by D. K. Hood
No amount of experience helped when dealing with a gruesome murder. So much for the notion the tough TV cops portrayed. They acted with unfeeling nonchalance as if nothing turned their guts then discussed the case over the corpses as if they were storefront dummies. They are always people to me. Kane moved his attention back to Wolfe. “This is different from the other murders in one aspect. The woman’s face hasn’t been touched.”
When Jenna gripped his arm with a trembling hand, he glanced down at her. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.” Jenna peered at the body. “Oh, no. I’m sure I know her.” She moved closer to him. “Isn’t she the woman who found the skull? Bailey Canavar?”
The image of the vibrant young woman flashed through his mind. “Yeah, that’s her.” He indicated to a man flat on his back some distance away. An empty hole replaced his face. “I’m not sure if that’s her husband; he had sandy hair.”
“It could be bloodstained.” Jenna edged past him, stepped around pools of congealed blood, and went to Wolfe’s side. “I have an ID on the woman.”
Wolfe gave her a patient stare then pushed a marker in the ground beside a body part, moved to the male victim, and lifted his head. “No, this man has black hair.” He balled his hands on his hips and looked around. “At least three people had to be involved because, if he tied her up, she couldn’t have murdered him.”
“We’ll leave you to record the scene and take a look around.” Jenna turned to Blackhawk. “Do you know of any other trails leading from here?”
“I do but if you look up into the trees, the crows are waiting here, not in any other area. If there was another body, they wouldn’t be waiting here for us to leave.” Blackhawk shrugged. “But we can circle this area.”
Kane turned one-eighty degrees. He had noticed something familiar on a tree and did a visual scan of trees lining the trail, then pushed into the undergrowth and circled back to Jenna. Something wasn’t sitting right. “Just a minute.” He pulled out his cellphone and accessed the FWP website for the hunting locations in the immediate area. He glanced at Blackhawk. “Do you know if this area has ever been a designated hunting zone?”
“Not that I’m aware.”
He moved to one of the trees and rubbed his hand over the rough bark. “See this mark? It is very similar to the damage done by fixing a trail cam. I noticed there is another further down and there are some freshly cut branches over there.” He pointed to the spot in the forest he had searched. “It could be a hunter’s blind.”
“Or a naturalist studying wildlife.” Blackhawk’s dark eyes moved to Jenna. “Some spend months in the forest and they use trail cams. There are many different varieties of creatures here.”
“Yeah, that’s likely but I think the killer lured them here—somehow.” Jenna turned to Kane. “Have you heard of anyone stalking their victims using trail cams? How would they know they are here? We know this is a rarely used path. If I wanted to kill someone, this is the last place I’d set up a trail cam.” She turned and followed Blackhawk into the forest.
Kane hung back and moved along the trail, using his flashlight to check the trees. He noticed further recent damage high up on the trunks. The markings resembled those left from a belt on a trail cam and fixed in the branches to avoid human detection. This setup looked military to him. A trail cam ran in silence so its presence would not alarm animals. It was more usual to place them lower and out in the open. They either collected data to a hard drive within the unit or could run a live feed to smartphones. He turned a full three-sixty degrees to take in every angle. His idea had merit but Jenna was right: How would the killer know people might be on this trail and be able to set up the trail cams before they arrived? Stymied, he rubbed his temple then decided to discuss his findings with the team later.
Duke nudged his leg and he patted the dog on the head. “Seek.”
When Duke headed back in the direction of the crime scene, he stared after Jenna for a few moments then hurried after his bloodhound. If his trail cam theory was correct and they did not find Jim’s body, he’d be a prime suspect. Jim could have lured his wife and perhaps her lover into the forest and killed them. By the damage to the man’s face, whoever killed him had unleashed a whole lot of anger.
24
The way Blackhawk moved through the forest impressed Jenna. He ducked and weaved using his height to search hidden-away places. He would often look behind him and check on her; not that she needed to be coddled but she had to admit the whining trees and unusual silence in the dim, dank forest put her nerves on edge. Especially as Kane had wandered off in a different direction without saying a word but he could take care of himself. Although she had respect for Blackhawk’s abilities as a tracker, Kane always had her back. She glanced around, keeping her eyes focused in every direction. The dark shadows between the trees could be hiding a killer waiting for his next victims. She rested one hand on the butt of her pistol. If someone came at them, she would be ready.
One thing was apparent: As they moved away from the stink, finding another body became more remote with each step. After about twenty minutes the awful death smell returned and she filled her mouth with peppermints—at least they would prevent the awful smell permeating her mouth. They had come full circle and Blackhawk bent to examine the animal path leading away from the crime scene. She moved to his side. “Have you found something?”
“Maybe.” Blackhawk took flags from his backpack and marked a small area of leaves. “That could be a partial footprint. I’ll get Shane to take a look at it.” He moved into the bushes and stared up at a tree. “He came through this way. There are traces of blood on this pine and it has a mark on it. Something was secured here and retrieved after the murder.” He poked another flag into the bush. “See how the branches are broken? He must have been in a hurry.”
