Promises in the Dark

by D. K. Hood

  “Do you have a time of death?” Carter stared at the gurney.

  “No time of death but we know when the explosion took place and these people were alive before the fire, so we can use the documented time of the explosion for the TOD.” Wolfe looked toward Jo’s raised hand. “Jo?”

  “The last meal, was it their dinner or a snack?” Jo adjusted her facemask. “I’m wondering how long the bomber was in the house before the explosion and as the table was set, did he arrive before dinner?”

  “It was a typical meat and potatoes dinner.” Wolfe pushed the gurney toward Emily. “No snacks. The adults had wine with their meal.”

  Jenna glanced at Jo. “So why was the table set for dinner?”

  “Like I concluded before, it was part of his fantasy.” Jo folded her arms across her chest. “He wanted to recreate a scene in his past maybe. He likely incapacitated the husband, raped the wife in front of him and then made them sit around the table as if everything was normal.”

  “I’ve seen this before.” Kane frowned. “Well, read about something similar. The killer is recreating something he witnessed maybe, or what happened to him.”

  “Possible.” Jo looked at him over her facemask. “Or it may be symbolic. He was restrained and raped as a child perhaps. What happened to him was at dinner time and nobody did anything to help him, they just sat around the table. The raping of the woman in front of the husband is significant. The hatred he had toward her is palpable.”

  Jenna looked from one to the other. “Are you saying Mrs. Wood was the target of his hate and not Mr. Wood? If so, this changes everything.”

  “They’re just theories at this time, Jenna.” Jo moved to her side. “I could also say, he wanted to show his dominance over a weaker man by violating his wife in front of him. Both theories carry weight. The problem is with only this case to go on, we have nothing to compare it with.”

  “What about the DC bombings?” Kane narrowed his gaze. “Apart from the detonator this is nothing like any of the other crimes.”

  “Yeah, it is. The method he used is almost a signature.” Carter scratched his head. “I still figure it’s the same guy but as you would say, he’s escalated to rape and brutality.”

  “Let’s not forget, kidnapping.” Kane shook his head. “His crimes are becoming quite a list.”

  Thirty-Two

  A prickle of discomfort slid down Jenna’s back as the body of Mrs. Wood slid into the metallic drawer. The woman had suffered and then died a horrendous death. How could they catch this killer, when he moved around like a ghost? She gathered her professional mask around her and looked at her team. The autopsy on Sophie Wood would be traumatic and she wanted to be through as soon as possible. “Okay, we can discuss the killer’s list of crimes later when we have more time.”

  “Next we have the body of Sophie Wood.” Wolfe removed the sheet.

  The familiar Y-shaped autopsy stitched wound was evident and Jenna shot Wolfe a look. “You’ve already completed the autopsy? Why didn’t you tell me? We should have been here.”

  “I’m sorry, Jenna. I made the call.” Wolfe indicated to Webber. “I didn’t have time to haul you out but Webber lives close by and acted as the law enforcement witness. I dropped by to run some tests last night and the body was deteriorating rapidly so I completed a full autopsy, diagnostic tests, X-rays, and ran a tox screen.”

  Something inside Jenna was glad she didn’t have to watch the dissection of the young woman. “I trust your judgment. What did you discover?”

  “As you were here for the preliminary, you know some of the findings. My conclusions are, Sophie Wood was restrained since going missing, she hadn’t eaten. I believe she cut herself free using a sharp rock or something similar and escaped. She has incisions to the palm of the right hand consistent with holding a sharp object. The bruising on her face is consistent to a punch or slap and it happened at least twenty-four hours prior to her death. There is evidence of prolonged rape. I found no trace evidence from her attacker anywhere on her body.” He looked at Jenna. “She struck her head during the fall. I can prove this by the microscopic fragments of rock in the headwound. This would have rendered her unconscious and as I found lake water in her lungs, she drowned. I can’t determine if she fell or someone pushed her over the falls. So, my ruling for cause of death is open. The time of death is estimated about two hours prior to the discovery of her body.” He covered the body and slid it inside the drawers.

