Blood Trail

by C. M. Sutter

  We followed her to a large office connected to the autopsy room and morgue. Dr. Simpson stood when we entered and extended his hand to each of us while Renz made the introductions.

  “We saw the Carvers walking out,” I said.

  The doctor let out a long sigh. “It’s always an emotional task for family to identify a body, then having to explain my findings is even harder.” He pointed at the two guest chairs that faced his desk. Two more sat along the wall. “Please, have a seat, Agents, and we’ll go over the autopsy report before I show you the body.”

  He rounded the desk, and his chair squeaked under his weight when he sat. Dr. Simpson had five sheets of paper in front of himself. He looked up at us, nodded, and began. “Jacquie Carver was a fifteen-year-old Caucasian girl, five foot two, and one hundred and five pounds. She appeared to be in good physical condition and, according to her parents, was very healthy and participated in sports at school. Her body had no visible scars or tattoos. From my findings, I’d say she’s been deceased since Monday.” He waited for comments before continuing.

  “So, she went missing a week ago today, died sometime on Monday, and was discovered on Tuesday.” I rubbed my chin. “I wonder what the guys were doing between last Thursday and Monday.”

  “Picking up more girls, I’d assume,” Tommy said. He looked at Dr. Simpson. “I guess we shouldn’t get ahead of you. Sorry, bad habit. We often think out loud.”

  “Not a problem, and yes, I have her death listed as a homicide, and here’s why. Her parents insisted Jacquie was abducted. She was a good kid, they said, and wouldn’t run away. I haven’t been to the site myself, but I’ve heard the rocks and gravel there are lose and easy to slip on, especially if you’re near an edge—”

  Fay spoke up. “I hear a but coming.”

  “You’re right, Agent Geddes, there is a but coming. Jacquie had residue of duct tape across her mouth, and her wrists and ankles had cuts and scuffs that appeared to be from zip ties. She had vomit in her throat and lungs. Her tox screen showed an alarming amount of alcohol and antihistamines in her system. I’d say that toxic amount made her throw up, but because her mouth was taped closed, she literally suffocated. Homicidal asphyxiation, I’d call it.”

  The images of a death that horrible swirled in my mind. Jacquie died in their custody because she was drugged, likely to keep her quiet, then the guys tossed her into that ravine to dispose of her like trash with the hopes that she would never be found. I wondered how many other girls could meet that same fate during the transport to the buyer.

  I was beside myself with anger. “We’ve got to stop them now. Gary and Leon have gotten far too dangerous, and we still don’t know what happened to Hope. Girls are being sold to who knows who, and when they put up a fight, they’re drugged. If they die, they’re tossed over a mountainside like garbage. Jacquie may not be the only one—more dead girls could be out there that’ll never be found.”

  Dr. Simpson stood. “I’ll show you the body before I put her in cold storage.”

  We followed the doctor into the autopsy room, and I shivered at the drastic change of temperature. As we surrounded Jacquie lying on that stainless steel table, covered from her chest to her thighs with a white sheet, Dr. Simpson went over her injuries with us.

  I don’t think any of us were prepared for what we saw. I’d never wondered what a body looked like after being thrown over a cliff, but now I knew the extent of the injuries. From her head to her toes, Jacquie’s skin was scraped and torn open with wide gashes. Broken bones had punctured through her muscle and skin and were exposed. Animals had also taken their turn. The sight was horrific, and I was sure all of us were doing our best to keep the tears at bay.

  The medical examiner pointed out that many of the open wounds had pieces of bark and shards of rock imbedded in them. “From the evidence I’ve removed from her body, it’s apparent that she hit plenty of rocks and trees as she fell. Her internal organs were deeply injured too. Even if she had been alive when she went over the edge, the fall definitely would have killed her.”

  Renz shook his head. “Well, if there’s any saving grace, it’s the fact that she was already dead when they did it.”

  We thanked Dr. Simpson, took our copies of the autopsy report, and left. I was happy to get outside. I needed fresh air, and I imagined my colleagues did too. We climbed back into the SUV and headed out. The Evergreen area where Jacquie was found was the next stop on our list.