Jenna examined the leaves and the trunk of the tree and nodded. “Yeah, Kane saw something similar on the trail. He figured the marks came from trail cams. I’m wondering if the killer set this up before his victims arrived.” She smiled at him. “Show Wolfe what you found and thanks, I appreciate your help.”
Her mind reeled as they edged their way around the crime scene. She went straight to Kane’s side and waited with impatience for him to label evidence bags. “We didn’t find another body. It would make sense that if these people traveled here together or met on the trail, we would find their bodies together, or within the radius we searched.”
“Yeah, which means we need to find the whereabouts of Jim Canavar.” Kane’s gaze moved over her face. “It will be difficult to identify the male victim. Whoever did this went out of his way to disguise his identity. His teeth are non-existent and both hands are missing. The killer did not want us discovering this man’s name.” He frowned. “One thing—the clothes we found have foreign labels, perhaps Chinese.”
Jenna nodded. “Blackhawk found a footprint and evidence of possible trail cams. I’m convinced Canavar set this up ahead of time.”
“ Yeah, it looks more like an ambush every second.” Kane lifted his chin and his attention moved away from her. “I’ll go and take photos of the footprint.” He went to where Blackhawk was in deep conversation with Wolfe.
She pulled out her cellphone and called the Cattleman’s Hotel. “May I speak to Jim Canavar? This is Sheriff Alton.”
“The Canavars checked out, Wednesday right after breakfast.”
Jenna sighed. “Okay, did they have anyone with them?”
“No, but I had the bellhop help them out with their bags. He is right here.”
Another male voice came on the line. Jenna introduced herself again and explained who she was looking for. “Do you remember their vehicle?”
“Yeah, it was a rental. A white SUV. I asked him how it was going and he said he couldn’t get it back to the airport quick enough and get something else. He tipped me a twenty.”
Jenna frowned. “What mood was he in, and did you see anyone else with them?”
“He and his wife seemed happy and they drove off alone.”
“Okay, thanks.” Jenna disconnected then contacted Bradford at the office. “We found Bailey Canavar and a John Doe murdered. I want you to contact the closest airport and find out the details of a car hired by Jim Canavar. Then get out a BOLO. Next, put out a press release. I want folks to be on the lookout for him and the rental car. We have his details on file in the murder book on the cold case, and get a photograph of him from the Kansas DMV. Make sure you tell them to inform the public not to approach him as he is considered dangerous but to call 911, okay?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Bradford took a deep breath. “I haven’t put out a BOLO before but I can handle a press release.”
“Then ask Walters to show you.” Jenna chewed on her bottom lip. “Oh, and don’t mention anything about the homicide in the press release. Her next of kin hasn’t been notified yet.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Jenna would have to contact the Canavars’ local police and notify them of Bailey’s murder. “Can you get me the number of the police headquarters in Kansas? I’ll wait.”
She pulled out her notepad and scribbled the number then disconnected. After taking in the progress of the crime scene, she called Webber over. “What is the status of the ME’s investigation?”
“We have recorded the scene and have bagged the victims.” Webber’s expression appeared drawn. “I believe Wolfe wants to recreate the murders with Kane then we can pack up and leave.”
Jenna nodded. “Good work. After this are you still keen to work with Wolfe?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Webber brightened.
She noticed Wolfe and Kane on their way back to the crime scene. “I think Wolfe is looking for you.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Webber headed in Wolfe’s direction.
Jenna made herself comfortable on a boulder with Duke sprawled out at her feet and called the Kansas Police Department. After a few moments, waiting for the desk to connect her to the homicide department in the right division, a woman’s voice answered.
“Detective Brennan.”
Jenna introduced herself and informed her about Bailey Canavar’s death and her suspicions about her husband. “I need to get the press involved and let them know there is a threat in the local area; will you be able to contact the next of kin today?”
“Yeah, right away. I seem to recall a case involving a man named Jim Canavar. I wonder if it is the same person. Give me a moment.”
In the small clearing, Kane and Wolfe moved around the crime scene in animated conversation. From what she could make out and from the laser pointer Kane was using, they had determined the trajectory of bullets. One thing sprang out at her: From the damage to the victims, shell casings should be littering the ground but they had not found one. The maniac who did this awful crime had cleaned up the area and removed the trail cams. A chill crawled down her spine. This killer was overconfident and arrogant. He had not only removed all traces of himself, he had lured the couple into an area frequented by bobcats and black bears. He expected the wildlife to clean up his mess.
The voice on the phone startled her. “Yes, I’m still here.”
“Well, this is interesting. I checked the DMV info you gave me with the case and it is the same man. Canavar’s ex-fiancée went missing and we hauled him in for questioning. Bailey gave him an alibi. In her statement, she said Canavar was staying in Blackwater. She called him every night when his ex-fiancée went missing. He had broken up with his fiancée a few months prior. We checked the phone records. He was where he said and the hotel in Blackwater confirmed he was there. He has stayed in Black Rock Falls before as well.”
“Really? So, he does know the area. He didn’t give me the impression he’d been here before. Did you find the ex-fiancée?”
“Nope, she is still listed as a missing person. Her new boyfriend is missing too.”