  “No semen?” Carter pushed a hand through his hair.

  “Not a trace.” Wolfe looked at him.

  “Then he must have left a pile of condoms somewhere.” Carter’s eyes flashed. “Rapists aren’t that careful.”

  “If he had her tied up, he could have taken his time.” Kane’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Wolfe. “Same as Mrs. Wood. Did you find anything on the bedsheets?”

  “I found no trace of foreign DNA.” Wolfe met his gaze. “Did anyone check the garbage at the Woods’ house?”

  Jenna shook her head. “Not that I’m aware.” She looked at Carter. “Did you check the bedrooms?”

  “Yeah, and I checked the trash in every room but I didn’t see a condom.” He stared at his boots. “You sayin’ this guy breaks into a house, ties up the husband, casually rapes the wife using a condom, and then flushes it down the toilet?” He shook his head. “He wouldn’t have had time. There were two kids in the house, the wife would’ve been screaming. It makes no sense.”

  “Yeah it does.” Jenna looked at him. “An armed man comes into the house, and a mother would do anything to protect her kids. I bet she didn’t make a sound. She would have cooperated.”

  “It didn’t look like she cooperated.” Emily Wolfe’s brow creased into a frown. “If she did, it didn’t stop him brutalizing her. Same as with Sophie.” Her eyes flashed with contempt. “For heaven’s sake, she has muscle deep bruises on her thighs. He wanted to hurt her.”

  “Emily, you can’t get emotionally involved with this case.” Wolfe removed his gloves and facemask and then tossed them in the trash. “I know it’s difficult but you must see the case from the outside looking in. If you don’t, you’ll miss vital evidence. You must be compassionate but non-judgmental and only consider the facts that are before you.”

  “I am, Dad, and I see injuries consistent with a brutal attack over a sustained period on a fifteen-year-old girl.” Emily ripped off her gloves and glared at him. “This wasn’t a grab, rape, and run type of man. This person played with her like a cat does with a mouse.”

  “Maybe so but you need to be objective.” Wolfe huffed out a long sigh. “Go and take a break. We’ll talk later.”

  “If you insist.” Emily tossed her gloves and mask into the trash and in a whoosh of doors had vanished into the hallway.

  Sickened by the sight of so much destruction, Jenna turned to Wolfe. “Maybe I should join her because I agree with her findings.”

  “There are many aspects of a forensics investigation that differ from yours, Jenna.” Wolfe crossed his arms across his chest and gray eyes settled on her. “Everything I say to you, every decision I make, whether I like it or not, is backed by forensic evidence.” He waved a hand toward the bank of shiny stainless-steel drawers. “Do you figure that I don’t care about that family? In fact, the father in me wants to find the man who did this and strangle the life out of him with my bare hands. The medical examiner part of me wants to find absolute proof which man committed this crime and be able to stand up in court to give evidence for his conviction. Trust me, if I allow the father in me to take over, I’d be no use to you or anyone else.”

  “That’s all well and good, Shane, but Emily has made her conclusion on the evidence before her and I happen to agree with her.”

  “Emily is making a call before all the evidence is presented.” Wolfe sighed. “She knows the majority of tox screens haven’t come back yet. I want her to make sure she has all the evidence before she makes a conclusion. For instance, do we
know if Sophie had a boyfriend? Did they engage in rough sex? Did she take drugs?” He looked at Jenna. “Don’t look at me like that, Jenna. These are reasonable doubt questions that could see this man walk.”

  “Okay, point made.” Jo’s eyebrows rose. “In my professional opinion, this killer is so evil he would have messed up the wife’s face for fun. He likely only slapped Sophie so she didn’t bleed on him.” Jo leaned against the counter. “You’ve seen men like this before, haven’t you, Kane?”

  “Yeah, we’ve had cases with men like him before.” Kane nodded. “They’re animals. They can’t inflict enough pain and suffering. Rape is used as a punishment and sex has nothing to do with it.”

  “And they are fully aware of leaving trace evidence.” Wolfe turned off the screens. “This is what makes convicting them so difficult, we can leave no stone unturned. He has to make a mistake sooner or later.”

