The Crying Season: An edge-of-your-seat crime thriller

by D. K. Hood

  “Well, count me out. I don’t call freezing my ass off fun.” She turned and opened the back door of Kane’s rig, and Duke, Kane’s bloodhound, flopped onto the road. She grabbed their backpacks and heard Kane chuckling. After closing the door, she walked to where he stood holding the horses. “What’s so funny?”

  “Not a thing.” He took his backpack from her then swung into his saddle in one fluid movement. “I just thought, after being stuck in the office week in and week out, you’d enjoy a break.”

  “I do and it’s just as well we have Walters to hold the fort while, we’re up here.” Jenna pulled on her sunglasses. “I’m sure glad he didn’t retire altogether.”

  “I figure he likes taking charge.” Kane nodded toward the others. “They look way too happy.”

  Jenna took in the sunny smiles of Deputy Jake Rowley, who moved his horse beside Kane, and Deputy Paula Bradford, who following close behind. Jenna frowned. “For deputies about to scout an area to search for human remains, you all seem a little too keen. What’s going on here?”

  “Nothing, ma’am.” Bradford tossed her blonde ponytail over one shoulder. “It’s just nice to be out in the fresh air after the auditing we’ve been doing all week.” Her mouth curled into a smile as she glanced at Kane. “Anytime you want some company on a camping trip, count me in. I just love sleeping rough.”

  “Me too.” Rowley chuckled.

  “Roger that.” Kane threw Jenna the reins to her horse. “Ready, ma’am?” He whistled to Duke and the bloodhound bounded out of the bushes to greet him.

  “Sure.” As Jenna struggled to climb into the saddle, she noticed Kane’s mouth twitch with amusement. Okay, so the last time they had ridden, after insisting she was just fine mounting a horse without a leg-up, he had not offered again. The truth was, after another vicious workout with him in the gym, every muscle ached and she would have accepted his help. Trying to act nonchalant, she heaved herself into the saddle then looked at her grinning deputies. “What now? Do you need a group hug?” She turned to Kane. “You have the coordinates; lead the way before we all get mushy.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Kane made a clicking sound with his tongue, and the black horse, named Warrior, moved forward into the forest.

  The trail ahead was wide enough for two horses and Jenna moved her mare close to Warrior. “Why is it every time we come into this beautiful forest, someone has died?”

  “Forests cover over a million acres of Montana, and when you consider over 2.5 million people die a year in the USA, the few fatalities that happen in this vast forest are negligible.” He flicked her a glance. “Murder and death happen, but it shouldn’t take away from the beauty of a place like this. I sure am grateful to not be working in a city.”

  Jenna stared at him in disbelief. It’s like riding beside Google. “It is beautiful here and it changes so much every season.”

  “Like I said, we should take a weekend and spend the night up here before the snow comes.” He pointed to the mountain. “There are trails alongside the mountain, places to climb up onto plateaus to see right across Montana.”

  The idea of a real break would be wonderful but shopping in Manhattan was more her idea of fun. “I’d come with you but just us, or it’s no different to today.”

  “You saying you want to be alone with me?” Kane wiggled his eyebrows at her.

  She gaped at him. “I’m alone with you most of the time, Kane. I just don’t want to take work with me on vacation, if you know what I mean?”

  “So, you’ll come?” Kane grinned.

  Jenna loved their easy friendship and laughed. “Okay, if we can fit it in before the snow.” She glanced at the two deputies in animated conversation behind them. “Did you find out anything interesting about the area where the skull was found?’

  “Yeah, this trail is on an old map, which makes me wonder how long that skull has been here.” Kane glanced at her. “The recommended trails are chosen to make sure they are well away from the hunting zones. From what happened at the Triple Z, I think it’s time I checked out a copy of the current Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks hunting regulations.”

  Jenna considered his words. “I’m sure Wolfe will know. He is a walking encyclopedia on local law.”

  Duke, who had run ahead nose to the ground, let out a loud, whiny bark. The bracken opened and he came toward them, long ears swinging, yapping like a puppy.

