“Be just a minute,” the man answered.
She faced forward, staring at the narrow wooded road that led toward town. Hanging from the rearview mirror were a pair of fuzzy pink dice and a tree-shaped air freshener that smelled like moth balls. Kendra released a laugh and shook her head at the absurdity. This was all just one endless fucking nightmare.
The driver’s side door opened and the man climbed behind the wheel. “Thought you might be thirsty.” He offered her a cold bottle of water.
She gulped it down.
He sat there watching her. “Wow, you were thirsty. I’ve got more bottles in the fridge back there. Beer too, if you’d like a cold one.”
“No, let’s just get out of here.”
He drove down the road and Kendra breathed a sigh of relief as the pines moved quickly past her side window.
“What you doing all the way out here?” the man asked.
“Long story.”
“Not every day you find a pretty girl hitching on the side of the road.”
She leaned against the passenger door. “How far to the hospital?”
“We don’t have one out here. But Doc Thorpe can see to you.” He constantly glanced at her with a strange grin. “I’m Hugo, by the way.”
His face started to go blurry.
Kendra pressed a hand to her forehead. “Can you step on it? I feel like I’m going to faint.”
“That’s ’cause I spiked your water with Ketamine,” he said matter-of-factly. “Won’t be long now before you’re off to dreamland.” Hugo’s face warped as his smile widened. His hand stroked her thigh. “Do you like to party?”
Part Four
Warnings
Chapter Twelve
In Hagen’s Cove, Kyle pulled the Jeep Cherokee into the gravel parking lot of the Beowulf Tavern. “This is the best spot to catch a signal,” he told Eric. They both whipped out their cell phones, and Kyle frowned at how technology had changed their lives. Even out here in the wilderness they couldn’t go a day without connecting electronically with the outside world.
Eric scrolled through his Blackberry. “Shit, I’ve got a dozen texts from Blake.”
He worked for their stepfather’s Seattle law firm. After Blake Nelson married their mother, he tried his damndest to mold Kyle and Eric after himself. When Kyle was twelve and Eric ten, Blake took them on a tour through the firm’s law library. High up on the dark-paneled walls hung portraits of all the attorneys who had reached partner. There were two empty slots next to a long line of Nelson men. See those two slots up there? Their stepfather had pointed. Those are for you two. Just imagine it, boys. Your portraits up there next to mine.
Both boys worked for the firm during high school, first as couriers, then clerks. Kyle had hated working for his overbearing stepfather and quit once he got his pilot’s license. Eric, always wanting to please Blake, went to law school and eventually joined the firm as an associate.
“I don’t know how you stand working for him,” Kyle said.
Eric shrugged. “It’s not so bad.”
“But you have no life.”
“I make good money, travel a lot, and when I make partner, I’ll be set.”
“Partner?” Kyle chuckled. “He’s been dangling that carrot in front of you for years. I think he enjoys controlling you.”
Eric looked offended. “At least I didn’t fucking quit on him.”
“I had no interest in becoming one of Blake’s minions.”
“No, you’d rather stay home, wallow in self-pity and pretend to write.”
Kyle glared. “That was uncalled for.”
“Well, you’ve got no business judging me.”
“I just think you’d be happier doing something else.”
“Like what?”
“Don’t you have any interests beyond law?”
Eric grinned. “Women.”
“I’m serious. If Blake hadn’t pressured you into working for his firm, what would you be doing?”
“Living in Napa. Running a winery.”
“Seriously?”
He nodded. “I’ve been thinking it’d be fun to own one after I retire.”
“Why wait? You’ve got some money.”
“You’re kidding, right? Do you have any idea the amount of capital required to open a winery?”
“Then go work for an existing one. Learn the business.”
Eric shook his head. “I’m too close to making partner.”
“Is that the real reason? Or are you just afraid you’ll disappoint Blake?”
“What, now you’re my shrink?”
“Just your brother.”
“Don’t you have a call to make?”
Chaser, who was riding in back, stuck his head between the two front seats and licked Kyle’s cheek.
“Don’t worry, boy. I haven’t forgotten you.” He dialed Carl Hanson’s cell but the call went straight to voicemail. He left a brief message about having found Chaser. “Sorry, boy. It looks like you’re stuck with us awhile longer.”
The Rottweiler paced in the backseat, whimpering.
“How about we hang here at the tavern?” Eric said. “First round’s on me.”
“First, let’s go to the police station. See if Carl filed a report about his missing daughter. The police might be able to tell us where Dad and Amy went.”
“I thought you were going to drop the goose chase.”
“I just want to ask around a little. Maybe one of the locals knows something.”
Eric opened his door. “When you’re done playing detective, join me at the bar.”
