“I know I asked you this before,” Bobby said, “but do you think a bear could have done this? Could he have heard the animal outside and come to shoot it?”
Maquire snorted. “And I’ll tell you again. A bear would have ripped him to shreds, not left him like this. Besides, don’t you wonder what happened to all his blood?”
“My point exactly,” Sophia put in. “Besides, what on earth would persuade any human being to drive to a closed fish camp in the middle of a raging blizzard?” She shook her head. “No, this isn’t the work of anything human.” She looked at Bobby. “No matter what you say.”
“So then, some animal besides a bear. There’s a lot of other options.”
Logan touched her elbow. “Let’s get Mr. Maquire to walk us around the place and point out any other opportunities for someone to get here. Skis, whatever, and make a chart.”
“Yes, okay, but you know it isn’t—”
“We can go over this ourselves later. With Rebecca, if you want. Meanwhile, let’s just get the lay of the land so we have a starting point.”
“You’re right.” She sighed and turned to Paul Maquire. “If you can walk us around here and answer some questions we’d appreciate it. I know you’ve done this with Detective Lacroix and his team but if I can persuade you to go through it one more time?”
“Sure. Whatever will help find Darrell’s killer.”
Sophia was glad she and Logan had heavy winter boots on as they walked the scene with Maguire. They went over everything again with him, Bobby and Rebecca prompting now and then, until they figured they’d wrung all the information from him he had to give them. They nodded politely as he pointed out where a snowmobile could have gotten through and where someone would have needed either cross-country skis or snowshoes.
“I just think if it was a machine Darrell would have heard it coming,” Maquire said. “Maybe that’s why he had the gun in his hands. But if someone wanted to kill him, why show up on something that noisy?”
“Good point,” Logan nodded.
Sophia exchanged glances with him. They’d been trying to tell Bobby the same thing.
“And if they came on skis or snowshoes that shows they’d really planned this out. And I can’t think of a damn person who wanted to kill Darrell who’d be that premeditated.”
“Well, if anything does come to you, please let us know.” Sophia pulled off a glove and dug a business card out of her pocket. “My cell number’s on here. Call me anytime.”
“Thanks for your help,” Logan told him, shaking the man’s hand.
“Wish I could tell you more.” He rubbed his gloved hand over his chin. “Maybe if I hadn’t waited so long to call him…”
“I don’t think there’s anything you could have done,” Sophia told him. “Whatever we’re dealing with here would have gotten him anyway.”
Maquire narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean, whatever we’re dealing with? It can only be one of two things—a crazy human or a wild animal. Right?”
“That’s right,” Bobby said smoothly, breaking into the conversation and stalling any answer Sophia might have given. “We’re all just glad nothing happened to you. But don’t beat yourself up. Please. None of this was your fault.”
“If you say so.” But guilt still shadowed his eyes.
He pulled on his ski mask, shook hands with everyone else and climbed back on the big Sno-Cat. They watched him disappear over the landscape, snow spraying behind him like a rooster tail.
“Well,” Bobby said, looking at Sophia and Logan, “what next?”
“Next I want to drive the area, get a sense for where this creature, any creature,” she amended as Bobby scowled at her, “could be hiding. And I’d also like to find out if anyone’s found any small animals mutilated this way in the past few days. I’ll get someone on it.” He nodded at them as he left the room.
“Can we get some snowmobiles tomorrow?” Logan asked.
Rebecca nodded. “I can sign out three of the state police machines. You want to check out the areas where there aren’t any roads, right?”
“I do. But Sophia and I can handle it. She still knows the area well enough, I’m sure.”
She gave him a smile. “Sorry, guys. Where the two of you go, I go. I have just as much invested in this, remember? Anyway, that’s a vast area out there. If you’re looking for some indication of this devil beast, three pairs of eyes are better than two.”
“I just don’t want to get you in trouble with Lacroix.”
“Don’t you worry about Bobby. I can handle him.”
“Be sure to bring your rifle,” Logan told her. “I’d loved to flush this creature out but you need to be ready to shoot on sight.”
“No problem.” She grinned. “And I’m a crack shot. Our dad took all three of us kids hunting from the time we were big enough to hold a gun steady.”
Logan smiled back. “Good. I might need you to protect me.”
“Meanwhile,” Sophia said, “how about some lunch. Then I’d like to see some topographical and aerial maps of the county. We have to try to predict where the beast will pick its next victim.” She grimaced. “Although as isolated as many people are out here, that may be hard to do.”
Chapter Five
The day was long and filled with the kind of drudgery that took up the majority of time in any investigation. Rebecca made copies of the new scene diagram Logan had drawn and they identified any even remote possibilities that gave access to a stranger.
“I still say it’s too much trouble for one kill, even for a serial killer,” Sophia insisted stubbornly. “There’s a million other opportunities. And why pick this particular man who basically had no enemies?”
“That we know of,” Bobby said.
“Whatever.”
Someone brought in pizza and they spent the afternoon pouring over maps of the county, section by section, and looking for likely spots the devil beast would strike. Even though Bobby kept trying to downplay that possibility, despite all the evidence they’d thrown at him, Sophia and Logan, with Rebecca supporting them, insisted they had to at least plan for the possibility.
