Silent Hunter

by Maggie K. Black

  “Okay. How about paint ball? Too violent?”

  “No, not at all. It teaches kids teamwork and focus, not to mention is a healthy outlet for aggression.” A muddy box of granola bars crunched under his feet. He picked it up. Two bars left. He tossed them both to Nicky. “Obviously you’re also thinking obstacle courses.”

  She caught both bars in one hand. Then she tossed one of them right back to him. “Obviously.”

  “You should also really look into combining a large-scale, ground-based obstacle course with a run through the woods. I’ve done a few runs for charity with the team at Torchlight News.” Won all them, too. Nobody knew how to duck and run the way he did.

  Her smile was hesitant, as if debating whether or not to let the words she was thinking pass her lips. “If we do manage to stay on our feet a bit longer, would you be willing to come up and help show us how to run one?”

  He let out a long breath. “Actually, George has invited me up to volunteer in the past. But I’ve told him it’s not really my thing. I’d be happy to email you a few links to web sites, though.”

  “Right. I’d forgotten. You’re not a ‘kids and families’ kind of guy.”

  What did she mean by that? Yes, he’d said that. But not because he didn’t care. He cared a lot. “Knowing you’re no good at something isn’t the same as not caring about it. Look, I love kids and would have loved to have had my own, and I’ll do everything I can to support this camp, too. I just didn’t think the guy who tried to steal the camp cash box should be anyone’s first choice to teach campers anything.” He’d never forget the sight of the metal box sitting on a table in the police station as George counted out dollars and quarters to help Luke make bail. Nicky turned around and he could see words flashing in her eyes ready to fly out her mouth at him. But he wasn’t in the mood to argue about this.

  “Look, yes, I’m great at all kinds of sports stuff—shooting, running, dodging, diving—but you want to know what I’m best at? Not the whole extroverted, leading people and team motivation stuff you do. My strength is tactics and strategy. I’m the guy standing in the locker room with a blue marker and big whiteboard figuring out who goes where—”

  Luke froze as he heard words leave his mouth with the clarity of a starting whistle. Here he’d been so busy telling God that he was the wrong man to have Nicky’s back because he didn’t know how to solve crime, he forgot to remember what kind of man he was. He was the kind of man who understood how games were played.

  Focus, Luke. The Hunter is treating you and Nicky like prey. Hunting you. Sabotaging you. Trapping you here. Think like an opponent. So, what kind of game is the Hunter playing?

  Suddenly he could feel the events of the past few days spread out in front of his mind’s eye like figures on a whiteboard. “In the end, it’s all about knowing your opponent.”

  “You’ve lost me.” Nicky’s eyes were on his face.

  Something crackled in the woods like the sound of falling branches. He scanned the trees. One hand reached for hers. The other rose to his lips. He led her toward the one tent still left standing, thankful she was willing to follow without question. They stepped inside and pulled the flaps closed behind them. Then he leaned toward her, barely letting his voice rise above a whisper. He was tired of being watched. It was about time they had a team meeting without worrying someone might be listening in.

  “When you build obstacle courses you probably spend ages plotting out how every single hook, notch and board fits together to take someone from the start to the finish. Right?”

  She nodded. “Of course.”

  “So, let’s do the same thing with the whole ‘hunter’ thing. Where is he going with all this? See, I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of feeling like we’re just swept up in a series of random attacks, as if we were battling nothing but a mindless animal. When in actual fact, we’re fighting a man who probably wants something specific and is doing what he thinks he needs to do to get it.”

  Understanding dawned in her hazel eyes. “His end game.”

  “Right.”

  He sat on the bare-board floor. She sat opposite him. “I’ve been busy looking at everyone around us as suspects. Aaron’s been acting suspicious. He gets in a fight with Russ, then Russ turns up dead. Something’s off with Gracie, too. I just can’t put my finger on what. Trevor didn’t come back with the boat, which could mean something bad has happened. Bear has a history of threatening people. It’s clear you never trusted Neil of Ace Sports.