* * *
The Jeep Cherokee drove up the road toward the center of town. Eric remained in the gravel parking lot with his Blackberry out. In addition to text messages, his stepfather had left several voice messages, asking how Eric was coming along on the corporate merger he was going to represent in three weeks. Eric’s paralegals—two brunettes and a blonde—were preparing the case in his absence. The girls also had questions that needed his immediate response. He and the blonde named Kristin usually exchanged sexual innuendos, but today he wasn’t in the mood, keeping his texts short and all business.
Feeling bored, he looked around the sleepy town of Hagen’s Cove. Not a soul in sight. Wonder what little Nadine is up to? Downhill at the marina, the boat rental shack was closed. Imagining Nadine in her bikini, he started to dial her number, but then an image of Jessica flashed in his mind and he remembered his dating code: Never have sex with two women in the same zip code. Unless it’s a threesome, of course.
Unfortunately, Jessica wasn’t into that. Remembering how cold his girlfriend had acted all day, he thought he needed a new code: Never bring a date on a trip, especially around Kyle. His brother was the tragic sensitive type. For some reason, which Eric would never understand, girls ate that shit up. After reading Jessica’s diary that morning, Eric knew he had to play it cool this week and focus his attention on her. He sighed. Sorry, Nadine, we could’ve had fun. He filed her number into a hidden folder titled Future Prospects.
Between women issues and his badgering stepfather, Eric needed a hard drink. As he started for the tavern, his cell phone vibrated with Blake Nelson’s caller ID.
Speak of the devil.
Eric answered. “Yes, sir.”
“Finally!” his stepdad said. “You’ve been hell to reach.”
“Sorry, there’s hardly any signal out—”
“Climb a mountain if you have to. I need you to stay close to your phone.”
Eric rolled his eyes as his stepfather rambled on. The firm was deep in a beauty contest. The prize was a large corporate client intent on what would surely be a hostile and heavily litigated takeover. “I don’t have to tell you this case is big money. High publicity too. If we land Marston-Bauer, you and I will be working together for the next six to nine months. In fact I may need you back a few days early to jumpstart the due diligence.”
Eric’s throat constricted. He started
to tell Blake to give the case to one of the other attorneys, but they were all competing to make partner. Blake’s choosing Eric for the Marston-Bauer work was a good sign. It meant he was the front-runner for the partner slot.
Six months working eighty-plus hours a week with his workaholic stepfather; the thought was like grim death. There’d be no time to party. No traveling for weekend flings. Eric reminded himself of the perks of making partner: the seven-figure income, the company jet, and the women. God, he’d need two dicks after his name went up on the masthead.
“You’re my boy, Eric. I can count on you with Marston-Bauer, yes?”
“Absolutely. Does this mean I’ll make partner?”
“That’s up to you, son. Are you ready to stop chasing tail, settle down, and get married?”
Blake and his cronies had a rule. Attorneys weren’t promoted to partner until they were married. They believed that wives made for more stable partners, less likely to de-camp to pursue other options.
“Jessica’s nice,” Blake said. “She’d make a fine addition to the family.”
Blake had been dropping not-so-subtle hints for a few months now.
“We’re celebrating our one-year anniversary tomorrow. I’ve been thinking about marriage too.”
“Well, I wouldn’t waste time if I were you. Women like her are good for business.”
After Blake hung up, Eric remained in the parking lot, thinking about his future. If he married, the firm would promote him within the year. Eric would get the windowed office, the astronomical salary and all the other perks. All he needed was a wife. He ran through the list of women he’d slept with in the past year. Blake was right. Of all of them, Jessica was the winner—beautiful, smart, sophisticated, great bod and best of all she was low maintenance. Busy with her med school classes, she gave him a lot of space. That was definitely how they’d lasted a whole year together. She’d hinted about marriage more than once recently. And a proposal would put an end to this crap with Kyle. So what was he waiting for?
Eric got a flash of inspiration. He left the tavern and walked down the main street. With the backdrop of cliffs and rustic log buildings, Hagen’s Cove reminded him of small ski towns in Colorado, like Durango or Telluride. Several tourist shops lined the road. He entered one called Celeste’s Boutique and Jewelry Shop. He weaved between faceless mannequins dressed in women’s clothing.
A stunning redhead stood behind the counter. She wore a red dress that showed off her bare shoulders and ample cleavage. Tucking a strand of auburn hair behind one ear, she smiled as Eric approached. “Well, hello,” she said with the local accent.
“Hey there.” He flashed her his most charming smile. “It seems like everywhere I go in this town, I see a beautiful lady.”
She blushed. “Well, it’s not every day a handsome man walks into my store.”