Jenna’s mind reeled with the implications. “That’s interesting. How long ago was this?”
“A little over a year.”
“What else can you tell me about Jim Canavar?”
“He works in real estate. I read about his marriage to Bailey, it made the social pages here. His father-in-law owns a number of businesses in the local area and has residences all over the world. He hit the payload when he married Bailey: She is loaded, inherited millions from her grandmother, and there was no prenup. I remember the news team discussing it at the time. Bailey made a point of telling everyone who would listen.”
Jenna shuddered as the image of Bailey’s damaged body percolated through her mind. “That would give him motive to kill her and leave her in the forest for the animals to devour.”
“It sure would. I’ll do some digging and see if I can find out anything else of interest and get back to you.”
Jenna waved the flies away from her face. “Thanks and pass on my contact details to the next of kin.”
“Will do.” The line went dead.
As she pocketed her cellphone, she could hear something moving through the forest. Every hair on her body stood on end. She stood, drawing her weapon and scanning the forest. Beside her Duke gave a short bark and lunged forward, tail wagging. “Show yourself, this is Sheriff Alton and I’m armed.”
Her loud demand had her deputies pounding toward her, guns drawn, and the next moment, Rowley came around the bend.
“It’s Rowley, ma’am. Holy cow something sure stinks around here.”
Relieved, Jenna holstered her weapon and turned to her deputies. “Now I have your attention, I’ve spoken to the homicide department in the Canavars’ hometown.”
She gave them the information on Jim Canavar and waited for their response.
“That gives him a motive but doesn’t explain John Doe.” Kane snatched his hat from a branch and pushed it on his head. “We don’t know how many people are involved. This looks like more of a thrill-kill to me. Jim could have strangled her and left her for the animals. It would be a clean kill, leaving him the chance to turn up in a few days saying they had gotten lost in the forest. The killer who did this would be soaked in blood. This is another case of overkill.”
“Yet I can’t link it positively to the cold case as there are too many irregularities.” Wolfe removed his gloves and rolled them into a ball. “I’m convinced at least three people are involved and one walked out alive. There is a lot of blood spatter. If the killer was injured, he could have left trace evidence. I’ll conduct a blood and tissue analysis. With luck, we might have different blood types but I will run a full DNA on each one.”
Jenna sighed and looked at Kane. “Do you know the approximate sequence of events?”
“It’s a tough one but let’s say Jim wasn’t involved. If this murder follows the cold case, the killer could have disabled Jim before killing Bailey. We found his burner phone smashed and the SIM removed.” Kane leaned casually against a tree. “Jim could have come around and been in the fight of his life then escaped. He had no means to call for help and could be lying injured or unconscious somewhere.”
“Then who removed the evidence and the trail cams?” Webber rubbed his chin, and his attention moved to Wolfe. “It had to be the killer.”
“Or one of the killers.” Jenna sat back on the boulder, drawing up her knees. “If John Doe is one of the killers, someone else was here to clean up the evidence.”
“Or maybe John Doe was hired to kill Bailey.” Kane folded his arms over his chest. “I figure we have it all wrong and John Doe set up the kill zone with the trail cams because Jim wanted to watch Bailey die, then he killed the witness.”
Jenna shivered. “His ex-fiancée was never found. How many times has he done this before and where is he now?”
25
It was as if the cave was calling to him, but with two recent kills in the forest, he did not dare go too close to his hiding place. Never mind, his trail cam had night-vision optics, and although viewing through a strange light via his cellphone was not as goo
d as being there, he could at least make sure his captives were safe from predators. The portable electrified fence covering the entrance deterred bears and bobcats but rats would often sneak through.
His fingers itched to pull out his cellphone and inspect the men sitting against the wall of his cave. He loved the way the plastic sheeting pressed tight against their faces, and as each day passed their flesh melted like a candle in a flame. After spending the early morning hunting with a group of men he’d met at the Cattleman’s Hotel and acting like one of the boys, he craved some alone time. The men’s voices called him back to the now and he offered them a wave. “I’ll meet you later in the Cattleman’s Hotel for a drink.”
He joined the line at the checkpoint to inform the rangers he had nothing to declare then headed for the vehicle his last client had so generously purchased for him. Sticking to the letter of the law was important and he kept his hunting license up to date and on his person at all times. He had enjoyed his time in the forest this morning, but killing animals had lost its allure and he had not bagged a kill. Other things had been on his mind. Amongst the pines, with the pungent smells of gunpowder and death, he had relived the previous day’s hunt. Adrenaline coursed through his veins and the need to kill again overwhelmed him. It was just as well his friends couldn’t see the images inside his head. To them he was a regular guy.
The sound of air brakes heralded the arrival of the local bus bringing hikers and tourists to the forest. Black Rock Falls ran a bus service from town to the first ranger station every three hours during the peak seasons. He dismantled his rifle and placed it in its case then closed the back of his truck. He took in the eager faces of the people alighting the bus ready for an adventure and bit back a grin. If they wandered into his hunting ground, their visit to Black Rock Falls would remain in their memories forever. The wide-open death stare of Bailey flashed into his mind in a rush of exhilaration. He wanted to relive every second soon.