  “I need to call Taft and update her,” Renz said. “Maybe by now they’ve found out where the truck was rented from.”

  I huffed. “And if we’re really lucky, the second truck was rented from the same company.”

  Tommy blew out a loud breath. “Don’t count on it. If we were that lucky, those two punks would already be back in prison.”

  Renz updated Taft, telling her just how dangerous Gary and Leon were and what the autopsy report revealed. After a ten-minute conversation, Renz hung up. “Taft said they found out where the truck was rented from, but only one vehicle was on the lease contract. Maureen was also told that none of their vehicles had tracking devices. Something about violating the customers’ privacy.”

  My phone alerted us to make a right-hand turn a quarter mile ahead. We were getting close. Tommy turned onto Evergreen Road, continued for a mile, then made a left on Rushing Brook Canyon Road. According to my phone, we were to go another quarter mile, and we would be at the spot.

  “This has to be it,” Tommy said when we saw the disturbance in the dirt and gravel.

  It looked like a number of vehicles had been there, and evidence of shredded yellow police tape was caught in tree limbs. Tommy slowed to a stop, and we got out. We cautiously walked to the side of the road but stayed several feet back. The edges sloped downward just enough that the loose gravel could cause a person to slip and fall to their death.

  Renz pointed to a large, flat rock that jutted out from the edge of the road. He walked over, stood on it, and looked back to where we were gathered. He cupped his hands around his mouth and called out to us, “I can see where she went over just below you. Pieces of torn material are snagged in the brush. Lots of sharp pine limbs and rock edges too.”

  “How far down does it go?”

  “To the bottom of the ravine, I’d say it’s two hundred feet.”

  I couldn’t imagine how those hunters had ever found her, but I thanked God that they did. “Is there any way to get to the bottom from here?”

  Renz looked around. “I don’t see any. One would probably have to hike in from a lower elevation. That’s likely what those hunters did.”

  I shielded my eyes and scanned the area. “Why here? It’s off the beaten path, a very narrow road, and not on the way to anywhere as far as the map showed.”

  “That’s exactly why,” Fay said. “You can’t dump a body in a public place. Out here, the coyotes, bears, wolves, foxes, mountain lions, hawks, and all sorts of wildlife could make short work of a carcass. I doubt they’re particular. Food is food.”

  I cringed at Fay’s analysis, but she was right. I was sure that reason and the fact that nobody would be around to witness the deed was why Gary and Leon chose that spot.

  “Have you guys seen enough? There’s no way to get any closer to where Jacquie was found from here.”

  Renz rubbed his forehead and looked at Tommy. “Are we done?”

  “Yeah, let’s go meet with those hunters. Where are they from?”

  “An old mining town called Central City about a half hour west of here. We’re meeting them at the Gold Nugget Café. I guess it’s the best diner in town,” Tommy said.

  I tipped my chin toward the SUV. “Then we better get going. I’m sure the guys have a lot to tell us.”

  Chapter 26

  “How are we going to recognize the hunters?” Fay asked.

  Renz chuckled as he looked over his shoulder. “Have you lived in the city your entire life?”

  “Well, yeah, why?”

>   “I guess I assumed most people could spot a hunter—fit, rugged, jeans and a sweatshirt, or maybe a denim jacket over a flannel shirt, sturdy shoes, possibly a ballcap.”

  Fay waved Renz off. “You’re full of it.”

  He shrugged. “We’ll see.”

  I grinned as I envisioned Jack, my partner when I worked at the sheriff’s office in North Bend. He was still a hot, rugged, fit guy, and one of my dearest friends.

  We arrived at the Gold Nugget Café right on time. Tommy found an open parking spot on the street and killed the engine. We got out. I grabbed my notepad, and we headed for the door.

  Renz walked in first then looked back over his shoulder at Fay. He whispered, “I told you so,” to her as we followed him inside.

