by D. K. Hood
“Well, at least I tried. Not like you sitting all cozy in front of the fire while Sky is out there freezing to death.” Ella walked across the room and pointed to a framed map of Black Rock Falls hanging on the wall. “How old is this map?”
“I’m not sure but it’s not a map, it’s one of my dad’s aerial shots.” He turned in the chair, making the leather upholstery moan, and stared at it. He gave it to me for my last birthday, so it’s not too old at all. Why?”
Ella peered at the image, then traced her finger along the highway. She pointed to a number of buildings scattered all over one side of the image. “What are all these buildings used for? Are they cattle ranches?”
“Nope. The place you said Sky disappeared is a mile from the industrial area of Black Rock Falls. The grasslands out that way are a honeycomb of abandoned goldmines and not many people use it for grazing. The buildings there are potteries, ironworks, a recycling yard and industrial machinery mostly.” He pointed to a group of six or eight buildings. “The only place up that way with any cattle is the meat processing plant. The cattle are trucked in then held in those fenced areas before processing.” He moved his finger to a huge building. “That’s the meat processing plant and here”—he slid his finger along the map—“is the fertilizer factory.” He turned and looked at her. “Why?”
Ella nodded. “Why hasn’t anyone mentioned searching the factories for Sky? All they mention is searching the highway, but I can see all these places are only a mile or so away from the highway. What if someone works night shifts at one of these places and he is the man who took Sky?”
“That’s unlikely at this time of year. All the factories are in shutdown over the holidays and they would have alarm systems. If Sky made it that far and I doubt it, she would have frozen to death. And anyway, someone would have found her by now.” He shook his head. “The news said the search and rescue chopper searched the entire area, and the team on the snowmobiles checked out all the factories.”
Ella gripped his arm. “She has to be in the area.”
“What makes you say that?” Doug leaned one shoulder against the wall. “He could have tossed her into his trunk and driven anywhere before you reported her missing. He had about nine hours’ start at least.”
Ella shook her head and gripped his arm tighter. “Then where is her car?” She lifted her chin and glared at him, trying to make him understand. “I saw one man. How did he move her car? One man can’t move two vehicles.”
“Yeah they can.” Doug strolled to the door to the garage. “Come here, I’ll show you.” He led the way through a door into a huge garage. “See this?” He pointed to a piece of machinery. “It’s called a towing frame or an A-frame. It attaches to the back of my truck and hooks up to the front of another vehicle or trailer. No driver required. It doesn’t take up much room in the trunk. Many people use them.”
“Okay.” Ella rubbed her arms against the chill. “But I think it was an ambush. Somehow he knew we would be there.”
“Out at midnight with a blizzard coming? No way.” Doug shook his head. “We didn’t know what time Sky would arrive until she called Mom from the Blackwater Roadhouse so how could the man who attacked her possibly find out?”
Ella shook her head. “I don’t know but I have this feeling she’s out there somewhere. We have to go find her.” She led the way back into his man cave and peered into the dancing flames in the hearth. “If I’m right, that man might have a place close by. He could be out waiting for another person to kill.” She turned to look at him. “I figure if we get there at the same time as he took Sky we might catch him. We’ll outnumber him and this time, you can take that.” She pointed to a shotgun in a rack on the wall. “He won’t be expecting us to fight back.”
“You’re in Montana.” Doug shook his head. “Most people carry weapons in their vehicles out here. If he is doing as you say, chances are he’d be dead by now.”
She glared at him. “Well, he was alive and well the last time I saw him. Take the shotgun.” She frowned. “And I have arranged to meet a guy named Jim. I can’t leave him out there to freeze his ass off waiting for me to arrive or turn on the news to discover the killer murdered him too.”
“Okay, I’ll take the gun. That area is a black hole for phone reception and you would be surprised how many people break down or are involved in a wreck within that one mile stretch. It’s like it’s cursed.” He stared down at her with a determined expression. “But if you must go, bundle up and meet me back here. I’ll grab some blankets in case we get stuck out there.”