Man, these small town women were easy. He thought about escalating the banter with some sexual innuendo, but then reined himself in. Today was about Jessica. “I’m looking for an engagement ring for my girlfriend.”
The redhead looked disappointed but recovered quickly at the prospect of a sizable commission. “I have some beautiful rings.” She led him to a glass case with a dozen rings. “Most are vintage. Sebastian picks them up at estate sales.” The shop girl treated Eric to another view of her cleavage. “See anything you like?”
Most of the rings had colored stones.
“Do you have any diamonds?” he asked. “I think Jessica mentioned something about a princess cut.”
The shop girl laughed. “In Hagen’s Cove?” She shook her head. “This is the best you’re going to find here.”
He pointed to a heart-shaped ruby in a gold setting. “Let me see that one.” Jessica was big into hearts. She had a heart-shaped necklace and earrings and even wore pajamas covered in hearts. Probably couldn’t go wrong keeping with the heart theme.
The girl removed the ring from the case and passed it to Eric.
“Would you try it on for me?” he asked.
“Sure.” She slid the ruby on her ring finger and held it out for him to see. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”
Eric took her hand in his, pretending to look at the ring. “Exquisite. I’ll take it.”
She gave him a half-smile that faded quickly. “You girlfriend’s a lucky woman.” She boxed up the ring and ran his credit card. “I carry lingerie too. You know, for the wedding night.” She gazed at him with her big green eyes. “I’d be happy to model some for you.” She tipped her head toward the back of the store. “We could see what works.”
She wants it. It would be so easy to follow her into the dressing room. It was the thought of his brother sniffing around Jessica that made up his mind. “No, thanks. Just the ring.”
* * *
Chaser remained in the Jeep, while Kyle climbed the steps of the police station. The two-story building, made of natural rock and log beams, blended in with the tall pines and aspen behind it. Out front stood a sign with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police insignia: a bison head surrounded by gold maple leaves, topped with a red and gold crown. When Kyle was ten, he’d dreamed of growing up to become a Mountie. That dream ended the day his mother moved him to Seattle to live with Blake Nelson.
Inside the foyer the elderly receptionist stood to greet him. “Well, well, look who the wind blew in.”
“Hello, Ruby.” Kyle hugged the heavy-set woman. Ruby Zano was the inspector’s sister and a fixture at the police station’s front desk since Kyle was a kid. She squeezed his forearm. “Dear boy, you look like you’ve lost weight since I last saw you. If I had known you were coming, I’d have saved you some brownies.” Ruby made the best chocolate-and-peanut-butter brownies Kyle had ever tasted. “I brought a batch this morning, but they’re long gone.”
Kyle smiled. “Maybe I can get some before I fly home. Is Sam in?”
“Just got back from lunch.” She called the inspector’s office and announced Kyle’s arrival. “He says to tell you come on up.”
Kyle hurried up the stairs to the second floor. The common area was furnished like a large den with leather couches, a rock fireplace and a bison head that hung above the mantle. The far wall was lined with offices. Kyle knocked on Sam Zano’s door.
“Come in.” Sam stood and shook his hand. “Kyle Elkheart, what brings you to my office?”
“I need to discuss a few matters with you.”
Sam stroked his white mustache and gestured for Kyle to have a seat in the chair in front of his desk.
Kyle noticed a framed photograph of Inspector Zano standing on the banks of a stream, fishing rod in hand. Mayor Thorpe was in the picture, too, along with a number of other town elders. “Do you guys still go fly-fishing?”
“Every Saturday.” Sam pulled out a pipe. “Mind if I smoke?”
Kyle shook his head. As a kid he had loved the smell of pipe tobacco. It reminded him of all the times the native elders sat in a circle and told stories.
The old inspector lit his pipe, puffing. “Ruby says it’s a bad habit, but when you get to my age, you grow fond of your bad habits.” He leaned back in his chair. “So what brings you in?”
“Yesterday I met a Calgary detective named Carl Hanson. He’s in the area, searching for his missing daughter, Amy.”
Sam nodded. “He filed a report with us.”
“Well, Carl and I talked and discovered that Amy came here with my father and a crew of archeologists about a month ago. Dad’s also missing.”
“Now that’s nothing unusual, knowing your father.”
“There were at least five people on his expedition team and, according to Carl, none of them have reported back. Any idea where they all went?”
Inspector Zano shook his head. “Sorry, no.”
“Would it be possible to check the flight logs to see if Dad’s crew came in on a plane?”
“They didn’t.”
“How can you be so sure?”
Zano looked insulted by the question.
“It’s my job to know who comes in and out of this town. Did you ask Ray? Maybe they’re out on the reservation.”
Kyle shook his head. “He hasn’t seen them either.”
The Devil's Woods Page 17