  “I can find reasons to suspect anyone of anything. Which gets us nowhere. When what I really need to be doing is looking at the Hunter himself.” He sighed heavily as he shoved his fingers through his hair. “Am I making any sense at all?”

  She nodded. “Crystal clear. You’re saying we need to stop scanning the bushes for every little snap and rustle of movement, and instead we need to look at what the Hunter is aiming at. Because once we know his target, we’ll know who he is.”

  Yes! Exactly that! He could have almost kissed her. Nicky had always been so very good at helping him sort his thoughts when his brain was spinning. His grin grew wide. “You’ve got it. So, what was his first target?”

  “The lodge.”

  “Why the lodge?”

  Her answer came automatically. “Because basically the lodge is the heart of Camp Spirit. It’s where we cook meals, feed campers, lead Sunday chapel services, have arts and crafts... Not to mention it’s where we kept all our camp records and computers. He went straight for our heart and took out the camp’s brain in the process.”

  “The camp’s ‘brain’?”

  A slight smile crossed her lips. “George. He’s the brains of this operation.”

  He nodded. Yes, the fire had taken out George and delayed them finding out whatever plans had been going on in that brain of his. “Do you think someone was trying to kill you and George?”

  Her head shook. “Considering George’s age and health, there are lots and lots of easier ways to kill him and make it look like an accident. A fire that large takes planning, not to mention the sprinkler system and fire alarm were disabled. The Hunter had no way of knowing we’d be there, let alone that I’d be in the loft and unable to get George out safely. So, no, I don’t think he was trying to kill us. Then his second attack only reinforces that. The Hunter jumped me on the island but let me go without a scrape.”

  “He hardly just let you go. He shoved your face into the ground and held a knife to your neck.”

  “But he could have cut me or killed me, and he didn’t. He just ran away and stole the boat.”

  He ran his hand over his chin. “True.”

  “Then, he vandalized the obstacle course, apparently drugged our stew somehow and then destroyed the canoes.” Nicky ticked the items off on her fingers. “Every step of the way it’s like he was trying to scare us and sabotage this camp. But not intentionally kill anyone. In fact, if Russ hadn’t been murdered I’d have thought his end goal was just to anger the sponsors and dissuade them from helping us.”

  A howl of fury shook the air outside the tent followed by a crash that sounded like metal pots being hurled against rocks. A voice swore loudly like the cry of a wounded animal. Luke leaped to his feet, shielding Nicky with his body. The canvas was torn back and they found themselves staring into the cold, metal barrel of Bear’s handgun.

  * * *

  “Get me off this island. Now!” Bear waved his weapon in Nicky’s face. “Or I will blow both your heads off.”

  Looked like alcohol wasn’t the only thing the Bear had managed to conceal on his person and smuggle onto the island. She scrambled to her feet, feeling her heart pounding in her chest. “We aren’t the ones who destroyed the canoes. Trust me, we want to get off the island as much as you do.”

  “Trust you?” Bear’s laugh turned into a roar
. Bloodshot eyes bulged. “I don’t know what kind of sick, twisted scheme you think you’re running here. But I came out here on this camping trip in good faith because rumor had it your boss was about to pull something big and I thought it might be good for business. First you ask me to climb on some obstacle thing that nearly kills someone. Then you drug me.

  “Next thing I know, I think I’m hearing trees running around, watching a tent fly and getting trapped in a battle with who knows what, until I wake up lying in a stream.”

  It sounded as though the drugs had hit Bear even harder than her and Luke. Then again, he’d gulped that stew down by the bowlful. Bear had probably consumed more than half the pot, not to mention he’d been drunk. It was no wonder he’d been hallucinating.

  “I didn’t come here to be chased through the woods like some kind of wild animal while someone shot arrows at my back.”