  “He’s found something.” Kane dismounted and handed Jenna his reins. “Good boy. What is it?”

  The bloodhound bounded off into the undergrowth disappearing into the trees. Jenna scanned the area and could only see the long shadows of trees and brown and green bracken. “It could be a bobcat or a bear?”

  “Unlikely. Duke doesn’t usually react to wildlife; a bobcat or bear maybe if it was a threat but most times he runs in the opposite direction.” He chuckled. “Self-preservation is at the top of his list.” Kane looked at her. “Do you want me to take a look?”

  “I’ll come with you.” She slid from her saddle and turned to call to Rowley. “Wait here with the horses. Duke has found something.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Rowley gave her a wave.

  Jenna glanced up at Kane. “I hope it’s not another body.”

  The bond between Kane and the hound had been instantaneous. Jenna had never been a dog person but Duke’s big sad eyes and the way he bumped his head on Kane’s leg in greeting had changed her opinion. After Kane had rescued him last summer, Duke certainly appreciated his love and attention. The bloodhound worked with him as if they had trained together, and what was so strange was Duke seemed to understand every word he said—even covering his eyes with both paws when Kane mentioned the word “bath.”

  Just then, Duke came back, crashing through the scrub with bits of forest debris stuck to his coat. He gave an excited bark, bounced on his front legs, looked at Kane, and whined almost mournfully. Jenna moved to Kane’s side. “You talk dog, what is he saying?”

  “He’s found something and it’s not a dead animal.” Kane led the way down a narrow path between the trees. “His first owner must have given him extensive training. I know he tracks scents but this is the second time he has reacted like this, as if he is trying to tell me something. Last time we found a grave.”

  A shiver ran down Jenna’s back as she followed Kane down the rough trail. She clambered over tree roots and pushed through brush that tore at her clothes. The leaves on the variety of bushes had turned a rich copper. Underfoot, twigs, leaves, and pinecones littered the ground, making the way hard to negotiate. She scanned the area but the forest was densely packed and trees in all stages of life blocked the light, leaving the odd shaft of sun to dapple the forest floor.

  When the wind rustled the trees, dust and seeds appeared to dance in the sunbeams. It was both eerie and beautiful, almost magical. She heard a squawk and stopped walking to stare into the canopy in time to see a bald eagle take flight. The birdlife in the mountains and surrounding forests was incredible. I should feel safe here but no one is safe with a lunatic stalking the forest.

  “Jenna.”

  Kane’s voice got her attention and she stared at his serious expression. “Have you found something?”

  “Over there.” He indicated with his chin. “We have a homicide.” He bent and patted Duke. “Good boy.” He waved a hand at him. “Seek.” The dog wandered off into the bushes.

  She peered through the tree trunks and swallowed hard. Tied to a tree with yellow nylon cord sat the skeleton of a tall man, held together by the remnants of a thick padded jacket, thermal underwear, T-shirt, and jeans. His mold-covered hiking boots had tipped over, leaving the tattered fragments of blue jeans covering the end of the bones, and both hands appeared to be missing. In an effort to remain calm, she sucked in a deep breath then moved her attention back to the skull. Looking into the face of a victim was the hardest part of a murder investigation. The expressions of victims haunted her and made her determined to find them justice. />
  An arrow complete with fletching pinned the head to the tree and around the shaft, the skull had fractured like the crazing on an old piece of porcelain. She swallowed the bile rushing up the back of her throat. Pine needles and leaves had collected on the top of the skull and foliage grew from eye sockets, giving it a surreal, grotesque appearance. She moved closer and squatted in front of the corpse. “Don’t touch anything; that could be blood on his shirt. It looks like bullet wounds—hard to tell but it would be shredded if an animal had eaten the flesh post-mortem.”

  “Bullets. I’ve seen similar corpses during my tour of duty.” Kane wiped his mouth with the back of his hand as if disgusted. “What it looks like is someone used this man for target practice. This is overkill.”

