Margin of Error (Fog Lake Suspense Book 2)

by Christy Barritt

  Everyone nodded in affirmation.

  They started toward the trailhead in the distance. The path was marked with a brown sign that told the hike’s distance, the elevation, and the level of difficulty. However, the path to Dead Man’s Bluff only started where it branched off from this official trail and onto an unofficial one.

  Her throat went dry as she stared at the small opening through the forest. Ordinarily, it would be breathtaking with the little stream that trickled beside it. Almost from the start, this trail sloped upward, an incline that required much more physical aptness than she’d anticipated.

  Brynlee’s legs ached as she looked at it, reminding her of what would be required to do this. It was a near miracle she’d gotten as far as she had the first time. That she’d managed to escape down this trail without falling and breaking her neck.

  Boone walked a steady pace behind her. His hands gripped the straps of his backpack, and he looked like he’d done this a million times before. In fact, he looked like he belonged out here—in a good, comfortable way.

  Then again, he also acted like he owned the world.

  He was handsome enough to have that complex. His messy honey-blond hair, his scruffy I-don’t-care beard, his startling green eyes. Even in this stressful situation, something about him screamed fun-loving and easy-going.

  “Thanks for everything you’ve done.” She glanced back at him then tugged at the bill of her trendy trucker-style baseball cap and stared at the steep trail that stretched up into the mountains. “What’s the Skookum?”

  He shrugged. “It’s an old Native American legend. Nothing that I would give much credence too.”

  “Does this old legend involve someone who looks half-man, half-beast?” She watched Boone’s face, watched as his lips pulled down at the sides in a slight frown.

  “It’s just a legend.”

  “But I saw it, Boone,” she whispered.

  Brynlee hadn’t imagined what she’d seen, and she didn’t care what anyone thought. A creature straight out of her nightmares had invaded reality. Had destroyed two lives. And he’d done so without a moment of hesitation.

  “We’ll get it figured out,” he said. “Let’s just concentrate on finding the crime scene right now, okay?”

  “What if he comes out while we’re hiking?” Her lungs tightened at her words, at the thought of seeing the monster again. She couldn’t stand the thought of it.

  Maybe going up the mountain again wasn’t a good idea. Maybe it was a terrible idea.

  Brynlee stopped there on the trail, trying to collect herself before a panic attack hit her. But her lungs felt like they were seizing up, and, as hard as she tried, she couldn’t seem to force air into them.

  Boone stopped beside her and placed a hand on her arm. His touch jolted her back to reality, jolted her body back into function.

  He leaned toward her, his voice surprisingly gentle as he said, “You don’t have to do this.”

  She pulled in a deep breath, grateful her lungs worked properly again. “Yes, I do.”

  “Why? Why do you have to do this?” He tugged at the knit cap he wore, pulling it over his ears. A few stray waves escaped from the edges, making him look like the poster child for the all-American boy next door—only all grown up.

  Brynlee couldn’t tell him the real reason. She would become an outcast here in Fog Lake if she did. Her dad had told her all about what happened last time he’d come into town. Brynlee would learn from his mistakes.

  “To prove to myself that I can do it,” she finally said, trying to keep the fear from her voice.

  “Have it your way then.”

  She continued hiking up the trail. This was the easy part. Apparently, after the two miles, the trail split. One path was treacherous and required climbing equipment. The other path was longer but not quite as steep and difficult.

  That was the path she’d been planning to take. She hadn’t made it that far, however.

  She should have never tried to do this alone, but not for the reasons she’d originally thought.

  A rustling in the woods stopped them in their steps.

  Brynlee froze as something burst from the foliage. She prepared herself for a face-to-face encounter with the Skookum, wondering if anyone would mourn her if she died.

  Boone heard the rustling leaves. Felt the change in the air. Remembered Brynlee’s story.

  He pushed Brynlee behind him and braced himself for a fight.

  A creature rushed from the brush.

  A deer.

  The doe darted across the path before disappearing into the woods again.

  Everyone’s shoulders seemed to relax collectively. They were all on edge right now.

  “Let’s keep going,” Luke said. “No need to get jumpy about Bambi.”

  Boone glanced back at Brynlee and saw that her trembles had returned. He had no idea why the woman had insisted on coming.

  Nor did he think she was telling the truth. No, she was hiding something about her reasons for being here.

  And that made him leery of the woman.

  Just what else was she up to, besides spreading her father’s ashes? Why else would her gaze be shifty?

  Boone had met a lot of people who hiked up here. He’d met a lot of people who attempted these hikes. The people who made him the most nervous were the ones like Brynlee, who optimistically thought they could conquer this trail with little preparation and that they could do so alone. Father’s ashes or not, this had been a bad idea.

  Boone kept his eyes on the woods as they continued the hike. For a moment, he imagined Brynlee running down the trail, trying to escape from some kind of madman. She must have been terrified.

  He knew about that. Knew about life-threatening situations up here. Knew about being desperate to help yet feeling isolated.

  Memories pummeled him, but he quickly pushed them away. He couldn’t go there mentally. Not now.