  “He already made one.” Carter rubbed the back of his neck clearly agitated. “He took the girl.”

  Jenna removed her mask and rubbed both hands down her face. “Carter, trust me. This type of psychopath is very smart. He’d have planned this kill down to the second. He knows everything about leaving trace evidence. He’d have been wearing protective clothing, a balaclava, and gloves for sure. He immobilized the husband and likely after abusing the wife and tying her to the chair, washed up in the downstairs bathroom.” She sighed. “These men are arrogant and don’t believe anyone can catch them. Sophie was found in Stanton Forest, so disposing of condoms would be the least of his worries and our chances of finding them impossible.” She looked at Carter. “One thing we know for sure, this killer wasn’t afraid of moving Sophie to Black Rock Falls and I figure he used the blue Ford, the one Wolfe has out back, to do it.”

  “You may be right.” Wolfe looked at her. “The results of my findings will be ready soon. We can wait in my office.”

  Thirty-Three

  Excited to be involved in the investigation, Rowley followed Blackhawk along a narrow trail on a trailbike, with its saddlebags crammed with necessities. Once he’d called Atohi, his friend had arrived with two trailbikes strapped to the back of his pickup, helmets, and a box of useful items to take with them. As they weaved their way through the barriers and warning signs, he noticed Blackhawk’s friend, Mingan, and his grandfather, Nootau sitting on top of a boulder waiting for them to arrive. As they approached, the men slipped down to the ground.

  “You will remember Nootau Blackhawk?” Atohi motioned to a weathered elderly man with greying hair and laughter lines around his eyes, wearing a battered Stetson. “He knows the Whispering Caves. We are in safe hands.” He waved to Mingan. “And my friend, Mingan.”

  Rowley held out his hand. “Yes, it’s good to see you again.” He shook hands with both men.

  “Atohi, tells me he thinks a fool has entered the caves, perhaps kidnapped a young woman and held her inside?” Nootau shook his head. “Maybe he can’t read.” He waved to the signs, warning of danger. “The girl, you figure, might have fallen from the falls?”

  Rowley, hoisted a backpack over one shoulder, nodded and followed him to the entrance. “We imagine she came from here.”

  “Spirits walk these caves.” Nootau glanced at him as they paused at the entrance to turn on their flashlights. “You’ll hear them calling. They say they are lonely and call people to their deaths.” He grinned and his teeth flashed white in the dim light. “And then there are the bears.”

  “You’ll have him running back to town with those stories, grandfather.” Atohi chuckled and grinned at Rowley. “Not too many bears come in here, it’s too wet. They prefer dry places.”

  Straightening and forcing a smile, while he thought up something profound to say, Rowley nodded. “Well as I don’t believe in ghosts, there’s nothing to worry about.”

  “You will by the time we leave here.” Nootau’s expression was serious as he turned and led the way into the darkness.

  Unconvinced, Rowley followed and joined the others inside a large cave with a selection of dark, foreboding tunnels heading in different directions. “Which way?”

  “Give me time to look.” Nootau moved his flashlight over the damp cave walls, disturbing a colony of sleeping bats.

  Rowley ducked instinctively at the sound of flapping wings. Blinded by the light the creatures flew around in all directions. He noticed Atohi’s grin and straightened. “I don’t like bats.”

  “So I see.” Atohi shook his head. “Keep the helmet on or they’ll get stuck in your hair but they won’t suck your blood. That’s a myth.”

  Chagrined, Rowley straightened. “I know that.” A strange moaning sound came on a rush of wind. He turned his light toward the sound and a cool breezed brushed his cheeks. “Hear that?”

  “Yeah and we’ll hear many more spirts on our journey.” Atohi waved him toward him. “Stick close together and don’t be seduced by their voices and you’ll be safe.”

  “Maybe this way.” Nootau shone his light on a metal anchor hammered onto the rock wall. Hanging from the spike was a broken piece of twine. “This is recent, someone used a cord to find their way back to the entrance. We can do the same.” He pulled a ball of twine from his pocket, attached it to the anchor and then moved a few steps town the tunnel and sniffed. “It stinks like man, not bear.” He indicated to Rowley’s Glock holstered at his waist. “I hope you can use that weapon. If the man you’re hunting is down there, he’ll hear us coming for sure.”