  6

  Horrified by the remains, Jenna forced her professional side to take in the details before her but it was difficult to confront the results of torture. This was the medical examiner’s field of expertise, and as no personal property lay scattered around the body, she would leave everything to him. Duke’s bark startled Jenna and she straightened to welcome the return of the dog. “What is it, Duke?”

  “He has likely found something else.” Kane frowned. “Coming?” He headed in the direction Duke had taken.

  “Yeah.” Jenna followed him away from the trail and into the forest.

  The bloodhound had taken them close to the rock face and the temperature dropped considerably as if cold seeped from the mountain. Not fifty feet from the crime scene, Duke barked again, and ahead Kane ducked as he pushed bushes aside to look at something.

  “What is it?”

  “It’s a backpack… no, two back packs.”

  She took the pair of surgical gloves Kane handed her and pulled them on then bent to examine the two bags half-hidden under the forest debris. She lifted a purple and pink backpack from a bed of leaves. “I would say this belongs to a woman or kid.”

  She turned it over, and after a little persuasion, one of the zippers slid open to reveal a wallet. She pulled out the wallet and opened it with care to examine the contents. “There are bills in here, so this wasn’t a robbery.” She lifted the driver’s license. “Californian driver’s license, Paige Allen, aged twenty. She has shoulder-length black hair.” She looked over at Kane and frowned. “Maybe this backpack has a connection to the skull?”

  “I have Dawson Sanders, twenty-four, same state. He has five hundred bucks and change.” Kane pushed the wallet back into the bag. “I figure they had a campsite somewhere; this bag has essentials for one day’s hiking. Did you find a cellphone or satellite phone?”

  Jenna shook her head. “Nope, and what idiot goes hiking without a phone?”

  “No one and there are other inconsistencies.” Kane’s eyes narrowed. “Why hasn’t the body been disturbed by animals? If the skull belongs to the woman, I would figure wildlife disturbed her remains, which, with the number of carnivores in the forest, is usual. His should have been scattered too; it doesn’t make sense.”

  “No attempt at burial either. This is the ‘use and disposal without feelings’ you’ve described to me as psychopathic behavior.” Jenna removed her gloves with a snap. “Remind me to check the billboards next time we leave town. I’m starting to believe we have one saying ‘Psychopaths are welcome in Black Rock Falls’ posted along the road somewhere.”

  Jenna took the coordinates of the body and the backpacks. “We’ll mark the area but leave the bags here. Wolfe will need all the information we can supply.” She shrugged out of her backpack and delved inside to find the police tape then passed a few bright-orange flags to Kane.

  After securing the sites, she patted Duke on the head. “You’re an asset to my team. We would have overlooked the remains without you.”

  “Maybe not.” Kane had a map of the old trails on his cellphone and showed it to her. “I downloaded these maps, to plan my own hike. This overgrown track is on a list from some years ago and leads to a spot near where the Canavars found the skull. I was going to suggest we search for remains in this area.”

  “How long has that old map been handed out?”

  “Five or so years but looking at the style of hiking boots on the victim, he hasn’t been here for more than a year.” Kane’s brow winkled. “I have a pair in the same style and that was last winter.”

  Interesting. Jenna pulled on her backpack. “Do you think Duke will be able to find their camp?”

  “Maybe—I’m not sure how much scent is left in the couple’s belongings, but he did find the backpacks.”

  “Okay, I’ll get Wolfe to take a look at the bags and remains then we can fan out and search the immediate area. There might be something in the backpacks for Duke to use for a scent.” She turned to walk back to the horses. “I know you’re planning to explore the old trails but if something goes wrong you have people in town to look for you. Why do you think this couple came up here? It seems a bit strange for a couple out of California to wander so far off the usual tourist tracks and without a cellphone between them.”

  “I have no idea but I figure if this couple went missing a year ago, we should have been notified.” Kane moved ahead then stopped and held a large branch back for her to pass. “Unless they didn’t tell friends or family where they were going, and that would seem a bit strange.”

  “Maybe they don’t have a family.” Jenna lifted one shoulder. “But someone must have missed them. Problem is, people don’t want to get involved.”

