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

by D. K. Hood

  He lay on the bed, wishing housekeeping had not made up the room, and pressed his head in the pillow to leave an indent. Tonight, she would place her face there and maybe smell a hint of his aftershave. He swung his legs off the bed and reluctantly stood then selected a pair of silk panties from the drawer. After kissing them, he laid them on top of the old map on the nightstand then selected a lacy bra and draped it over the phone. Would she notice? Would she sense he had been there, would she feel his kiss on her underwear?

  It took effort to leave and not hide inside the cupboard to watch her, but the fun was in the hunt. Killing her in the hotel was not an option, although he would have enjoyed it. He smiled to himself, imagining how she would react when he told her how close she’d come to dying in her bed.

  After spending the night before viewing footage from his favorite hunts, he had great plans for the next kill—for Mariah especially. As he walked through the restaurant entrance, his mouth watered at the sight of the couple chatting over their meal. They were creatures of habit and dined here every day. Before he finalized his plans, he needed a little more information about his prey and wanted an excuse to get closer. As perfect as Mariah and Paul appeared, hunting people from out of state or overseas had always been a better option. It was often weeks before their relatives reported them missing. He turned to the maître d’. “Is that Sheriff Alton over by the window?”

  “No, that is Mr. Benton and Miss Crane out of Washington and in town for the conference, I believe.” The maître d’ gave him a smile. “I must admit I did mistake her for the sheriff as well. They could be related but it’s not worth my job to pry.” He turned to a waiter. “Ah, Erik will show you to your table.”

  He smiled at Erik. “Is the table over by the window available? It’s such a nice day.”

  “Of course.” Erik led the way.

  After ordering, he stared at the window, watching the couple in the reflection in the glass. Paul Benton and Mariah Crane, enjoy your meal while you can. He caught a few bits of their conversation but nothing more about their plans for the weekend. His only option would be to set up his trail cams ahead of time then wait and watch before following them to their camp. His heart pounded. Being so close to his prey yet unable to touch was excruciating.

  His attention drifted to Paul; he would be no fun at all. A big man was always a threat but by hitting him in just the right spot in his lower spine, he would be paralyzed and under his control. He had become quite the expert on disabling his prey. Once he removed the male, the hunt could begin, although Colter Barry had gotten away. He would need to make sure he incapacitated them in future. He would show Paul how a dominant male should treat a sassy-mouthed bitch, then he would take him apart piece by piece. Or he might gain interest from his viewers by offering him as target practice. Now that would be fun.

  He would leave Paul’s remains for the bears. After all, they would enjoy a good meal before winter. The forest had such a useful ecosystem, so many critters ready and willing to move in and take out the trash. Leaving a trail cam hidden high in the trees to watch would be entertaining, but with the sheriff stumbling over his kills of late, it wouldn’t be worth the risk.

  With Paul as bear meat, Mariah would gain his full attention. She would be begging and trembling, just the way he liked his women. He stared into her reflection in the glass, imagining her torso dripping with blood. His skill of dissection would keep her alive and experiencing the delight of excruciating pain for as long as he decided. What would she offer him to stop? He grinned. I never stop.

  His attention slid to the slash of red surrounding her white smile; the ripple in the glass distorted the color into a smear of blood. He bit back a groan; he could almost taste Mariah’s mouth, cold and set in a silent scream, pressing against his lips. His cave would be close by and his friends would enjoy some female company. He grinned into his glass of red wine. I’m going to keep her.

  47

  After hunting down places that kept the old maps, and making inquiries about anyone who had asked about the old trails, Jenna had taken down notes about a few vague memories but had found nothing of value. Armed with a list of the owners of the backpacks, Jenna set out with Kane after lunch to the Cattleman’s Hotel.

  As they stepped from Kane’s rig, the wind picked up, swirling the fall leaves around their feet. Jenna looked up at the gray sky; the weather had been unpredictable of late with showers and sudden drops in temperature as if winter had made plans to arrive early this year. She glanced up at Kane. “I’m sure glad the fall dance isn’t until next weekend. I’m not sure we could handle the workload right now.”

  “We’re fortunate to have the Blackwater deputies assisting Walters to guard Colter Barry at the hospital.” Kane’s expression was grim. “I’ll feel happier when we have him locked in a safe house.”

  Jenna walked through the glass doors of the hotel, almost colliding with Ethan Woods. He gave her a contemptuous glare, slammed a black Stetson on his head, and brushed past her. She stopped in the entrance and turned slowly to watch his progress to a black truck. “I can’t believe the judge allowed Stone to post bail.”

  “Wolfe found zip at the barn to suggest he used the place to wash up after killing Lilly. We know he was in the area and have him on video, but so far we only have circumstantial evidence, he was involved in the murders. The trespassing charges are all we have on him.” He smiled at her. “The judge had no choice but he is still on our radar. He fits the description Barry gave us, was in the area, and fits the profile.”

  “Oh, I figure he could be the killer, but being a nice guy seems a stretch of the imagination. I’ve only seen his nasty side.” Jenna strolled to the front desk, noticing the display of maps and other brochures set in a holder.

  In her periphery, she noticed Nigel heading their way. She offered him a smile. “I’m after some information.”

  “I’m at your service as usual, Sheriff Alton.” Nigel cleared his throat. “As long as it doesn’t contravene our privacy policy.”

  Jenna took out her notebook. “As you are aware, three murders occurred in Stanton Forest recently and we also have a cold case. We are aware that two of the couples stayed here; one couple stayed at the motel.”

  “That in itself isn’t unusual; most people take rooms here.” If Nigel had been a bird, he would have fluffed his feathers. “I hope you’re not suggesting that is a reason for their murders?”

