by Gerri Hill
“Because you needed to let go of your guilt on your own. You needed to get past it without having a crutch to rely on. If I had told you the truth, your guilt would have been replaced by anger. But it would have been an anger you could never get past because she wasn’t here to confront.”
Andrea knew it was the truth, but it still hurt that Cameron had kept it from her.
“You’ve already let go of your guilt, haven’t you?”
Andrea nodded.
“So now you can be angry with her, but it won’t be an anger that consumes you, like the guilt did.”
“Yes. Yes, I am angry. I can’t believe she did that. I mean, I knew it wasn’t working for us. I knew I wasn’t in love with her. So I tried to do the right thing. I tried to end it. And she begged me not to leave her. Begged me, Cameron.” Andrea closed the door on the Jeep, walking away, again pacing. “Why? Why would she do that if she’s already seeing others? Why would she do that to me?”
“I don’t know. Maybe ego. Maybe she couldn’t stand the thought of getting dumped.”
“I’ve beaten myself up for this for three long years. I mean, she said she loved me. She said I was killing her. That morning, she said I was killing her by leaving. So I didn’t. And that night, I believed it to be true. I had killed her.”
“No, Andi. You didn’t kill her.”
Andrea stared at her, their eyes holding as her anger dissipated. She had finally let go of her guilt. She’d wasted enough time and energy holding on to it. She wouldn’t let anger take its place, so she let it go. She sighed, her eyes traveling over Cameron’s body, landing on her feet.
“God, Cameron, you can’t go out in the desert without shoes. What were you thinking?”
“I didn’t want you to leave.”
Again, those words touched a spot deep inside her, causing a swell of affection to rise. She went to Cameron, wrapping her arms around her and pulling her into a tight hug, feeling completely secure as Cameron’s arms slipped around her waist. They stood there for long moments holding each other in silence. Words weren’t necessary, she knew. She pulled away slightly, brushing her lips across Cameron’s.
“Come on, let’s get you inside. You don’t want to step on a scorpion.”
“Scorpions? There are scorpions?”
“Of course. They say the sting will drop you to your knees.”
“Great,” Cameron murmured, leaning on Andrea as they made their way back to the motor home.
At the steps, Andrea paused. She touched Cameron’s face, gently brushing the hair out of her eyes. “I’m sorry I read the file,” she said. “It was your laptop. I should have respected your privacy and not opened it.”
“I would have done the same thing. You had a right to know.”
After Andrea helped her up the steps and to the recliner, Lola joined her, her purr as loud as always. Cameron stroked her, feeling comforted by the tiny cat.
“Can I get you something?”
“I’d love something to drink. Something with a little substance,” she said.
Andrea raised an eyebrow.
“The cabinet above the pantry,” she said. “Scotch.”
Andrea found it and paused before pouring. “Ice or straight up?”
“On the rocks.”
Cameron watched as she poured a generous amount in a glass, then, as if debating with herself, Andrea got a second glass for herself. She went back to the loveseat, eyeing the laptop she’d tossed aside earlier.
“Maybe I’ll try this again,” Andrea said, pulling it onto her lap.
Cameron nodded, watching her. “What did Jim say about the stakeout?”
“He deferred to you. I’ve got Randy and Joey lined up. I didn’t think we’d need more than that since your programs only target one, maybe two with high probabilities.” Andrea studied her. “Will you even be up for it? I mean, your ankle—”
“It’ll be fine,” Cameron said. At least she hoped it would be. To prove her point, she got up without assistance, although she was sure Andrea saw the pained look on her face. It still hurt to put much weight on it. “I need to check the algorithm, see if it’s ready to convert. Although I can’t imagine him going out tonight, not after our little chase today.”
“He’s arrogant that way,” Andrea said. “Did you see that smile on his face right before he jumped?”
“Yeah. I think—” But the ringing of her phone interrupted her. “Ross,” she answered, her eyes still watching Andrea.
“It’s Reynolds. I got a missing persons report. Not official, it’s only been since this morning, but it’s a college student. It threw up a red flag.”
“From where?”