“Even if it’s a rabid wild animal,” Rebecca told the lead detective, “we need to identify easy places for it to strike.”
When the rest of the detectives rolled in they shared the results of their interviews, but no one had anything constructive to add. Everyone was frustrated and the detectives couldn’t conceal their heavy skepticism when Sophia insisted they all go over the maps together.
“What makes you so sure there’ll be another killing?” Scott asked, leaning back wearily in his chair and running his fingers through his hair. “If it’s a wild animal someone will spot it and shoot it. If it’s a human, they won’t do anything with all this activity going on.”
“I’m done arguing with you,” Sophia said. “Let’s just look at it this way. If there’s no other killing within the next week I’ll admit I might be wrong. If there is, we look at all options.”
“Bobby, that’s fair enough,” one of the other detectives said. “Let’s put this to bed for the day. We got nothing and we’re getting nowhere. Maybe tomorrow something will pop up.”
“Fine.” He closed the folder in front of him. “I called WAGM, the television station in Presque Isle, and asked them to put out a wild animal warning. Something we’d routinely do, anyway,” he pointed out to Logan. “The radio station as well. And just about everyone who’s got a computer checks for daily news bulletins so I had one of the administrative aides put something out.”
“And that’s all we can do for the moment,” Sophia told him. But the uneasy feeling wouldn’t let go of her.
Eventually she, Logan and Rebecca found their way to The Crown again.
“Clint’s eyes sure zeroed in on you the minute we walked in,” Rebecca teased her sister.
Sophia ducked her head as she felt the heat creeping up her cheeks. “I’m sure you must be mistaken. He was just checking to
see who his customers were.”
“Uh-huh. Like he does that for everyone.”
“I don’t know about you, but I need a drink.” Sophia deliberately changed the subject. She had no idea if she and Clint would even get together again. For all she knew they were once and done, despite what he’d said when he left.
“Good idea,” Logan said, following her lead.
“Okay, okay, I get the message.” Rebecca’s lips twitched with a barely concealed grin. “But we’ll just see. He sure hasn’t hit on any of the women around here since he’s been back.”
“Maybe he’s gay,” Logan joked.
Bec laughed aloud. “Oh, no. There’s not one single gay thing about this man.”
“How do you know?”
“Trust me. A woman can tell these things.”
Diane, the waitress, arrived at their table at that moment with menus and a tray of drinks.
“Mr. Sociable,” she jerked her head toward the bar, “said the first round’s on him.” She stared at them with open curiosity. “Did one of you put some kind of spell on him?”
“See?” Bec winked at her sister. “I told you.” She looked at Diane. “Tell Clint we appreciate his hospitality and my sister will be over to thank him personally in a minute.”
“Sure thing. And the barbecue sandwich is the best thing on the list tonight.” She looked at each of them. “Will that be three?”
Logan handed her his menu. “I’ll go with the recommendation. Ladies?”
They nodded and Diane hip-swayed back toward the kitchen.
“You should go thank our host,” Rebecca prodded, looking at her sister. “I’d hate for him to think we don’t have any manners.”
Sophia took a sip of her drink, hoping it would still the butterfly wings beating furiously inside her. When she glanced at the bar, Clint was watching her with his hot gaze. Setting her glass back down on the table, she slid out of the booth and headed toward him. One corner of his mouth tilted in a semblance of a smile when she got closer.
“Thank you for the drink,” she told him. “That was very nice of you.”
His gaze traveled slowly the length of her body, igniting fire everywhere on her skin.
“You’re welcome, chere.” His voice was pitched low so only the two of them could hear, even with the normal bar noise. “It’ll have to do instead of what I really want to give you right now.”
“Listen, Clint.” She wet her lips. “I’m not sure—”
“Are you saying you didn’t enjoy what we did? Because remember, I was there, too.”
“No,” she answered quickly. “Of course not. I mean, yes, I enjoyed it. I just…”
“Listen.” He leaned closer over the bar. “I don’t even know what this is between us but it’s something. It’s come up fast but that doesn’t make it any less real. Let’s find out if it’s a fire that’ll burn itself out before we talk it to death, okay?”
Desire surged through her and images of the previous night slammed into her, hardening her nipples into diamond-like points and soaking her cunt. “If my brain was working I’d say no. But it seems to have temporarily disappeared.”
His gaze simmered over her again. “Then you’re welcome for the drink. How did things go today?”
“Frustrating,” she told him. “This isn’t your ordinary type of case.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “Oh? What’s different?”
Sophia shook her head. She’d already said too much. If the state police detectives were reluctant to believe what she and Logan were telling them, Clint would probably think she was crazy. Anyway, they’d all agreed not to let word of their speculation get out.
“Well, enjoy your drink and I’ll see you after closing.” He paused. “Get some rest. You’ll need it.” Then he walked away to take care of a customer waving at him from the end of the bar.
When Sophia slid into the booth again she hoped she didn’t look as dazed as she felt.