Ella winced. “Do you figure we’ll get caught in a blizzard?”
“Maybe. I said it was a stupid idea but if you insist, we’ll do it my way and turn back if the weather gets bad. We have the shotgun and my truck’s GPS has a satellite tracker. If anything happens, someone will come out and find us as soon as they know we’re missing.” He waved her away. “I’m not hanging around waiting for you all night to get ready. It’s freezing out there, and I want to grab some coffee to go from Aunt Betty’s Café before we head out of town, and they close the store at eleven thirty.”
Ella stared at him, wondering if he believed her story or the threat they faced if they came across the same man. “Sure, but bring plenty of ammunition. I’m not taking any chances.”
Twenty-One
He took one last look at Sky’s face without one shred of regret at the sight of her lifeless staring eyes. No one understood how he felt when the women eventually died. To him, once they’d screamed their last breath they had the same value as an empty candy wrapper he needed to toss away in the trash. He would be happy to leave her alongside a road but then the cops would have a body and this way was nice and tidy.
After hoisting her onto the conveyer belt, he pulled off the blanket covering her then hit the switch. He waited for a few moments as she slipped inside the chute. The machine groaned and trembled with the effort; then, as her fair hair vanished from view, he turned away and pushed the gurney back inside.
His luck was changing. From the media reports, the sheriff suspected Ella Tate was involved in Sky’s disappearance. He chuckled as he entered his office, sat down at the desk and deleted his phony social media profile to make sure no one could connect him to his victims. The sheriff would be the same as most people in law enforcement and have a profiler trying to get inside his brain, but he could easily outsmart most people. Right now, the sheriff’s focus would be on Tate, so she would be looking at her if anyone else came up missing. Hell, they were already convinced she murdered Sky. The profiler would write her up as a confused, violent college student and it would be case closed. Until they arrest her, I’m free to do as I damn well please.
Twenty-Two
Trepidation gripped Ella as she looked out the window of Doug’s truck. The forecast blizzard had not arrived and although the sky had a foreboding heaviness, the night was crisp and the roads clear. Black Rock Falls was like a movie set, with Christmas lights strung out between the lampposts flashing bright colors on the snow-laden storefronts. Out the front of Aunt Betty’s Café sat a waving snowman with a blinking red nose. Inside, a festive tree shimmered with garlands and glass balls. A sign on the window offered a list of tempting seasonal dishes to keep out the cold.
As they drove out of town, past the park with the gigantic Christmas tree and nativity scene, she looked back on her life since her parents died. She had become a military brat, dragged from post to post by her brother, but in a year or so she would be out on her own, looking for a job and a place to call home. She just needed to find Sky then she could make plans to move to Black Rock Falls. The Paul family had been caring toward her and she liked Doug. Having people she knew in town would make all the difference. She dragged her gaze away from the vast, empty white landscape and glanced at Doug. He drove hunched forward over the wheel, peering through the icy windshield. Snowflakes were already building white lines on the wiper blades. She cleared her throat. “I’d like to
live here after college. It’s been a long time since I could call a place home.”
“It’s a growing area. I’m not moving away—there’s plenty of work here.” Doug lifted his chin as if to indicate ahead. “What’s going on there? Is that the same vehicle you saw the night Sky went missing?”
The headlights of Doug’s truck picked up a light-colored pickup on the side of the road with its flashers on. A wave of morbid apprehension washed over her. She gripped the side of the seat, trying to keep calm. “Yeah it could be him. I’m pretty sure it was a white truck, or maybe silver.” She glanced at him. “I can’t stop shaking, it’s like déjà vu.”
“Yeah, but this time, you’re with me and we have a shotgun.” Doug’s face was grim. “Let’s do this.”