“Flagstaff. Last seen at a little coffee joint at the edge of campus.”
Cameron met Andrea’s eyes. “The coffee shop.”
“What are you talking about?” Reynolds asked.
“Nothing. Doesn’t matter. What else?”
“She didn’t show up for any classes today. Her roommate called campus police when she didn’t turn up for their study group.”
“Okay, what’s her name?” Cameron asked as she shuffled into her office.
“Tiffany Eisenhower. Nineteen.”
“Background check? Are we sure she’s not just hanging out with a boyfriend or something?”
“It’s too soon to label as a missing person, I know, Ross, but with all that’s going on,” he said. “But yeah, we’re doing a check.”
“Okay, Reynolds, we’ll be out on the trails tonight. Maybe we’ll get lucky and catch the bastard.”
She ended the call then checked the algorithm. It wasn’t through running and she watched the data stream across the screen, the code nothing but gibberish to her.
“What’s up?” Andrea asked from behind her.
“Missing girl,” she said. “Last seen at the coffee shop I staked out the other week.”
“So Flagstaff. You think he’ll do it tonight?”
“That’s been the pattern. Kill them, then let them lay for a couple of days.”
Andrea motioned to the computer. “How much longer?”
“Shouldn’t be long.”
“And then the conversion?”
“Forty-five minutes or so. We have time. I wouldn’t anticipate him coming out here until after midnight.”
“Right. I should let Jim and the guys know,” Andrea said. “Should I tell them we’ll meet them at the office?”
“Yeah. We’ve got to get our plan together first. What’s the moon phase? Will we have light?”
Andrea shook her head. “Don’t think so. New moon.”
“Great. I don’t suppose your department is stocked with night vision goggles, huh?”
“Sweetheart, we’re lucky to even know what night vision goggles are.” She held up her phone. “I’m going to call Jim.”
Cameron nodded, feeling a strange fluttering in her stomach at Andrea’s casual use of the endearment. Sweetheart. She closed her eyes for a second, wondering when was the last time someone had called her sweetheart. Of course, as casually as it was tossed out, surely Andrea didn’t mean anything by it. Surprisingly, she wanted it to mean something.
“Don’t go there,” she whispered. She would be leaving soon. Leaving Sedona and Andrea behind. Leaving Andrea—even though she knew she was falling in love with her, could be full-fledged in love with her if she let herself be.
No! She had a job to do. Christ, she couldn’t let her feelings get in the way of the job. So she pushed any thoughts of Andrea away, staring at the computer, willing it to finish its run.
Chapter Thirty
Cameron listened while Andrea went over the plan with the guys. The algorithm had turned up an eighty-eight percent probability that he would hit Devil’s Lookout. Next highest was Cathedral Rock Trail with fifty-two percent, although Andrea didn’t think that was likely. She said Cathedral Rock was only about a mile and a half long, hiking straight up the rock. The trail was a photographer’s paradi
se, the only spot where there was a three hundred and sixty degree view of the Verde Valley and Sedona. Andrea thought they’d be wasting their time staking it out, but Cameron didn’t want to leave anything to chance. But something was nagging at her, and she couldn’t put her finger on it. It was almost like she’d forgotten something.
“Agent Ross?”
She turned, seeing Andrea’s expectant expression. “Sorry. What?”
“Communication?”
“Yes.”
Andrea cocked an eyebrow. “Right. Hand radio or trust our cells?”
“Oh. Sorry. What do you think?”
“Take the radios,” Jim said. “The range is good. That way, I can monitor what’s going on from here.”
Cameron nodded. “Okay. But do you have earpieces? We’ve got to be exceptionally quiet.”
Jim looked at Andrea, who shook her head. Cameron sighed, thinking it shouldn’t be this difficult to formulate a plan and put it in action.
“We’ll take the radios, but our communication has got to be minimal. Don’t radio in unless you’ve got something. Use your cell for anything else.” She looked at the guys. “And don’t forget to put it on vibrate, please.”
“So, Cathedral Rock, I mean, that’s just straight up,” Randy said. “Do we hide out at the beginning of the trail or what?”