  Sitting at the far end of the café in an oversized booth were two men who looked to be in their late thirties. One raised his hand to get our attention, and both were dressed exactly as Renz said they would be. I laughed under my breath.

  We crossed the restaurant, and Tommy made the introductions when we reached them. They said their names were Ted Case and Pete Jackson, but we already knew that from reading the police report. Ted offered us seats, and seconds later, the waitress brought a carafe of coffee to the table.

  I looked around. “Is this place always this busy?”

  “Yep, it’s the best diner in Central City. We’re lifelong residents and know the good places to eat. I come here every morning for coffee and a doughnut and every evening for coffee and pie,” Pete said.

  I grinned. “And your wife doesn’t join you?”

  “Nope—happily unmarried. I work from home and hunt when I’m not working.”

  Renz piped in. “Sounds like a nice life.”

  “It is, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.” His expression changed. “But I could do without ever again coming across what we saw on Tuesday.”

  “I bet. Sights like that are hard to erase from your mind.” I glanced to our left and right and was glad the crowd was thinning out. We would have a better opportunity to speak freely with the men. After our cups were full and the waitress walked away, we began by asking when they’d arrived at the scene on Tuesday, how they’d ended up at that location, and how they’d gotten there.

  Ted took the lead by saying they’d been bow hunting for deer late Tuesday afternoon. They’d hunted that area many times and knew it well. He’d driven his truck along a well-worn trail on the valley floor, then they’d gone in on foot, like they always did. They knew the areas where deer frequented and oftentimes saw them grazing out in a nearby meadow. Ted had taken a shot from one of their tree stands after a buck had passed through. He’d hit it, and they’d been tracking it deep in the brush when they’d stumbled upon Jacquie’s body.

  Pete shook his head. “I have to admit, I nearly lost my lunch. I’ve never seen a dead person before except in a coffin, and I’ve never seen anyone in that condition.” He glanced at Ted. “I’m sure we were both in shock. There was no cell service in that ravine, so Ted ran back to the truck, drove out to higher elevation, and made the 911 call.”

  “Do you remember what time it was when you found her, and did you touch the body at all?”

  “God no,” Pete said. “I had a hard enough time being twenty feet from her. Every time I close my eyes, I see that poor girl.”

  I understood exactly what he meant, and horrible images seemed to have a way of lingering in people’s minds forever.

  “And the time was?” Tommy asked.

  “Sorry. I just saw her again in my mind.” Pete shook his head, as if to clear Jacquie’s image from his thoughts. “What was it, Ted, around four o’clock?”

  Ted nodded. “I think so. Deer start to settle in when the shadows take over the valley. We saw four does grazing, and that’s when the buck wandered close enough for me to take aim. We tracked the blood trail for a half hour before we spotted him in the brush. We were closing in to finish him off when we saw the girl wedged between trees and rock outcroppings. I really couldn’t believe my eyes.”

  “And how long did it take before you were able to call 911?” Renz asked.

  Ted scratched his cheek. “I ran like hell back to the truck, shot up to the main road, and made the call—so fifteen minutes max.”

  “And the first responders showed up when?” I asked.

  “A few minutes after five. Several vehicles came in where we were parked, and a few others went up to Rushing Brook Canyon Road. I imagine they wanted to see how she managed to fall.”

  I kept quiet as I glanced at my colleagues. “How was she taken out?”

  “It wasn’t easy. They couldn’t get a backboard through the brush, so they had to take in a body bag, put her in it, and carry it out through the tangle of trees and boulders.”

  “So the emergency vehicles parked by you took her out?”

  “That’s right, then we were interviewed for about a half hour. There was still enough light to get our deer out before we were let go, so I’d say we took off around six thirty. What a hell of a day.”

  “I bet it was,” Renz said. “Has anyone talked to you about it since?”

  Pete shook his head. “Nope. Since we don’t live around Evergreen, we weren’t bombarded with questions from the locals. I did see a segment on yesterday’s news. The authorities are thinking foul play may be involved?”

  “It’s too early to speculate,” Tommy said. “Did you guys come across anyone else out there while you were hunting?”