  “It should be right up here.” Brynlee pointed to an area ahead.

  Boone glanced at his watch. They’d been walking for about an hour. This should be about right.

  “I stopped by some rocks to rest,” Brynlee continued. “I set my backpack down there.”

  He scanned the area ahead. The group in front of them made it difficult to see anything. But Boone knew this landscape well. Knew the boulders and the crags and the cliffs. Even after five years, everything still seemed so fresh.

  As the rest of the group paused and pointed at an area down below, he heard Brynlee’s quick intake of air beside him.

  He jerked his head toward her and saw her staring at the ground, a frown on her face.

  Her gaze finally met his. “This is where I stopped for a break. But my backpack . . . it’s gone. Do you think the killer took it?”

  Boone swallowed hard. The killer? He had no idea.

  But the situation Brynlee had found herself in seemed to be growing more dire with every new revelation.

  5

  Boone remained near the boulders with Brynlee while the rest of the team made their way to the clearing below. He’d only glanced down at the area, but he’d seen enough.

  Two dead bodies and a bloody crime scene slashed into the otherwise peaceful landscape. The scene was straight out of a horror movie.

  He didn’t envy his brother’s job right now. Investigating this scene, tracking down the loved ones of these men to inform them of what had happened, trying to get the bodies out of this area . . . it was going to be a long, hard day.

  Heaviness settled on him at the thought. When he let himself, he still struggled with how brutal life could be. He struggled with why some people seemed to skate through life relatively unscathed while others had more than their fair share of heartache.

  This scene reminded him of all those questions.

  Around him, nature seemed to still, sensing something bad had happened. The birds no longer chirped. Even the wind had stopped rustling the tree branches. The crew below spoke in somber tones a
s they observed the scene and documented each little detail of the area.

  Boone turned his gaze from the scene and looked at Brynlee. She stared down below also, tears in her eyes.

  This was a lot for anyone to handle, even seasoned law enforcement officers. He was nearly certain this city girl was entirely out of her comfort zone. She had been a trooper when she’d hiked back up here, however. He had to give her credit for that.

  He moved, purposefully standing in front of her and blocking her view of what was going on in the distance. He needed to distract her from the horror below. People didn’t forget things like this . . . no, these images stayed with people. Changed them—in the very least, in subtle ways.

  “You hike a lot?” he asked.

  Brynlee frowned and glanced to the side, as if reprimanding herself. “No, not really.”

  “You planning on being in town long?”

  She shrugged. “Just a week.”

  Boone couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened to these men. Whatever it had been, it was violent. Wild animal? A man?

  It didn’t matter. It was horrific.

  And whoever/whatever had done this was still out there.

  As soon as the thought entered Boone’s mind, the hairs on his neck stood.

  He froze and turned.

  His gaze scanned the forest around them, looking for any signs of danger.

  Trees stared back. Deep shadows. Craggy rock formations.

  “What is it?” Brynlee stepped closer, fear seizing her features.

  He tried to shrug it off. “Nothing.”

  There was no need to alarm Brynlee for no reason. She was already traumatized.

  “You feel something too, don’t you?” Her wide eyes implored him.

  Boone’s breath caught. He wanted to deny it, but he didn’t want to lie. Brynlee deserved better than that. Instead, he remained silent.

  His gaze scanned the area again. That feeling remained—the unseen eyes watching them. He couldn’t pinpoint where the feeling originated. There were too many shadows. Too many places to hide out here.

  Boone didn’t know what was going on here, but whatever it was, he didn’t like it.

  An hour later, Sheriff Wilder asked Boone to take Brynlee back down the trail. He and the recovery crew would be here for a while, and she was no longer needed. The sheriff had asked her to stick around town so he could get an official statement later.

  That wouldn’t be a problem since she no longer had her car keys.

  Boone wasn’t very talkative on the way down, but Brynlee saw his gaze constantly scanning everything around them.

  He’d seen and felt something also. She didn’t care if he admitted it or not. It was the truth.

  Whatever had killed those men was still out there. It could be stalking them right now, just waiting for the right minute to pounce.

  Her skin crawled at the thought of it. Instinctively, she stepped closer to Boone. Wanted to grasp his arm, to hold on like a lifeline.

  But it was better if she kept her distance and maintained her independence.

  They finally reached the start of the trail. She looked over at the black SUV that she’d parked on the side of the road there. How she wished she had her keys right now. Her phone.

  But someone had taken them.

  Most likely, that Skookum.

  Boone followed her gaze. “I guess you can’t drive yourself back to wherever you’re staying.”

  Brynlee shook her head, realizing that her quest for independence was more like a joke in times like these. “No, I can’t.”

  “I’ll give you a ride.”

  “Thank you.” Her voice came out as more of a croak.

  Their feet crunched the gravel at the side of the road as they headed toward his truck.

  But Brynlee froze as she passed her SUV. She couldn’t even find the words. She only gasped and pointed.

  Boone looked back and followed her gaze. “What the . . . ?”

  He stepped closer and bent toward the vehicle.

  But Brynlee didn’t need any explanation. She knew what had happened.