Cameron glanced at Andrea. Cameron didn’t have a clue as to what this trail looked like.
“The only cover you’ll have is the first few hundred feet,” Andrea said. “After that, nothing but scrub brush, so you don’t want to go too far up.”
“And Devil’s Lookout?” Cameron asked.
“The trailhead is off of Bear Creek Road, so most of the climbing will be done by vehicle. We’ll have junipers and hardwoods for a good part of it, before it opens up on the rim.”
“Jim? You’re good to drop us all off?”
“Yep. I’ll drop you off, then head back here to wait. And call Phoenix if need be.”
“I know it’ll be a long night, especially if he’s a no-show, but we have to wait it out until daybreak.”
“We’re good,” Joey said. “Unless we hear a mountain lion scream. Then I’d guess Randy would be heading back down the trail in a fast run,” he said with a laugh.
“Yeah. And you right behind me, no doubt.”
“Will you forget about the damn mountain lions,” Andrea said. “They’ll take one whiff of you and run the other way.”
“I would keep an eye out for rattlesnakes though,” Jim said with a slight smile. He took his toothpick out of his mouth and pointed it at Randy. “They like Cathedral Rock.”
Cameron nearly laughed as the color faded from Randy’s face.
“Just kiddin’,” Jim said. “That hunk of rock is too damn hot for rattlers. You’ll be fine.”
“Thanks a lot,” Joey said. “I’m the one who’ll have to be with him all night.”
Cameron glanced at her watch. “Okay, it’s nearly ten. I’d like to head out and be settled in before midnight. Remember, no radio unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
All five of them were crammed into Jim’s truck, Andrea and Cameron sharing the backseat with Joey. Andrea noticed Cameron’s lightly twitching leg and the nervous tapping of her fingers against her thigh. She leaned closer.
“What’s wrong?” she whispered.
“This doesn’t feel right.”
Andrea raised her eyebrows in a silent question.
“Tower Ridge.”
“But—”
“He would assume we’d dismiss that trail now, right?”
“Yeah. But your program says Devil’s Lookout.”
“That’s because the program thinks Tower Ridge was the last dump site. It wasn’t.”
Andrea looked up at the rearview mirror, meeting Jim’s eyes, wondering how much of their conversation the others could hear. It didn’t matter. If Cameron had doubts, they needed to talk about it.
“Tell me what you’re thinking,” she said quietly.
“He would assume we wouldn’t target the same trail, since we nearly caught him on it. And that’s exactly what we’re doing. We’re assuming he’ll pick a different spot. It’s the logical thing to do. That’s what our program tells us.” Cameron tapped Andrea’s leg, as if making a point. “But what if he’s thinking the same thing? He knows we won’t come back to this trail. Why would we? We spooked him. So he does the opposite, thinking he’ll be safe. He takes the same Tower Ridge Trail, assuming we’ll be looking for him elsewhere.”
It made sense, but Andrea was hesitant to go with Cameron’s gut versus what the algorithm was telling them. The truck slowed and Andrea again met Jim’s eyes. He was pulling over to the side of the road. Apparently he had been listening to them.
“I tend to agree with Agent Ross on this one,” he said as he turned in the seat. “So make up your minds. Cathedral Rock trailhead is just up ahead.”
Randy turned too. “What are you talking about?”
Cameron looked at Andrea. “What do you think?”
Andrea took a deep breath. “Okay. Let’s go with it.”
Cameron squeezed her hand quickly, then turned to the guys. “Change of plan. You two take Devil’s Lookout. We’re going back to Tower Ridge.”
“But—”
“Just a gut feeling, Randy, but I think he’s going back there.”
“Okay. But if your gut is wrong, then me and Joey are stuck with eighty-eight percent probability he’ll hit Devil’s Lookout,” he said, his panicky voice revealing his apprehension.
“You’re a cop. You should be able to handle it.”
“Yeah, but—”
“Randy, you’ll be fine,” Andrea said, feeling the need to reassure him. “You’ve had training. Go with your instinct.”
“Don’t shoot anyone,” Jim added.
