by D. K. Hood
“I’m afraid I can’t go into details but keep a very close eye on your daughter. Don’t let her go out alone and inform Kate’s mother as well.” Jenna raised both brows. “If you see any strangers hanging around or anything that seems out of place, please call me.” She took a card from her pocket and handed it to her. “I’ll be able to release details to the media in a day or so.”
“I will keep her at home today. Thank you.” Mrs. Fox turned toward the house.
Jenna followed Walters back to her cruiser, slid behind the wheel, and turned to him. “The moment we get back to the office, start the check into the victim’s phone logs. We have her parents’ written permission.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She took out her notepad and read each page of the interview, adding a few comments to make sure she had everything. The talk with the girls had pointed the finger at two new suspects: Rogers and Provine. The cowboys and boyfriend remained on her list. Their eagerness to give up their information might stem from knowing the killer had left no damning evidence. She tapped her pen on her bottom lip, running through the interview again. Her timeline for Felicity’s movements from the time she left home was non-existent.
Somebody must have seen her walking along Stanton Road. She had left home at the time people living in the area would be heading to work. After making a note to find and call a number of local residents, she glanced at her watch and wondered if Kane had discovered anything of interest at the crime scene. Not wanting to disturb him, she huffed out a sigh and headed back to the office. I’ll need to set up my whiteboard again to unravel this mess.
Nineteen
After picking up Wolfe and Rowley from outside the sheriff’s department, Kane drove to the outer edge of Stanton Forest. Rowley’s local knowledge was invaluable. He described the trails throughout the forest and the most likely one a killer would use to access or leave the crime scene undetected. The day had started out cool with a cloudless blue sky but as the group trudged deeper into the forest, humidity surrounded them. Sweat spilled into Kane’s eyes in an annoying, salty stream and insects attacked without mercy. He dodged another patch of poison ivy and kept alert for wildlife. The walk had not depleted his energy and Wolfe met him stride for stride. After so many years in the service of his country, he could survive most of what nature and man threw at him, but Rowley was showing signs of fatigue.
His cellphone rang. It was Alton. “Kane.”
“I’ve just been notified a girl is missing. She fits the killer’s type: sixteen, long hair, pretty. Her name is Joanne Blunt.”
“When was she last seen?”
“The neighbor saw her walking toward Stanton Forest carrying a towel after lunch yesterday. She got to town yesterday morning and is staying with relatives for the rodeo week. She could have been heading for one of the swimming holes but there are tons in that area. I’ll organize a couple of deputies from Blackwater to search the west side. You are on the Stanton Road side, so as far as I know, there are three main ones on your side.”
Kane frowned. “Okay, we’re in the area, we’ll check them out.” He ended the call.
After relaying the information to the other deputies, he followed Rowley along a narrow, winding path deeper into Stanton Forest, with Wolfe close behind. As the sound of running water reached his ears, he tugged on Rowley’s shirt to get his attention. “Hey, where is the river? I thought it was in an easterly direction from here?”
“This trail leads to one of the waterfalls. It’s not the one Lucky Briggs took to get to the rock pool. I reckon animals made this track but it’s on the hiking map. We can get to the first water hole from here then it’s an easy walk to the rock pool.”
“Lead the way.” Kane rubbed his chin. “How come this is the first time I’ve heard of a hiking map?”
“They are for sale everywhere. Aunt Betty’s Café has them on the counter on a display marked, ‘Things to do in Black Rock Falls County.’” Rowley wiped sweat from his brow and reached for a water bottle inside his backpack. “Most visitors here during the hunting season use the trails. Little Falls is one of the recommended areas. Hikers like it because it is picturesque but it’s a bit small as a swimming hole and one hell of a long walk for the locals. Big Falls is the better option, and only a short walk from the road.”
“Hold up.” Wolfe dropped his backpack on the ground. “We’ve been walking for half an hour and I need a break. I’ve noticed at least three trails leading off this one. Where do they come out?”