  “Someone shot arrows at you?” Luke asked. “Are you sure? Did you see what they looked like?”

  Bear snorted. “Oh, like you don’t know. It was little woodland fairies.” The gun waved closer to Luke. “Now, come on. Out of the tent. We’re going to take a walk.” His eyes narrowed. “And don’t even think of trying anything or I’ll shoot.”

  Nicky watched as Luke stepped out of the tent, careful to keep his body positioned between her and the weapon. He was protecting her. Her heart ached for him. For so very long the memory of this man had made her feel alone and rejected. Now, here he was, in the flesh, and for the first time in her whole life, making her feel protected.

  She prayed. Please, Lord. Don’t let him be hurt on account of me. Keep him safe. Show him—show me—what to do.

  “Where are we going?” Luke’s voice was firm and steady.

  Bear gestured wildly toward the trees. “We’re going to get your boat. Then we’re going to get into that boat and you’re going to take me off this island and back to the mainland.”

  Nicky followed Luke out of the tent and stood just behind his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Bear. The canoes are smashed—”

  “I don’t care about the canoes! I want you to take me to the motorboat!”

  She shook her head. “Trevor hasn’t come back with the motorboat yet—”

  “Of course he has! Don’t you dare lie to me!”

  What? Nicky’s jaw dropped. What on earth was he talking about? If Trevor had returned, the only place he’d have moored was at the dock, and he’d have hardly left again without her. Had Bear been so drugged on sleeping pills that he’d hallucinated seeing an actual motorboat? Or had he actually stumbled on where the Hunter had hidden his? She took a step forward and shot a sideways glance at Luke.

  But Luke’s eyes were focused on Bear. “Have you seen the boat since you woke up this morning?”

  Bear rolled his eyes. “I don’t have time for this.” Before Nicky could react, he reached out and grabbed her by the shoulder. “Nicky is going to get me down to that boat.”

  His grip was so tight it made her eyes water. Beside her, she could see every muscle in Luke’s body tense, as though he was waiting for his moment to strike.

  “You have to know that I’m not about to let you hurt her.”

  Bear chuckled. “You honestly think you can stop me?”

  She did. Suddenly, with every fiber of her being, she knew that Luke would either save her or die trying. How wrong she’d been. All this time she thought he’d never really cared about her, beyond some superficial desire to kiss a lonely girl. Now, here he was, standing beside her, willing to take a bullet to keep her safe. Did he have any idea that she’d do the same for him?

  Please, give me wisdom, Lord. Please help us find a way out of this where no one gets hurt. Especially if Bear really has seen a boat that could get us all out of here.

  Nicky gritted her teeth against the pain and raised her chin to look Bear straight in the eye. “There’s no need to threaten me, Bear. If you show me where the boat is, I’m happy to get everyone off this island. And I’m guessing Luke would agree with me on that.”

  A silence spread through the wrecked campsite, punctuated only by the rustle of tree branches. She watched as Luke’s clear blue-gray eyes searched over every inch of her face, then turned to the heavens above, before finally fixing their hard stare on the man now holding a gun to her face.

  “We’re not your enemy. We have no clue who drugged us, or trashed the camp, or was shooting arrows at you. Let go of Nicky, now, and we will all go see the boat you found together.”

  “Save your breath. I’m not about to trust you, and you’re in no place to negotiate.” Bear’s fat hand grabbed a fistful of her hair. “Oh, and I’m definitely going to take her to that boat—”

  Luke stepped toward him. His grin had teeth and more than a little bite.

  “Let me guess. You ran out of alcohol last night and woke with a hangover so bad you think the island is spinning and your skull’s about to split open. Well, just because you can wave your gun around doesn’t mean for one moment you’re steady enough to hit your target. Now maybe you’ll be stupid and fire that gun, anyway—and you might hurt Nicky, or you might hurt me, or you might put a bullet through your own toe. Either way, you’ll be no closer to getting off this island. You obviously can’t get to the boat without us, or you’d have done it already. So, I’ll say it again—take your hands off her.”

