take your time and think hard.”
“I was looking for a private place to pee—somewhere not so open and exposed. That’s when I saw these boulders.” She placed her hand on the large granite stone. “And then I heard his voice.” Her eyes welled up. “I was so shocked to hear a human voice out here. It just stunned me. They were having a heated conversa
tion, but there wasn’t a way for me to leave without being seen. I backed up, hoping to hide behind one of the rocks until they passed, but I tripped and fell on my backside. He saw me, grabbed the girl by the arm, and yanked her over to where I was. He yelled out ‘Hell no,’ cracked her in the head, and ran off. She didn’t stand a chance against him.” Tara wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, and Byron comforted her.
Renz took over. “You said they were having a heated conversation?”
“Yes.”
“Can you recall anything that was said? Think hard, Tara. It could be really important.”
“I don’t know. I was so scared for the girl and for myself. Um…”
We searched the ground and bushes as we waited on Tara to recall the incident. With all the blood they’d described, there had to be evidence of it there.
“Yes! I remember a name. The man said something about shooting the girl and leaving her for the cougars to eat if she didn’t move along. She responded that it was a real shame about Marcus. No, not Marcus, but it was an odd name that started with an M. Milton, Maynard, maybe?” She rubbed her forehead as she whispered names. “He said she was getting in that truck whether she liked it or not.”
“Okay, you’re doing fine, Tara. The truck is a big help,” I said. “It confirms what you said about the parked truck you passed.”
She nodded. I could see from her expression that she was consumed with remembering the name. “Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. I remember she said that just before he saw me. That’s it! She said it was a real shame about Malcolm and it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy!”
“You’re sure?” Renz asked.
“I’m positive!”
Renz nodded at the sheriff. “You said the dead man who was discovered by the hikers had a clawed-up neck and face and that a dead cougar was near his body?”
“Yep. The cougar also appeared to have bullet holes in it, but both bodies were pretty mangled from the fall and from woodland animals.”
“Where’s the cougar’s corpse?”
Deputy Knight spoke up. “The forest service hauled it away.”
“Shit. It could have had rifle slugs in it. Can one of you find out what they did with it?”
Burke pointed his chin at Smythe. “Doubt if there’s service in the woods, but we will as soon as we get to the cars.”
“Guys”—I pointed at a fern covered in dried blood—“this is probably the spot where the man cracked the girl with the rifle.”
Sheriff Burke told Knight to head to his squad car. They needed to place markers in the area to indicate where the attack took place and to see how far it was from where the dead man, possibly named Malcolm, was found.
“How well was the area around the dead man searched?” I asked.
Burke shrugged. “Probably not well enough. I’d say a few hundred feet around him and the cat.”
“And if they both toppled over the edge of a mountain and the guy did have a wallet or a phone, those items could have bounced out of his pocket and landed anywhere.”
“Yes, they could have, although we didn’t find anything. Whoever shot the cat might have taken those items from the man before the attack happened. He could have been a victim, too, just like the girl.”
I shook my head. “Not according to Tara’s recollection. From the comments the girl made, she seemed happy that Malcolm was dead. We need to see the spot where he was found.”
“Sure thing, Agent Monroe,” Knight said. “It’s only about a hundred yards to your left.” He led the way through the undergrowth. “Here we are.”
We came upon a trampled-down spot about twenty feet from the narrow dirt trail the hikers had been walking the previous day. The trail looked a lot like what we would consider a deer trail in Wisconsin—dirt and about twenty inches wide. The area was marked by orange flags poked into the ground. I looked up, and several hundred feet above me was the edge where both the man and the cougar likely fell from.
“Has anyone gone up there to have a look around?” Renz asked.
“No easy way to get up there, Agent DeLeon. We’d have to go to the west side of the mountain, walk a good long way, and hope we end up right there.” The sheriff pointed above our heads.
“How about a drone, then?” I suggested. “It would only take a few minutes to see if anything of value is on the ground up there.”
“Yep, I can arrange that. The department doesn’t have one, but I know a few people who do. I’ll make some calls as soon as I get back to the car and see if we can get one out here.”
Renz and I walked the area. Pieces of shredded clothing were scattered about, and ten feet from me were blood and fur from where the cat must have ended up. It was a grisly sight, and I wondered if animals were watching us from the sidelines.