  “Yeah, but these people must have jobs and places to live, bills to pay. Someone must have noticed them missing.” Kane rubbed his chin. “At least we have names. I’ll search the database when I get back to the office and see if anyone lodged a missing person’s report.”

  Jenna followed the path to meet Rowley and Bradford. What Kane had mentioned about seeing similar scenarios during his tour of duty had piqued her interest. She had a top profiler in Kane and valued his expertise. “You said you’ve seen this type of murder before, so what’s your take on the killer?”

  “It’s too early to tell but I’m not jumping in on a psychopath profile just yet.” Kane moved to her side and stared into the distance. “I could give you a few different motives. For instance a love triangle, the killer stalking the couple and taking revenge on the guy for taking his girl.” He shrugged. “Or perhaps a military veteran living in the forest and having flashbacks of his tour in Afghanistan. Some suffer so bad they see people as the enemy and act accordingly. He could still be here living off the grid in one of the caves. There are hundreds of places he could be using all along the rock face.”

  Jenna stared into the distance, contemplating his words. “Yeah, that makes sense. I guess we can add thrill-kill to the list.”

  “Anything is possible at this point.” Kane shrugged. “The billboard notwithstanding, we seem to attract the crazies.”

  Jenna nodded in agreement. “You sure have that right.”

  When they met up with Rowley and Bradford, the deputies were sitting on a log chatting. She had been right to team the rookie, Bradford, with Rowley. They had become friends and worked out together at the local dojo. Deputy Webber, another recent recruit, was experienced but had requested to work with Wolfe. He had voiced an interest in forensic science and was proving to be an asset to her deputy slash ME. She recognized the benefits of having a partner on the job, and her two new deputies sure helped the department to run smoothly. She strolled into the clearing. “We found a body and two backpacks. We’ll head to Wolfe’s position then do a search of the area. There has to be a camp close by, so keep a lookout.” She walked to her horse and heard Kane behind her.

  “Leg up?” Kane cupped his wide palms and offered them to her.

  Relived, she nodded. “Yeah thanks. I’m a bit stiff from our workout this morning.”

  “My fault, I didn’t leave us much time to cool down before we headed out, but you have to admit, getting up a half hour early for a workout keeps the stress levels down.” He smil
ed. “A spell in the hot tub tonight will help.”

  Jenna nodded. “The walk eased the pain but I’ll keep that in mind.” She gathered her reins. “I’ve always tried to squeeze in enough time to work out no matter how hard the case, and I encourage my deputies to do the same. It’s part of my training I value a lot. Apart from being fit enough to handle the long hours it does help me focus.”

  “There is always time. The way you have the team organized, someone is always working on the case.” Kane smiled. “We run like a well-oiled machine.”

  Hoisted into the saddle, she waited for the others to mount then followed Kane along the trail, searching in all directions for any sign of a camp. At first, she had imagined the skull might have been someone lost in the forest many years ago, and being surrounded by thousands of trees now, she realized how frightening that would be. Becoming disorientated in Stanton Forest would be easy. Apart from knowing which direction was up or down the side of the mountain, everything was much the same. Pines as far as the eye could see and a wall of mountains. Without a GPS, the only directional advantage was gained by taking the trails closer to the waterfall and following the noise, but here somewhere in the middle she might as well be in any forest on any number of continents.

  The image of the man tied to the tree flashed into her mind. So many questions surrounded him. What had brought him and his companion to this deserted part of the forest? The killer, as Kane mentioned, could be a military veteran, living off the grid and believing everyone was the enemy. He could be lurking somewhere close by, believing they were a military patrol. The idea made the hairs on the back of her neck stand to attention. She turned in her saddle to address her deputies. “Keep alert. We don’t know if we have a killer living close by.”

  There would be no need to speak to Kane; he would already be scanning the area, searching for any movement. One thing for sure: once a marine always a marine. She glanced around, looking for any trace of habitation, and sighed; in the space of one year, the forest could swallow up a campsite. Bears could tear down a tent and scatter belongings in all directions. The killer could have ransacked the camp as well. Really, finding anything intact would be a miracle.