  Bear tried laughing again but the sound echoed hollow in his throat. He shrugged and let go. “Fine. But my gun stays pointed at her head and you stay back. I don’t actually want to hurt her, but like you said, my aim’s a little shaky right now.” He snickered. “And seeing the way you look at her, I don’t think you’re about to take that chance.”

  They walked. While Bear had let go of her body, his fingers still poked her just below the shoulder blade, as if to steer her. He needn’t have bothered. She could tell exactly where they were headed—to the giant diving rock where she and Luke had stood and watched the Hunter peel off in her boat two nights before.

  It was the last place anyone would stash a boat. The huge rock mass jutted out into the lake like a great big boulder, maybe two stories above the water’s surface. As David had pointed out yesterday, the spot was perfect for diving, or at least it would be when they cleared some of the more dangerous rocks out of the water below. But there was absolutely nowhere there to moor a boat.

  They stepped out of the limited protection of the forest cover and onto the bare and empty rock. Bright sunlight bounced off the crystal waters. The lake spread out below them, calm and empty, all the way to the distant shores beyond. There wasn’t a single boat in sight.

  Bear walked her right to the edge. “Found it hours ago then spent all morning trying to figure out how to get down there to it.”

  “Down where?” But the words had barely left her lips before she heard the unmistakable knocking sound of an aluminum boat rocking against the shore. She stepped to the edge of the cliff and looked down. A Camp Spirit motorboat was floating, empty, up against the bottom of diving rock. A gasp escaped her lips. How on earth had it gotten there? And why was it empty?

  Even from here she could tell the motor was twisted at a funny angle. The blades had no doubt been broken off and damaged by impact, and even from a distance she could see the outline of liquid pooling in the bottom. It was either water from a hull leak or gasoline from a hole in the tank. While the boat might be the best way off the island they’d found yet, it was hardly ready to just be fired up to hit the open water, even if it had been easy to get to.

  She turned back. Bear was standing so close he was nearly nudging her toes over the edge. But she fixed her gaze on Luke. He was several paces back but slowly closing the gap between them.

  “Bear’s right, Luke,” she called. “There is a Camp Spirit motorboat down there. I can’t actually tell if it’s the one the Hunter stole or the
one that Trevor and the other campers left in yesterday. Either way, it’s pretty badly damaged.”

  Bear leaned toward her until his sweaty red face was barely inches from hers. “So take me down there!”

  “There isn’t a path down there.” She gritted her teeth. “I’d have to try to either jump down and miss hitting it somehow or swim around the island to it. Even then, I doubt we’ll be able to get the motor to work.”

  Pebbles shifted beneath her feet. Luke inched closer. She had to focus on keeping Bear’s attention long enough to give Luke a chance to knock the gun from his hand. If only they weren’t standing so close to the edge, she’d risk kicking Bear’s legs out from under him. But either one could knock him off the rock and into the water—maybe even taking her with him—and after her last attempted dive off this rock she knew you had to leap out pretty far if you wanted to safely clear the rocks below.

  Another snort from Bear. The gun pressed up against her cheek. “I don’t believe you.”

  “I don’t care whether or not you do.” Her voice rose louder. “I’m telling the truth. Honestly, the best thing right now would be if you let Luke and me figure out a way to get down there. Maybe if we repair a couple of paddles, we can all paddle it together to the mainland. But we can’t help you as long as you’re being threatening and irrational. So...please. Stop, drop the gun and let us save you.”

  Cold, icy black swept through Bear’s eyes. He flicked the safety off his gun. “How about I just shoot you instead?”

  An arrow flew from the woods. It sizzled as it arched high above them. Then fell toward the boat below. An explosion shook the water. Smoke and flame engulfed the tiny vessel. The motorboat was on fire.

  FOURTEEN