by Kathi Daley
Landon took my hand. I wasn’t sure if he was offering comfort or ensuring that I wouldn’t flee as the conversation deepened.
“In those last moments, while you were connected to Val, did she ever once think of another person?”
I frowned. “What are you getting at?”
“If there had been another person in the cave with her, don’t you think he would have filtered through her mind?”
Okay, I guess that was a good question. Although I didn’t want to relive that painful moment, I supposed it was called for. Val had gone out on a rescue. She’d somehow become separated from the other team members. She was alone in the harshest of elements, but I knew she struggled to survive. She somehow made it to the cave where her body was found, but she already was suffering from the symptoms of hypothermia. She’d fought to survive, but in the end, she was forced to let go. I hadn’t connected to her until the very end. She would have been delirious by that point but at the moment of death there was clarity. I knew she loved me and I knew she loved Jake. She wanted us to take care of each other. She wanted me to know she was at peace. She wanted me to be okay. But Landon was right; at no point did the thought of anyone else enter her mind. If someone had been with her, the idea of this other presence probably would at least have brushed over her consciousness.
“Damn,” I said aloud.
Landon looked at me.
“I was so sure I knew what I knew and felt what I felt, but now I’m not so sure. It does seem that if there was someone with Val, his presence would have been floating around somewhere in her consciousness.”
“There’s the possibility she was simply on a level of consciousness beyond the earthly plane when you connected with her, and maybe this man actually was there, but if there’s even a sliver of doubt in your mind, I think we need to remove the variable of the killer being around thirteen years ago from our equation.”
Finding the killer was too important to even consider digging in my heels. “That would really open up the suspect pool.”
“It would. I think it makes sense that the pain this man was channeling is more likely recent pain. One of the things I’ve been struggling with all along is the idea that he suffered some unbearable loss thirteen years or more ago and is only now acting on it. Why now? Why not thirteen years ago?”
I bent down and gave Honey a rub on her head. Petting my four-legged buddies always managed to calm and center me when my life seemed out of control. “While I’m not saying the memory I was sure I shared wasn’t as I thought, I’m willing to entertain the idea that something else was going on and the killer may not have been linked to Val or her death at all. I’ll call Jake and Houston when we get back. If this guy isn’t tied to the past, we have a whole lot of people to look at.”
******
By the time Landon and I arrived at Neverland, the others had already assembled. After giving Wyatt the biggest hug his battered body could handle, I poured myself a glass of wine and settled at the large round table someone had set. The mood of the room was somber, which was to be expected. Jake said a few words about Austin, and then we all took turns sharing our memories of him. When we’d worked our way around the table, telling stories of our lighthearted friend, the mood had lightened considerably.
We’d just finished dinner and I was helping Sarge clear away the food when I received a text from Houston, asking me to call him. He knew we were having the memorial tonight, so I figured it must be important. I stepped into the kitchen and made the call.
“I followed up on the information Landon found regarding Walter Ryan and his admission to the mental health facility after his experience on the mountain,” Houston began.
“And…?”
“While he was committed, as Landon thought, he didn’t commit suicide. In fact, according to the woman I spoke to, Walter Ryan’s family moved him to a long-term care facility eleven years ago. He’s been there ever since.”
“So I guess we can take him off our suspect list.”
“Yes, but there’s more. According to the woman, a man named Jason came to see him a month or so ago. Other than a few family members, Walter doesn’t have many visitors, which made the visit memorable. I asked her what the man looked like and she described him as tall with dark hair and a full beard and mustache.”
I took a few breaths to let everything sink in. “Okay. So Walter’s visitor sounds as if he might be the man who dropped the photo of me off at the shelter. He might also be the killer. Does the woman know his last name?”
“Voorhees.”
I rolled my eyes. “Jason Voorhees? Obviously a fake. Didn’t anyone pick up on that?”
“The woman who checked him in isn’t a horror movie fan, so she’d never heard the name before. They usually ask visitors for ID, but he said his wallet had been stolen. Walter wanted to see him, and there wasn’t a reason not to let him in, so she allowed the visit. They spoke outside on the lawn. She had no idea what they talked about, but Jason left within a half hour.”
I leaned my hip against the counter. “So what now?”
“I’ve booked a flight to Seattle tomorrow. I’m going to have a chat with Walter to see if I can pick up any new leads. I’ll show him the photo we have of Zane and try to get a reaction. I have a return flight for later in the day. I’ll call you when I get back to Rescue.”
“I can’t help feeling we’ve suddenly become trapped in a cheesy horror flick.”
“The plot might seem cheesy, but the deaths of two men are real. And there’s something else.”
I closed my eyes. I didn’t want to know what that might be. From the tone of Houston’s voice, I wasn’t expecting it to be good.
“A pair of hikers found a body in the woods this afternoon. The victim had been sitting, or possibly standing, near a stick of dynamite when it exploded.”
I groaned. “Do you know who the victim was?”
“Not yet. The body is in pretty bad shape.”
“Do you know when he died?”
“Not for sure, but the medical examiner thinks he’s been dead since yesterday. Probably yesterday morning.”