  The Skookum had found her SUV. And now, a single set of claw marks had been scratched down the length of it on the driver’s side.

  A clear message had been sent: the beast behind those killings knew who she was.

  6

  Boone glanced up as the door to the café opened and Brynlee Parker stepped inside.

  It had been three hours since he dropped her off at a vacation rental, which was within walking distance of town. A keypad had allowed her to get inside.

  As Luke had directed, Boone had documented the scratches on Brynlee’s SUV. Since Luke had been busy at the murder site, he said he’d check the vehicle out later.

  Boone knew his brother would be at the crime scene well into the night. The victims would need to be carried down the mountainside in body bags, and an autopsy would be done on them. The scene had to be documented, and someone would be sent to track whatever was behind this.

  Answers were still a long way from being found.

  In the meantime, Boone had come to his favorite restaurant, The Hometown Diner, to grab dinner and try to unwind. Some of his old high school buddies had clustered at a table near the back to talk about basketball and the upcoming whitewater rafting season.

  His heart sank when he saw Brynlee step inside, and he lowered the tortilla chip in his hands. It seemed as if there was no avoiding the woman since she’d blown into town.

  She scanned the restaurant and blanched when she saw him. She nodded briefly then took a seat by herself on the other side of the dining area.

  Boone tried to ignore the fact that she was here and mind his own business as he chatted with his buddies. But his conscience wouldn’t let him. Brynlee had just been through something traumatic, and now she sat alone looking like a lost little girl in a strange new world. No one should have to carry that kind of burden alone.

  Drawing in a deep breath, he picked up his basket of nachos and his drink before looking at his friends. “Excuse me a minute, guys.”

  A couple of them wagged their eyebrows but said nothing.

  Boone sauntered across the restaurant and slid in across from Brynlee. He would do his civic duty and try to look after a stranger in a strange place. Plus, there was something about the woman that called out to his protective side.

  “Do you mind?” Boone asked as Brynlee looked across the table at him.

  “I guess it’s a little late if I do.” The words weren’t edged with bitterness but a sense of teasing. She looked like she attempted to smile but didn’t quite succeed.

  “I can leave.” He wouldn’t impose if she wanted time alone.

  She shrugged. “No, stay. I’m sorry. I’m in a mood.”

  It had been a long time since Boone had eaten alone with a woman. The town’s rumor mill would start soon, the launching point being his friends across the room who stared at them now with sparkling eyes. As “Private Eyes” played on the jukebox, he wished the song didn’t ring so true. It did feel like all eyes were on them.

  He observed Brynlee from across the table. She’d obviously cleaned up. Her blonde hair now looked clean and glossy as it swished around her shoulders. Her makeup made her face look fresh and bright. Her pink sweater and snug jeans showed off her trim figure.

  She looked . . . nice. The realization was an observation and nothing more.

  Boone shoved his nachos across the booth toward her. “Would you like some?”

  “Thanks, but I’m a vegetarian.”

  “Good luck finding many things you can eat here in town. Not too many fancy restaurants here.”

  “I’m used to it. I’ll survive.”

  Her words hung in the air.

  Survive.

  That’s exactly what she had done today in the middle of a harrowing situation. Boone had to admire her for that.

  The waitress came, and Brynlee ordered a salad along with a cup of blac
k coffee. Something about her seemed cultured yet surprisingly gentle.

  Boone couldn’t figure this woman out. Was she a rich brat? A well-dressed woman on a quest to find herself? He didn’t know.

  As she put away her menu, Boone took another sip of his soda. “I have to admit, I thought you’d probably get out of town as soon as you could. My brother’s not making you stay, is he?”

  “The sheriff?” She shook her head. “No. I mean, I do have to head into the station tomorrow morning so I can give my official statement.”

  “And then you’ll leave?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “I see.”

  Brynlee shrugged. “What can I say? I’ve always been accused of being determined and stubborn. I suppose this trip will prove no different.”

  “Courage isn’t the absence of fear but the ability to face it. Isn’t that what they say?”

  She almost smiled again. “Yes, I think it’s something like that.”

  Boone shifted, more curious about this woman than ever. “What are you doing here, if you don’t mind me asking? Is it just to spread your dad’s ashes? Why Dead Man’s Bluff, of all places?”

  “Yes, it’s to spread my dad’s ashes. He was very specific before he died. His ashes were to be split four ways, and each of the siblings were to get one-fourth. He wanted part of his remains to be spread at sea, another part kept in the house, the third to be interred at the cemetery, then mine . . . to be carried away by the wind on top of Dead Man’s Bluff.”

  “Sounds like he had a lot of opinions.”

  Brynlee smiled. “He did. But he also told me before he died that he wanted me to see this mountain. Dad loved it here and spent quite a bit of time in the area when he was younger.”

  Boone picked up a chip loaded with steak and gooey cheese. “What exactly happened to your dad, if you don’t mind me asking?”

  “He died of congenital heart failure four months ago.” Her voice caught.

  “I’m sorry to hear that.” All the glibness disappeared from Boone’s voice.