“They end up against the mountain range, bear caves mostly.” Rowley removed the cap from the water bottle and drank, spilling drops onto his chin, then lowered the bottle with a satisfied sigh. “I doubt anyone would use them at this time of the year. Black bears are hungry and on the move.” He waved in the direction of the trail. “It’s not much further, maybe five or ten minutes. I can hear the waterfall.”
“Okay. Keep moving.” Kane glanced at Wolfe. “Someone has used this path and recently.” He followed Rowley but indicated with his chin toward the cobwebs dangling between the trees. “I’ve not seen anything blocking our way, not a cobweb or a branch, but the covering of leaves and pine needles is so darn thick even my boots aren’t making an impression.”
“I’ve noticed a few damaged plants, and as you are both sticking to the middle of the path, it’s not you. Back there—” Wolfe gestured behind him with his thumb “—I examined a crushed fern. Problem is, with bears and deer in the area, we can’t be certain a person used the trail.”
“I don’t think so.” Rowley glanced back at them. “I haven’t seen any deer droppings or bear scat and they shit all the time.” He shrugged. “No recent claw marks on any of the trees either.”
The small trail opened out into a rock formation with a drip-fed pool. The place was deserted and the water so clean they could see the bottom. They split up and searched the surrounding forest but found nothing.
Kane stared at a wide path leading in the direction of the roar of water. “This way, I gather?”
“Yeah.” Rowley smiled. “Five minutes max.”
As the sound of water became louder, the damp earthy smell of the forest faded into the distinct smell of death. “Oh shit, can you smell that?”
“Oh yeah.” Wolfe moved to his side. “Victim number two?”
“I hope not.” Kane strode into the picturesque clearing and stopped in his tracks.
On an orange towel lay a young girl, eyes staring into nothing. He bit back a moan of dismay and held back an arm to prevent Rowley from entering the scene. “Same M.O. as before.”
“Looks that way.” Wolfe dropped his bag on the floor and opened the zipper. “Suit up then I suggest you call it in and ask the boss for orders. We are running out of time to check the other crime scene before any evidence is destroyed.”
Kane made the call.
Moments later, he joined Wolfe and Rowley. “The sheriff is on her way, with Walters and Mr. Weems.” He sighed. “Orders are to secure the area, take the shots, and complete a preliminary examination of the body then wait for her to arrive. As we have to check the other crime scene, she’ll take over here.” He pulled out a roll of crime scene tape from his pocket and handed it to Rowley. “You know the drill.”
He used his cellphone to capture the images and could hear Wolfe dictating his findings into his recorder. After collecting the girl’s clothes and shoes, he moved to Wolfe’s side. “Find anything different?”
“Not really but from the scratches all over her, I gather she tried to run away from the killer. The marks are consistent to running through the undergrowth and low tree branches.” Wolfe let out a long sigh. “We have her clothes but apart from that, it is a mirror of the first murder, right down to the flowers.”
Kane rubbed his chin. “He is escalating faster than I imagined. Time of death?”
“I’d say yesterday, not long after she was last seen. So, he killed twice in one day.” Wolfe covered the victim with a
plastic sheet. “This is a lot worse than I imagined.”
By the time he had packed the evidence into labeled bags, Jenna and Walters arrived on scene with Weems and his assistant pushing a gurney. He drew Jenna to one side. “Same killer.”
“Okay, leave the evidence bags with me. I’ll take it from here.” Jenna glanced at Wolfe. “Come back to the office after you’ve re-checked the other crime scene. The autopsy can wait until the morning.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Wolfe moved away and removed his coveralls. “I’ll have my initial report on your desk this afternoon.”
Twenty
After Alton left the forest, Kane stripped off the face mask and his crime scene gear. He glanced at Wolfe and Rowley. “Okay, move out. We still have to check out Felicity Parker’s crime scene again.”
He led the way down the path and back into the forest. A short while later, they joined the original trail and headed toward the river, keeping up a good pace.
“It would make sense the killer used this trail to the river.” Wolfe moved beside Kane. “It’s isolated as hell, a great way to get to the location and leave without being seen.”