  “Nope, dead quiet,” Ted said. “Sorry, that was a stupid thing to say.”

  I raised my hand. “Words slip out. Don’t worry about it.”

  “I do have a question though,” Pete said.

  Renz tipped his chin. “Sure, go ahead.”

  With a frown he looked from one of us to the next. “Why is the FBI handling this?”

  Tommy fielded that question. “We don’t have all the facts, and it’s an ongoing investigation, so we can’t say much, but Jacquie could have been a victim of a kidnapping ring.”

  “Around here?”

  “We don’t know where they’re based, but we’re doing our best to find out.” Jokingly, I made the next comment. “So if you ever see a white box truck that isn’t local to the area, give me a call.” I handed each of them my card, shook their hands, thanked them for their time, and we walked out.

  “So, we have the police report, the autopsy report, and the firsthand account from Pete and Ted. Do you think it’s redundant to go talk to the first responders too?” Fay asked.

  “We’re passing Evergreen on our way back to Denver anyway. Maybe a quick visit wouldn’t hurt if they’re on duty today,” Tommy said.

  I pulled my phone from my blazer pocket and the police report from my briefcase. I made the call to the Evergreen Police Department and asked if Officers Chip Orr and Dan Kemp were working that day. I was told they both were. I thanked the officer that had answered the call and said we would be there in thirty minutes. We had questions to ask them.

  Chapter 27

  Gary was a bundle of nerves, and that made him a danger to his partners. In his opinion, Claire was becoming more of a liability than she was worth, and as long as he and Leon didn’t butt heads too often, Gary was sure they could pull off the abductions without Claire’s help. She was living on borrowed time.

  Driving US Highway 40 was far slower than the interstate, but in the mindset Gary was in, he wasn’t going to take any unnecessary chances. They would get to the area he wanted to work without the risk of seeing state troopers and county deputies or going through tollways. They would be off everyone’s radar, which was exactly where he wanted to be. As they passed through small towns, they would search every street. Nobody would be the wiser since small towns were considered safe and people trusted each other. Residents wouldn’t have their guards up—at least he was counting on that.

  Once they reach Vernal, they would stock up on supplies before continuing north. The town was a decent siz
e and would likely have a big box store where they could buy more zip ties, duct tape, booze, and over-the-counter sleep medication. The liquid cocktail, along with the plastic restraints, would subdue and silence their captives and keep them from becoming a problem.

  It was three o’clock by the time Gary pulled into the store’s parking lot. After leaving Vernal, they would head north on Highway 191 until they hit Interstate 80. Wanting to avoid those large highways, Gary planned to keep the amount of time on it short. He would drive it for twenty minutes before exiting onto Highway 30 and weaving northwest for the duration. His plan was to scout out the area between Cokeville, Wyoming, Montpelier, Idaho, and Laketown, Utah. If that proved successful, he would expand the locations farther out on the next trip. Gary ran the numbers, and even a fifteen-hundred-mile week was doable and would still net them plenty of money, especially if Claire was out of the picture, but he would give her one more chance to prove herself useful and trustworthy in order to stay in his good graces.

  “Stay in the truck, and don’t make a peep.” Leon looked back at Claire.

  “Hell no. She’s getting bound and gagged. Your problem, Leon, is your inability to see the worst in people.” Gary jerked his head at Claire. “And she is already showing us that she can’t be trusted.”

  “You can’t make me stay in here. I have to go to the bathroom!”

  Gary snickered. “Piss your pants. You’re the one who’ll have to sit in it.”

  “I have to take a shit. Do you want to smell that for the entire drive?”

  Gary balled his hand. “I swear, if you do anything in that store to piss me off, you’ll be the next girl tossed over a cliff. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, I understand.”

  They exchanged glares until Claire lowered her eyes and looked at the floor.

  “I’m warning you, Claire. Don’t make me hurt you.” Gary turned to Leon. “You get the supplies. I’m going to stand outside the bathroom doors.”

  “I don’t need a babysitter, Gary!” Claire shot him the middle finger.