  Rowley nodded. “Yeah, I can use it and will if I have to.”

  “I know this tunnel. It curves and bends then splits into four. One of the tunnels joins three others and lead to the Swirling Cave.” Nootau took the ball of twine and let it out as he moved deeper into the tunnel. “If we get close, you’ll hear the whispers, like sirens calling a soul to their death.”

  Rowley shuddered. “I can’t wait.”

  “The Swirling Cave fills with water from the falls.” Atohi fell into step beside him. “It comes through fissures in the rocks from many directions and the water spirals like it’s going down the drain in a sink.”

  The memory of Sophie Wood’s pale floating body filtered into Rowley’s mind and coldness closed around him. “And it sucks a person over the falls.”

  “Yeah, bears too.” Atohi searched the ground below their feet. “The current must be powerful, so you must keep clear of any water. Things change in these caves depending on the weather.” He stopped and aimed his flashlight at what looked like a cobweb. “Look here.”

  Rowley turned his flashlight toward what had caught Atohi’s interest. In the beam something glistened. “Is that hair?” He moved closer and dragged a surgical glove from his pocket. “Don’t touch. It might be evidence.” He snagged the hairs and they broke in his fingers. “No, they’re just cobwebs.”

  “If she was in Dead Man’s Drop, she had to have been here.” Atohi looked at him. “Maybe she holed up here?”

  “I don’t think so. It would have been frightening for a young girl alone.” Nootau frowned. “Do you believe the man who set the explosive brought her here?”

  The bruises on Sophie and the zip-tie around her ankle made sense now. The cruelty she must have endured was coming to light. Rowley nodded. “Yeah, it sure looks that way but somehow she got away from him.”

  The whispers and strange sounds came at them in a relentless pace. Critters scampered away, red eyes reflecting in the beams from their flashlights and with each step darkness closed in behind them. It was like being trapped in an elevator with strange smells and unrecognizable music. Rowley could almost feel the threat in the caves, it seemed to come in waves of strange breezes and sounded so much like someone whispering it made the hairs stand up on his flesh. He searched the ground and the walls with each step and noticed Atohi doing the same but the solid rock gave no more clues until they moved over a patch of soil. In the damp earth that had spilled down from a gap in the cave roof, he made out indistinct marks. He laid a h
and on Nootau’s shoulder for him to stop. He bent and took photographs with his phone before they moved on.

  Stink filled the air and the foul odor smelled as if a sewerage pipe had burst close by. Something was very wrong. Rowley had lived in Black Rock Falls all his life and he’d smelled blood and death in the forest but this stench was man’s doing. Ahead the tunnel bent sharply to the left. They stopped as one and looked at each other. Rowley’s heart picked up a beat and he indicated to them to turn off their flashlights and be silent. The non-stop moaning coming on the foul breeze surrounded them like an entity and Nootau’s stories suddenly made a whole lot of sense. He drew his weapon and indicated to them he would go first. Atohi, Nootau, and Mingan vanished into the shadows behind him. Holding his flashlight down the barrel of his Glock, he kept close to the wall of the cave and moved forward, step by step, into the darkness. He held his breath as he turned the corner, aware a monster might be waiting in the gloom to kill them all.

  Thirty-Four

  A somber mood had descended on the team as Kane followed Wolfe into his office for the results of the tests he’d conducted on the blue Ford sedan and the evidence taken from John Cleaves house. As they pulled up chairs around his desk, Emily jumped up from his office chair and set about brewing coffee. Kane pulled out his notebook and flicked through the pages. He looked up at Wolfe, who was accessing files on his computer. “The mud on John Cleaves boots, did you have any luck with getting a location?”

  “It’s from the local area and we know he was there watching the blaze.” Wolfe narrowed his gaze. “The sample of C-4 was much more interesting. It is the same batch used in the explosion and the same used in the DC bombings.”