Kane nodded in agreement. “To escape the scene for sure but we have no evidence to suggest the killer knew the victim would be in the forest. Felicity’s parents believe she was going to a friend’s house and heading in the opposite direction.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I spoke to Jenna last night about this and we agreed the murder was not a random thrill-kill. It looks as if Felicity knew her killer and went with him willingly. I’ve spoken to the boyfriend but I’m not finished with Lucky Briggs and Storm Crawley either.”
“Or someone she knew called her after she left home and she met them here.” Wolfe stood, hands on hips. “We won’t know shit until we check the phone records.”
“The kids didn’t see anyone else that morning so if the killer used this path to get away, he must know the area.” Rowley grimaced and moved along the trail.
“Makes sense.” Kane shrugged. “Assuming he was soaking wet after murdering Felicity in the water, he would likely wade in the river again to clean away any residual blood. By the time he walked back to the road, he would be dry—sweaty but dry.”
“And nobody would think a thing about seeing a sweaty hiker coming out of the forest.” Rowley slowed his pace. “Whoa, on the right under the leaves—is that a condom wrapper?”
Kane edged his large frame around Rowley and crouched down to look. “Yeah, it certainly is, and there is more than one concealed under leaves. I’ll get my gloves.” He stood, removed his backpack, and went through the pockets. “Got them, and by the look of them they haven’t been here long. Of course, they could belong to any of the kids who make out here.” He dropped the foil wrappers into an evidence bag. “I doubt these are his, from what we’ve seen so far, he is too smart to leave DNA evidence. If they are his what did he do with the used ones?”
Kane did a visual scan of the area but found nothing disturbed. “He would drop them and the wrappers into the river; it flows fast, and apart from washing away any evidence they would be carried miles away. My guess is the wrappers belong to someone else.”
He moved ahead and the sound of the river became louder with each step. He slowed his pace as he caught glimpses of sparkling water through the trees. “Okay, if we assume the killer left the clearing using this trail, we need to search for clues to trace his movements in and around the clearing.”
“The victim had blunt force trauma to the back of her skull, which would indicate he came up behind her, knocked her senseless, then dragged her onto the riverbank.” Wolfe moved into the perimeter of the clearing and turned slowly as his pale eyes scanned the area. “The main track to the river from the clearing splits into two. I suggest we split up. You start there and take a path each. I’ll follow this trail and see if I can find any evidence.”
Kane ducked down the main path from the clearing. The leaf-strewn pathway gave way to fine rocks and sand, offering no trace of footprints. He meticulously checked the bushes along the way for any hair caught on branches and underneath for evidence. He berated himself on the way for not checking the area at the initial visit, but collecting the evidence in the immediate area around the crime scene had been a priority. He heard Wolfe call his name and retraced his steps, meeting him at the edge of the clearing. “I haven’t found a thing.”
“I have.” Wolfe led the way along the narrow trail.
The path opened out to display a fallen log, and by the indent in the ground, locals had used it as a seat for some time. “What did you find?”
“Here.” Wolfe pointed to a piece of torn paper with a green brand mark. “That is from a skein of twine, the plastic type. I used the same brand to tie down the load on my trailer recently.” He collected the paper and placed it inside an evidence bag. “It seemed irrelevant until I noticed the marks on the trees on opposite sides of the trail.” Walking ahead, he indicated to the small scrapes on the bark of two trees. “I would say the rope was tied between the two trees, and at neck height if we’re talking about Felicity. The twine is dark green, and if someone was moving along here at a jog they wouldn’t notice it until they ran into it.”
Kane examined the evidence and crouched to examine the ground. “The gravel has been disturbed, scuffed-up in places. A struggle took place here.” He stood slowly, peering at the bushes thick along each side of the trail. “There, that is hair. Long and brown, we have to assume it belongs to the victim.”