Chapter 35
We returned to the cars and waited there. A hobby store owner, an acquaintance of the sheriff, was bringing his best drone to us. Meanwhile, we had plenty of time to question Byron and Tara Philips. Renz asked them to join us in our rental car so we could take their statements and ask questions. Tara was our only witness to the actions of the man who might be the killer.
“Go ahead and climb into the back seat, folks,” Renz said. “Sorry we don’t have anything to offer you to drink.”
Byron waved off Renz’s concern. “Not a problem, Agent DeLeon. We’re just happy to help. After saving her from that man, it almost feels like we’re responsible for Jane Doe now.”
I glanced at Renz and smiled. I figured we were thinking the same thing about how he’d recently saved Amber’s life.
“We know you’ve already told the deputies what happened for the record, but oftentimes, people recall more later when they aren’t so frantic.” Renz looked at Tara. “Proof of that is part of the conversation you remembered hearing between Jane and the unidentified man. The name Malcolm came up, which is extremely helpful in our search for that man and any other children he or his group may have in their custody.”
“I understand, and I’ll do my best.” She nodded at Byron. “We both will.”
“Okay, good. You told the deputies you were returning home from a vacation and decided to drive through the scenic back roads rather than on the interstate.”
“That’s correct. The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest sounded pretty, and we weren’t in a big rush. My problem was not realizing that it’s a remote area without restroom facilities near the road, and the cell phone service is patchy.”
I looked out the car windows. “Mountains in the way, I’d imagine. I can’t reach my boss either.”
“So then what?” Renz asked.
“Then I really had to use the bathroom, especially because I’m pregnant. We had no idea how far the next town or gas station was, so I asked Byron to pull over.”
Byron cut in. “And I did even though I didn’t think traipsing through the woods was the best idea. That truck that we’d passed just seconds earlier was parked along the shoulder.”
“The truck that likely belonged to the man who cracked Jane in the head?” I asked.
Tara answered. “Yes. He ran in that direction, and by the time Byron and I got Jane into our car, that truck was gone.”
Renz tipped his head. “Let’s get back to the time in the woods.”
“I wanted a certain amount of privacy even though I wasn’t expecting anyone to be out there. I looked around, then I saw the boulders. I figured they’d do the job. I headed in that direction, and just about the time I reached them was when I heard his voice.”
“The man with Jane?”
“Yes, him. I was startled but even more so when I realized they weren’t having a friendly conversation. My instincts told me to hide. I backed up, snapped a downed twig, and fell to the ground. He heard the sound, headed toward me with the girl, and unfortunately saw me.” Tara wiped her eyes with her sleeve. “It was only by the grace of God that he didn’t bash me in the head too. He clubbed Jane, she went down like a ton o
f bricks, and he ran off.”
“How long of a look do you think you had of him?” I asked.
“Not long. I was so scared for her and myself that I could barely focus. He was literally in front of me for five seconds at most.”
“And he said something when he saw you. Is that correct?” Renz asked.
“Yes. He said, ‘hell no!’ and that’s when he clubbed her.”
“So that statement could have meant ‘hell no’ because he was seen or ‘hell no’ because he wasn’t about to let Jane tell her story, so he had to kill her—or so he thought. He only had a second to think, and he probably concluded that the consequences facing him would be worse than those for killing a teenaged girl.”
“I agree, and I could see his wheels turning for those few seconds.”
“Describe him for us.”
Tara sucked in a deep breath. “Byron’s height and weight, late thirties, black greased-back hair, and he was carrying a rifle.”
“His clothing?”
“Green plaid shirt, jeans, tan jacket. I didn’t see his shoes because I was looking up at him, not at the forest floor, and it was too dense anyway.” Tara shook her head as if to wipe the memory from her mind. “That poor girl let out a grunt and dropped to the ground. She was bleeding really badly.”
“You and Byron were very brave, and I’m sure when Jane wakes up, she’ll thank you personally. She has an important story to tell, and when she does, we’ll get that man, and he’ll be held accountable.” I looked over my notes. “Do you think you could describe his features well enough for a sketch artist?”
Tara shook her head. “No. Everything about him other than the clothing he wore is fading fast. Maybe that Malcolm character will lead you to him.”
Renz rattled his fingertips against the dash. “Maybe, but without a last name or any knowledge of where he was from, it won’t be easy. We’ll have to see if his prints are in the system. If they are, and if his name was Malcolm, then hopefully, we can find out where he lived.”