I remembered the rumbling I’d heard when Landon and I were on our walk yesterday. “Did this explosion occur anywhere near my cabin?”
“Less than half a mile away.”
Damn, damn, damn. Normally, I don’t like to curse, but there were times when cursing, even the silent, in-your-head kind, seemed to be required. “Okay, so we know that in addition to the killer being linked somehow to me, and possibly to Val, he was also linked in some way to Walter Ryan. The only person I can think of is…”
“Zane who was bitten by a zombie,” Houston finished.
I let out a long sigh of frustration. “That actually does make sense. Sort of. If we can confirm the Zane who was bitten by a zombie is the same one who started the church fire, I think we can make the leap that he’s most likely the killer.”
“I had a similar thought. Zane Hudson brought fireworks to Rescue when he came to visit his buddy, Vern Cribbage. Vern told you they went up the mountain to set them off, which resulted in a fire that killed the kids and counselors. Vern was badly burned, and his friend Zane took off, never to be seen by him again. It makes sense he would have been burned too, which could have left him disfigured, which might make him look like a zombie to a traumatized Walter Ryan.”
“I suppose it’s possible Walter somehow became separated from his fraternity buddies because he was the only one who reported seeing Zane,” I added. “When he was rescued, he told the team he saw Zane, but everyone assumed he was just delirious. He might have believed he’d seen a real zombie.”
“Sounds possible,” Houston agreed. “My main question with this theory is whether it was possible for Zane to survive on the mountain all that time. The fire was in July; the frat rescue was in November. And Val died in December. Even if he came down off the mountain after Val died, could he have lived there for six months?”
“
It wouldn’t have been easy, but Vern did say he and Zane had been camping. He also mentioned hunting and fishing. That would mean he had basic supplies to stay warm, forage for food, and cook it. The elements can be brutal, but Val was found inside a cave. I suppose it’s possible Zane was living in that cave. He was young and strong and had been on his own for quite a while, so he’d probably learned how to make do with what he had. I’m not sure how he handled it if he was burned in the fire, though. It seems burns would have required treatment, but he could have had some medical supplies, and maybe he wasn’t burned as badly as Vern. If you’re asking if it’s possible Zane survived on the mountain for six months, I’d say yes.”
“Okay, so the question is, where has he been in the thirteen years since Val died, and why is he back now?”
“The real question is, how do we catch him and make him pay for what he’s done to our friends, our team, and this town.”
Chapter 13
Friday, October 19
The bar was busy last night, partially due, I suspect, to the fact that it had been closed for several days, but mostly to everyone’s curiosity about what was going on with the team as a result of the explosion and the loss of one of our own. Jake hadn’t wanted to kick anyone out, so instead of getting off at ten, I’d worked until after midnight. I’d had a text from Houston, letting me know he was back from Seattle with news. He promised to get together this morning to talk.
After my terribly long day yesterday I was exhausted, but I still had dogs to walk and chores to do, so I pulled myself out of bed. By the time I stumbled out of my bedroom, Landon had a cup of coffee and a big sugary doughnut waiting for me. “You went out for doughnuts?”
“Chloe dropped them off. She wanted to check in on you, but when I told her you were still sleeping, she said I should let you rest and she’d call you later.”
I took a huge bite of the soft, sugary treat. Somehow, the luxury made the day seem almost manageable. “I appreciate the coffee, and the doughnut, but I’m wondering if you’re planning to live with me forever. It’s been almost a week.”
“Forever, no. Until the man who killed Austin is found and captured, definitely.”
I sat down at the table, lifted my coffee cup, and took a long gulp. Oh, that was good. “This is heaven, but I need to take the dogs for their morning walk. It’s so late, I’m surprised they aren’t whining to go out.”
“I walked them already. Fed them too.”
I smiled. “Really? You did all that for me?”
“For them, actually, but yeah. Homer and the rabbits have been fed as well, so enjoy your coffee.”
“Did you lock the barn up good and tight? I found more cougar prints yesterday.”
“I closed everything up just the way you showed me.”
I felt myself begin to relax. It was nice to be able to ease into my day. I liked living alone, but every now and then I realized that having another person around to help out with chores might be nice. Of course, all the other stuff that came with having someone else underfoot twenty-four seven hardly seemed worth it.
“You left your cell on the kitchen counter,” Landon said. “I noticed you had a missed call and a text from Houston. I wasn’t sure if it was urgent and I didn’t want to wake you, so I called him back myself. He wants to stop by when you’re up and about.”
I lifted my arms over my head and yawned. “Thanks. I’ll call him and tell him to come by in an hour. Will you be able to join us?”
“I’ll be here.”
“I’ll call Jake too. If Houston has news, he’ll want to get an update. I’m going to jump in the shower after that. I can’t wait to find out what Houston found out.”
******
“First, I showed Walter the photo of Zane Hudson from the missing persons report, and he confirmed that was probably who he saw on the mountain, although that Zane’s face was badly scarred, and when he ran into him, he was pretty far out of it.”
“What do you mean by ran into him?” I asked. “Was Zane out for a stroll in the storm?”