A person bundled up against the cold climbed from the cab, slapped a cowboy hat over the top of a black woolen hat and wrapped a scarf around his face, then strode around his truck. As they drove closer, the headlights moved across deep gouges in the snow. Ella gasped at the sight of another vehicle nose down in the ditch beside the road. Although partially buried in the pile of gray snow, she could make out the red taillights. Clouds of steam poured from the crumpled hood and one door hung open. “Oh, my God, it’s a wreck.”
“The roads are covered with ice and it wouldn’t take too much to lose control.” Doug slowed then shot her a glance. “What about him? Does he look like the man who attacked you?”
“He was wearing black and had a hood pulled down over his face, so I didn’t get a look at him. He was big like him… but the cowboy hat makes him look taller, I guess.” She shook her head. “No, I don’t think that’s him. That’s probably Jim, the guy I met online.”
“You didn’t think to ask this Jim guy what he looks like?” Doug gaped at her. “Or what vehicle he drives?”
Ella dragged her attention away from the wreck. “I know what he looks like. I’ve seen his profile picture online and he said he drives a white pickup.” She waved a hand at the parked car ahead. “I can’t see his face or the color of his vehicle from here—I guess it could be white.”
“Okay.” Doug pulled his truck to the side of the highway, leaving the engine running. “Stay here with the shotgun. I’ll go see what I can do to help.” He gave her a long concerned look. “You do know how to use one, don’t you?”
Anxiety gripped her. Her parents had died in a wreck and seeing the car all bent out of shape brought back too many bad memories. “Yeah. Now go, someone could be dying out there. I won’t lock the doors in case you have to run back.” She held out her hand. “Give me your cellphone and I’ll see if I can get any bars and call 911.”
She took the phone and peered at the screen, then pressed 911, but there was no signal. As Doug had mentioned, the mile-long black hole for phone reception seemed to attract trouble. Seemed it was fast becoming the Bermuda Triangle of Black Rock Falls.
Twenty-Three
It was past midnight and sleep would not come for Jenna. The doctor’s visit had shattered her nerves, bringing back horrific memories of another life and the threats of being on someone’s hit list. Since Kane’s arrival, he had become her safety net and she believed the threat of her past life emerging was close to impossible with most of the players dead. The problem was the men involved had families and there was always someone willing to carry out a vendetta. Now with one stupid blood test she could be back on the cartel’s hit list.
She stared at the ceiling and allowed her mind to wander over the last few months. Apart from spending a good deal of time assisting Kane’s rehabilitation, she had fulfilled her duties at the office. She’d worked long hours then returned home to relieve the nurse Wolfe had arranged for him. Kane was different since the shooting and, although he’d been as kind and considerate as always, had avoided her attempts at closeness between them, much like when he’d first arrived. Something had changed but she couldn’t quite figure out what was wrong. She sighed. Wolfe would know, but it would be easier to walk into Fort Knox and pick up a couple of gold bars than to get information on Kane out of him.
Jenna threw back the blankets, dragged on her dressing gown, pushed her feet into her slippers and walked into the kitchen. After taking out the fixings to make hot chocolate, she heard footsteps behind her. Heart pounding, she spun around to find Kane coming through the doorway. “You scared the hell out of me.”
“Sorry.” He peered over her shoulder at the counter. “Can you make a cup for me too? I can’t sleep tonight.”
Jenna took in his tousled appearance and strained expression. “Sure. I can’t sleep either. There are so many things going around in my head.” She made the hot chocolate and handed him a cup, then sat down at the table. “Where is Sky Paul and is Ella Tate involved?”
“I wish I knew.” Kane eased down into a chair and winced. “From what I can see the pair have been friends since they became roomies at college. I’ve spoken to a few of their friends from the campus and they all say the same thing, that they argue all the time but they are best friends.” He examined her face, then sighed. “That’s not all that’s worrying you, is it? You must feel like you have a bullseye on your back again and trust me, I know how that feels.”