“That was short and sweet,” her sister commented.
“Beaudine looks like he’s a man of a few words,” Logan said.
“I thanked him and that was that.” Sophia picked up her drink and sipped it. She stared at Rebecca over the rim of her glass. “And that was all.”
The knowing look in Bec’s eyes made her drop her own gaze and she deliberately changed the subject. “I think we should go over everything from today. Maybe we missed something.”
“You know we didn’t,” Logan told her. “But okay. Let’s haul it out one more time. Then tomorrow I want to get some snowmobiles and hit the places where there are no roads. This is just like back home. Lots of places and spaces and not too many ways to get there.”
“And keep an eye peeled for places where the beast might be hiding,” Sophia added. “Problem is, there’s just too much damn space for it to hide in.”
“I agree.” Rebecca nodded. “I think it would be best if the three of us went and left the others to do what they’re most comfortable with. They don’t buy into the theory, anyway, and I don’t want to have to waste time arguing about things.”
“Look for a nonexistent serial killer.” Sophia couldn’t keep the edge from her voice.
Bec leaned across the table and put her hand on her sister’s. “Let them do their thing. They’ll only get in the way. As long as Bobby lets us use whatever resources we need it doesn’t matter.”
“It will when there’s a second killing,” Logan pointed out.
“And we’ll deal with that when the time comes. Meanwhile Bobby’s got warnings out to watch for wild animals and that’s as much as we can do.”
“Except the Chupacabra takes many forms. If it’s really a shifter, it can appear as a human and people will be thrown off guard.”
“You forget how suspicious Maineiacs are,” Bec reminded her. “A stranger alone, not part of a tourist group or a hunting or fishing party will call attention to himself.”
“We can only do what we can do,” Logan pointed out. “Meanwhile, here’s our food. I suggest we eat and call it a night.”
* * * * *
Sophia wished she’d brought some bath salts with her, although who knew in the wilds of Maine on an investigation she’d even need them, much less be thinking about them. She settled for a long, hot shower and washing her hair with the scented shampoo she always used. She took as long as she could pampering herself but she was still left with almost two hours before Clint could show up.
For a while she tried making notes on the case but her mind was wandering in ten different directions. Same thing when she tried to read the book she’d stuck in her suitcase. Finally she turned the television on, the volume muted, and watched the silent action on the screen as she tried to figure out exactly how this had happened. She wasn’t sexually inexperienced by any means, but she also didn’t sleep around indiscriminately. Yet she’d opened her door to Clint Beaudine last night and was in bed with him within two seconds. Not only that, she’d convinced Logan to stop at Walmart before dinner so she could run in and buy something a little sexier than her familiar University of Maine t-shirt.
She was still trying to puzzle it out in her mind when she heard the light tap at the door. The moment she opened it he was inside, pulling her against his hard body, the cold night air still surrounding him like a cloud. His mouth on hers was cold and hot at the same time, hard yet soft, but insistent and demanding. The feel of it was pure sin. Fire erupted everywhere inside her, singeing every nerve. One hand splayed across her buttocks, pulling her to him more tightly. The other threaded through her hair, holding her head in place while he plundered her mouth.
His tongue was a live wire, burning her even as she welcomed it. She finally understood what it meant to be kissed senseless. If Clint’s strong arms hadn’t been holding her she’d have collapsed to the floor, her body incapable of doing her bidding. When he finally lifted his head her brain was spinning and her body was humming.
“We have too many clothes on again.” Hi
s crooked smile destroyed any last doubts she might have had. “I purely love that sexy nightgown, chere. It promises sinful pleasures. But I have to get you naked. Right now.”
He barely took time to shuck his jacket and boots and shed his own clothes before he slid her brand-new nightgown over her head. He held her at arm’s length and let his gaze travel slowly over her. With the light from the bedside lamp spilling over her she was suddenly conscious of every flaw her body possessed.
“Let’s get under the covers,” she urged.
“Non, chere.” He shook his head. “Tonight I want to look at every inch of you. Take my time with you. Taste and feel you.”
He urged her backward until she felt the edge of the bed hit her and he pushed her down onto it, spreading her legs. She was splayed wide open for him as he contemplated her with open desire. He traced the line of her jaw, her neck, the swell of her breasts, his hands moving in an unhurried pace down the length of her, mapping every dip and swell. Every curve.
Her body was humming by the time he reached her ankles, his thumbs gently rubbing the inside of them. Whoever thought ankles could be an erogenous zone? He knelt between her outspread legs and delicately licked the tender skin, sending shivers skating over her. His mouth moved up her legs, paying careful attention to her knees and the inner flesh of her thighs. By the time he reached her pussy she was ready to launch herself at him, the need for his tongue to lap everywhere ratcheting through her like a wild thing.
But Clint seemed determined to take his time, tasting her, petting her, his lean hands holding her thighs apart to give him full access to her.
“Yesss,” she hissed, when he leaned over her and used his thumbs to spread the lips of her cunt. “God, yes.”
“I can’t wait to taste you,” he murmured, his breath a warm breeze fanning over her drenched folds.
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