“Walter wasn’t sure. He remembers being separated from his friends. He remembers being weak and dizzy. He thinks he must have passed out. After that, he remembers being in a dark place with only a fire for light. He remembers seeing a man who looked like a zombie. He said he’s tried to piece it all together but has been unable to do so. I noticed when he feels pressured, he starts to retreat into himself, so the conversation was tricky. There were several moments when he was talking to me one minute and almost completely catatonic the next. It was pretty freaky. He did seem to be able to pull himself back to reality eventually, but I didn’t want to push too hard. It took me hours to get just a little bit out of him.”
“So maybe Walter did pass out in the snow, and maybe Zane found him and brought him to his cave.”
“That would be my guess.”
“If Walter was in Zane’s cave when he was rescued, why didn’t the team see him too?”
“Walter wasn’t in a cave when he was rescued,” Landon said. “I have the debrief report right here. He was passed out in the snow and close to death when he was found.”
“Who rescued him?” I asked.
“Val and Devon. The rescue party broke up into pairs once it became clear the stranded boys weren’t all together. I was teamed up with Jordan and Jake was with Dani. Wyatt was with Brian Green,” Landon said, referring to someone who had since left the team.
“Okay, so maybe Zane saw the rescue party approaching and put Walter back out into the snow so the team could find him,” I speculated.
“It does sound as if Zane found Walter and tried to help him,” Jake agreed, “and I suppose I can understand his desire to remain hidden. It sounds like he might have saved Walter’s life.”
Houston nodded. “Based on Walter’s memory of the event, I would concur.”
“So how did he get from saving Walter’s life to taking a bunch of lives thirteen years later?” Landon asked.
“And what does this have to do with Val?” Jake added.
Houston tilted his head slightly. “I wish I knew. To be honest, my conversation with Walter was pretty disjointed, so I’m not even a hundred percent sure things went down the way we think. The scenario we just discussed is my best guess at this point.”
We all fell into silence as we tried to work things through in our heads. I had to admit that by this point I was more than just a bit confused. Was this man with Val when she died? Or, as Landon speculated, might my memories have gotten tangled up? I needed time to think. “Did Walter say what his visitor came to talk to him about?”
“He thought the man might have been someone who lived here at the time of the rescue. He wanted to know about you,” Houston said.
“Me?” I screeched.
“He hoped Walter knew you back then. He said he didn’t know your name, but he knew Val had a sister and hoped Walter knew her name.”
“So he did know Val,” Jake said.
“It sounds like it,” Houston answered. “Walter said he wanted to know if you still lived in Rescue and how he might find you. Walter told him he didn’t know any of the rescuers. The man thanked him and left.”
“I wonder how he even knew where to find Walter,” Jake said.
“I don’t know,” Houston said. “Walter didn’t know either.”
“Did Walter have any other information about him?” I asked.
“He didn’t seem to know anything, and, like I said, it didn’t work to push too hard,” Houston answered.
“It sounds as if we’re back to zero,” Jake commented.
Houston leaned forward slightly. “Not necessarily. I think we’re pretty close to accepting that Zane is the killer. Walter was unable or unwilling to say definitively whether the man who came to see him was the one who helped him in the storm, but from everything we’ve learned, I don’t think it would be too big a leap to make that assumption.”
“So how do we find him?” I asked.
“I’ve got feelers out all over this area. I figure if he’s been in Rescue for the past week, he must be staying somewhere. Someone must have seen him.”
“And we have no idea where he’s been for the past thirteen years?” Jake asked.
“No, not yet. I do wonder why he’s here. Thirteen years seems like a long time to remain off the radar.”
“Yeah, that part is bothering me as well,” I said. “It sounds like he helped Walter. If he was with Val, we don’t know whether he was trying to help her or not, but because he did try to help Walter, maybe he brought her to the cave to help her.”
“The cave was empty except for Val’s body when we found her,” Jake pointed out.
I shrugged. “Maybe he tried to help her, but she died anyway. Maybe he decided to head down the mountain before he was trapped up there for the winter.”
“I have no doubt anyone living on the mountain would make that decision after that huge storm,” Landon agreed.
“Say you’re right,” Jake said. “Say he found Val in the storm and tried to help her. Say she died anyway and he realized he needed to get down off the mountain before it was too late. Where did he go? Where has he been for thirteen years? And why is he back now?”
He was asking the same questions we’d all asked. But there didn’t seem to be an answer. “Anything else we know?” I asked Houston.
Houston nodded. “The body the hikers found belonged to Jeter Conrad.”
“Oh no. I know Jeter,” I said. “He lived just down the road from me. He liked to fish in the pond just beyond my property, so the dogs and I ran into him from time to time when we took extra-long walks beyond the property line.”
“We found a fishing pole near the body,” Houston added. “My theory is that Conrad came to the pond to fish and saw the killer lurking about. He might have confronted him, possibly threatened to call the police if he didn’t move on, and was killed for his efforts.”
Poor Jeter. I hated the idea that he might have died trying to protect me from a prowler. This man needed to be found, sooner rather than later. “Do you have the photo of Zane with you?” I asked Houston.