Jenna sipped her beverage, peering at him over the rim of the cup. She shrugged. “Well, yes, there is that, but I’ve lived with that problem before and with you and Wolfe on the case, we’ll be able to stop them getting close.” She sucked in a deep breath. “I’m more worried about you.”
“Me?” Kane looked astonished. “I’m fine and getting better by the day.” He placed both hands around the cup, dwarfing it in his palms. “Oh, you mean about the memory loss?”
Relieved, Jenna nodded. “Yeah, you’ve been distant, almost like a stranger at times.”
“I’m sorry, Jenna.” Kane looked wounded. “My memories are all jumbled. The time since I arrived here is as if it happened five years ago and the car bombing feels like a couple of months ago. When I saw you in the gulley after the shooting, I didn’t recognize you, I didn’t know where I was and the last thing I remembered was seeing my wife die.”
Understanding flooded over her. No wonder he had been so distant. She reached across the table and squeezed his arm. “I’m so sorry, Dave. You did mention that at the time, but I thought you had all your memories back now.” She sighed. “So they are all there but not in chronological order? Oh, now I understand. Don’t stress about it, just take it one day at a time. I can wait, Dave. I did before and I can do it again.”
“This is why I need to move back into the cottage.” Kane stretched out his leg and rubbed his knee. “I need the normality, the old routine we had before to get my head straight.” He lifted his gaze to her. “I value our friendship, Jenna, and I want to be closer. If you get shipped out, I’ll go right to POTUS if necessary to be reassigned with you.”
Jenna chuckled. “Now that’s the kind of BFF I need. Can we take Wolfe and the girls with us? I’d like to keep the family together.”
“Me too.”
Twenty-Four
The temperature had dropped by the time he turned onto the highway. He’d driven slowly, intending to pull into a side road and wait for Ella Tate and her companion to drive by in his black truck. He’d planned to get up behind them and give them a blast of his horn. Seeing a sedan flying down the highway doing at least sixty was a surprise and more so when the driver lost control on the sweeping bend and slammed into the ditch alongside the road. He stopped and put on his flashers, then grabbed a flashlight. He made his way through the snowdrifts using the track the car had cut as it left the road. When he reached the steaming vehicle, the driver, a woman in her late forties, was gushing blood from a neck wound and would be dead soon but a young woman lay unconscious in the passenger seat, her head cradled in the airbag. Not able to believe his luck, he grinned into the darkness. “Well, some days are diamonds.”
His excitement had turned sour when he spotted headlight beams cutting through the darkness t
oward him. The vehicle slowed as if the occupants were examining him. The freezing cold cut into his cheeks as he picked his way back to his vehicle. The truck approached with caution and not wanting anyone to identify him, he wrapped a scarf around his face and pulled down his cowboy hat. He hoped the approaching vehicle would be carrying Ella Tate but if not, no one would recognize him. As the car slowed, he gave the driver a wave but stood his ground. A young man stepped out of the truck and headed in his direction.
“Are you Jim?”
A buzz of excitement shivered through him. Oh, this is gonna be so easy. “Yeah. I gather you’re Doug. Is Ella here?”
“She’s in my truck.” Doug glanced at the steaming car. “Any survivors?”
He touched the syringes in his pockets, left hand for Doug and right hand for Ella. “Yeah, one—the driver didn’t make it.” He shrugged. “No use trying to call for help out here. If you lend a hand to carry her, I’ll lay her on the back seat of my pickup and drive her straight to the ER. I would have lifted her myself but I was worried she might have a back injury. We’ll need to keep her as straight as possible and support her head.”
“Yeah, I’ll help.” Doug looked apprehensive. “She might sue us for moving her. You sure we shouldn’t drive up the road until we get some bars and call an ambulance?”
Smart guy but I’m smarter. “She’ll freeze to death before the paramedics arrive. Coming with me is the best chance she has right now, but I’ll need your help. You’ll need to hold her to protect her neck. Can you do that?”
“Okay.” Doug didn’t look totally convinced, but gave a curt nod. “Ella will follow us in my truck.”