“Right.” Wolfe snagged the hair and secured it in a bag. “We can assume Felicity jogged down this path, hit the cord, and fell into the bushes. The killer struck her over the head, rendering her dizzy, but she remained conscious—the autopsy revealed the blow wasn’t hard enough to knock her out. There are no drag marks, so he must have carried her to the riverbank.”
Concerned he might disturb evidence, Kane stepped slowly forward, checking ahead before each step. The river glistened before him. Opposite, a wall of rock kept the small, secluded beach from prying eyes. As he moved onto the small beach, he noticed a spot of blood on a stone and disturbance in the sand. “How the hell did we miss this?”
“That’s where he raped her and I bet he had her on her knees with a knife to her throat. He nicked her to pacify her and probably told her once he had finished he would let her go.” Wolfe flicked him a look of stone-cold rage then crawled around on hands and knees, checking every inch of the area.
“Over here.” Rowley’s voice came from further down the small beach.
Circling the area with care, Kane glanced back at Wolfe. “Grab some photographs. I’ll go and see what he has found.”
“Just a minute.” Wolfe indicated ahead with his chin. “Those marks look like two sets of footprints. I’d say she got away from him and ran from here along the water’s edge.” He pointed to a raw patch on a nearby tree. “After he’d killed her, it looks like he swept the area with a tree branch. He is smart and probably chucked the branch into the river, walked along the water’s edge, then went through the forest and back to the trail we used to get here.”
“So, we need to find the spot where he killed her.”
“It would help.” Wolfe gave him a grim half-smile. “But I’d bet he attacked her in the water. He has done this before and knew he needed to minimize blood spill, which means he was concerned someone would see him covered in blood. I bet he lives in town and is known locally.”
“Then he travels a lot, because we both know he has killed before and often.” Kane headed toward Rowley, keeping away from the disguised footprints. He constantly scanned the area and reached Rowley moments later. “What do you have?”
“Fabric by the look of it, and I think I can see a boot in the water but it’s a way from the bank.” Rowley’s face had paled. “It’s unusual for anything to remain that far out in the water for long; the flow is very fast in the middle, and deep. When the kids swim here, they keep to the inlet further down.”
>
“Where the footprints led from?”
“Yeah, that’s a shallow area but as you can see it all joins together. It would be easy to drag a body from the river’s edge into the inlet and carry it to the flat rock.” Rowley swallowed and his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. “Looking at the scrap of cloth, if it is part of Felicity’s clothing, the killer must have cut off her clothes—this doesn’t look torn.”
Unease grabbed Kane’s gut as he bent to check out the blue cloth with a sequin attached. It did not take a forensic scientist to tell him someone had used a hunting knife to hack through the material. The sequin could have formed a part of a butterfly and the color was a match. “Photograph it and bag it.” He straightened and tossed Rowley a pair of gloves. “Where is the boot?”
“See the black rock sticking out of the water. Look to the left at the bottom.” Rowley pointed to the river. “Do you want me to go collect it?”
“Nah. I’ll do it.” Kane headed to a large boulder upstream, checked around for evidence, and finding nothing of interest stripped to his underpants. He waded in then dived under the fast-flowing river and did a visual scan along the swirling riverbed. His ability to remain underwater for considerable time came in handy and he reached the black rock with only resurfacing once.
Blinding pain from the cold water zipped across his head but, determined, he pushed on. He found the boot, pink with sparkles, and his stomach gave a twist of anguish. He climbed onto the rock and tossed the boot like a quarterback to Rowley, who caught it with ease. After doing a reconnaissance of the riverbed for some distance in the direction of the rushing water he discovered a second boot, but all other traces of Felicity Parker had vanished.
Twenty-One
After relaying the terrible news to the relatives of Joanne Blunt, Jenna returned to the office feeling emotionally drained. She needed a break; every crime scene brought flashbacks, and the thought of losing control with a serial killer on the loose was distressing her to the max. Without time to visit a shrink, she needed to confide in someone and talk through her worries. Kane came to mind. Dependable, he would have seen post-traumatic stress disorder cases in the marines. She would take his advice without hesitation.