“Okay. Yeah. We’ll be fine then,” Randy said with a quick, nervous glance at Joey.
Andrea understood his fear. He hadn’t been in law enforcement all that long and all of it was spent here in sleepy little Sedona. Now they were asking him to possibly apprehend a vicious serial killer. This, after dealing with nothing more than rowdy campers or the occasional domestic violence call for most of his career.
“Yes, you’ll be fine,” she said again.
They were all silent for the rest of the short trip to Devil’s Lookout. Jim pulled in at the trailhead, then turned in the seat, casting an anxious glance at her. Andrea nodded, hoping to reassure him as well. As Cameron had said, they were cops. They should be able to handle this.
Joey was the first out and Andrea noted how his hands kept touching his weapon as if he was double—and triple—checking that he was armed. The evening was cool and he slipped on a light jacket then shoved water bottles in each pocket. Randy stood beside him, an uneasy smile on his face. He, too, took a couple of water bottles.
“Remember, quiet,” Cameron said. “If you think you spot him, call Andi’s cell. If you’re certain it’s him, use the radio. We won’t need to worry about quiet on our end then.”
“Got it.”
“This guy uses knives as his weapon of choice. That doesn’t mean he won’t be armed though,” Andrea added, handing them one of the high-powered flashlights.
“We’ll be fine,” Joey said. “See you in the morning.”
“Keep a look out for those mountain lions now, boys,” Jim said with a wink, trying to lighten the mood. He tossed Randy a small canister and Randy laughed.
“If I’m close enough to one to use mace, I’m in big trouble,” he said, but he dutifully slipped it in his pocket.
“Watch your back,” Jim said, then slowly pulled away. “You know he’s going to piss all over himself if this Patrick Doe shows up, don’t you?”
“I would imagine so,” Cameron said. “Let’s hope I’m right about Tower Ridge.”
Chapter Thirty-One
As soon as Jim left them, they wasted no time in hiking up the trail. Cameron want
ed to get into the brush cover before turning on the flashlight. As Andrea had said, there was no moonlight and the footing was awful, especially for her bum ankle.
“This is far enough,” she said.
Andrea immediately turned on the flashlight, guiding the way through the brush and into the trees.
“Shine here,” Cameron instructed as she took off her backpack. She quickly assembled the digital microphone. It was small and compact, not nearly the range as the ones she was used to using, but it would be enough for their purpose. She took a tiny earpiece and held it up. “Turn,” she said. Andrea did and Cameron fitted it into her ear, then slipped one inside her own ear. She motioned for Andrea to step away. “Testing,” she said quietly, the microphone held behind her. Andrea nodded. Cameron then took out a pair of night vision goggles, which were simply night vision binoculars and a head gear set. She held them up. “I only have the one pair.”
“You lead, I’ll follow.”
She took out her digital notebook and GPS locator, marking their position. She quickly pulled up the trail map, turning to face north so they could get their bearings.
“I want to go up the trail at least as far as we did this morning,” she said.
Andrea shook her head. “There’ll be no cover. Besides, he doesn’t kill them in the open. He hides them.”
“Okay, I’ll let you judge how far up we go.” She secured her pack again, then motioned to the light. “Kill it.”
With her night vision goggles on, Cameron was able to make out the path with little difficulty. However, the microphone was picking up their footsteps and little else. She turned it off, knowing it would do them no good until they were stopped and silent. For thirty minutes they picked their way along the trail, her ankle throbbing constantly with each step she took. She could make out the cliffs up ahead and she felt Andrea tug on her sleeve.
“Here.”
Cameron stopped, looking around and trying to find cover. Two juniper trees close together offered that and she carefully led them off the trail. Once they were settled out of sight, she again set up the microphone, holding it away from them and pointing it down the trail from where they’d just hiked. They were both silent—listening—and Cameron smiled as the soft sound of an owl echoed in her ear. Other sounds filtered through, rustling noises in the rocks, night birds. She relegated all of that to background noise and let her training take over, listening for the sound of a car door, footsteps, snapping of limbs or conversation.