  “Not at all.” Jenna shrugged. “We figured as out-of-towners they must have gotten their information about the safe hiking trails from here.” She leaned on the counter. “Do you recall Bailey and Jim Canavar asking about the old trails?”

  “Well, I sure do.” Nigel pressed a hand dramatically against his chest. “I gave them a map and showed them some of the old trails up near Bear Peak. Good Lord, you don’t think I sent them to their deaths, do you?”

  “No.” Kane rested one hip against the counter and gave Jenna a meaningful stare. “Do you remember anyone else here at the time, anyone who could have overheard the conversation?”

  “It was busy at the time. Yes, I do remember there being a line of people waiting. Some were annoyed because I chatted to them, but no, I don’t recall anyone specific.” Nigel’s face paled. “Oh, and Erik asked me for an old map recently for one of our customers. He is one of the waiters in the restaurant.” He glanced from one to the other. “It’s not unusual for couples to head off on their own to the more remote areas. These old maps are in high demand. I gather tons of people prefer to hike in the remote areas and commune with nature.”

  Jenna drummed her fingertips on the wooden counter. “Okay, thanks for the information; we’ll speak to Erik.” She pushed her notepad across the desk with the list of names of the backpack owners. “We have reason to believe these missing people could have passed through town. They might be victims of the same killer. Could you check the records, going back a couple of years, and see if they stayed here?”

  “If I d
on’t, you’ll get a search warrant, right?” Nigel peered at the list then tapped the names into the computer. “We have information going back seven years or so.” He glanced at Jenna. “This might take a while.” He pulled out four coupons from under the desk and handed them to her. “Complimentary cakes and coffee while you wait?”

  “Well, I figure as I’m asking him for a favor, this can’t be considered a bribe.” She grinned at Kane. “I guess I’ll have to force you to eat cake?”

  “Well, we do have a good excuse. We need to talk to Erik.” Kane’s stomach growled and he looked sheepish. “I know it’s only been two hours since lunch.” He turned toward the restaurant then spun around and grabbed Jenna by the shoulders.

  Jenna glared at him. “What are you doing?”

  “Move.” Kane’s broad shoulders blocked her view.

  Turned away and almost pushed into a corner, she glared up at him. “What the hell is going on, Kane?”

  “Do you have a sister?” Kane’s voice had lowered to just above a whisper. “Any family member that looks like you?”

  Jenna shook her head. “No, I’ve told you before. I don’t have any living relatives. Why?”

  When Kane moved to one side, Jenna gaped at the woman strolling toward the elevator. After extensive plastic surgery to disguise her, she could resemble anyone. She looked up at him and whispered, “Oh, shit. Now I know where my face came from. I hope she isn’t anyone famous.” She walked back to the counter and Nigel glanced up at her from the computer screen. “That couple looks familiar. Who are they?”

  “Paul Benton and Mariah Crane out of Washington for the convention.” Nigel raised an inquiring brow. “Is she a relative?”

  Jenna smiled. “I thought so but I don’t recall her name. I might catch up with her later. How long is she staying?”

  “I can’t say for sure— the convention winds up on Friday but they do have the after-convention socials through to next Wednesday.”

  “Great, thanks!” She turned to Kane. “Let’s go find Erik.”

  When Jenna asked the maître d’ if Erik could seat them, he gave them a beaming smile and waved the young waiter forward. The restaurant was practically empty with only a few people lingering over coffee and cake. They took a table at the back of the room and waited for him to bring the cart with an array of delicious cakes and pastries. After making their selection, she brought up the information Nigel had given them. “Do you remember who asked you for a map of the old trails?”

  “Yes, it was Mr. Benton and Miss Crane. They have been working so hard at the convention they said they needed a break away from everyone. I suggested the trail that goes way up along the res, then veers off along Bear Peak. They can see the waterfalls if they climb up to the plateau and the views are great.” He served the cake and poured the coffee. “They planned to spend the weekend hiking.” He smiled at them. “I’ll leave the cart. The chef throws out leftovers at four so you might as well eat your fill. I’ll bring you a fresh pot of coffee.”

  “Thank you.” Jenna leaned back in her chair, taking in the look of concentration on Kane’s face. “What are you thinking about? Not cake, that’s for sure.”

  “I’ve figured out a plan.”

  48

  Unable to persuade Kane to discuss details of his plan in a public place, the moment they had finished eating, Jenna returned to the front counter to discover if the backpack owners had stayed at the hotel. Nigel confirmed that two of the three missing people had booked a room, and both in the fall of previous years. The coincidences between the victims were stacking up.

  After they headed back to the sheriff’s office, Jenna called in Wolfe and her deputies. Once they had taken their seats, she turned her attention to Kane. “Okay, no one can overhear us in here. What is your plan?”

  “It would depend on the cooperation of Mr. Benton and Miss Crane.” Kane’s gaze swept the other deputies. “They are a couple staying at the hotel and Miss Crane bears a striking resemblance to the sheriff. Going on the last murders, Miss Crane is the type our murderer likes, and they plan to go hiking at Bear Peak at the weekend.” His attention fixed on Jenna. “I believe there is a good chance they could be the killer’s next target.”

  “Okay. So, you want to use them as bait?” Rowley leaned forward in his seat, pen raised above his notebook. “How do you plan to rope them into your scheme?”

  Jenna cleared her throat, gaining everyone’s attention. “We are not—I repeat not—using anyone as bait for a serial killer.”

  “Not them. I would never risk a civilian’s life.” Kane’s eyes darkened and he turned into the highly trained iceman killer she had glimpsed before. “Us.”

  Jenna had spent time undercover during her time with the DEA and had escaped with little to spare, the result of which had landed her in Black Rock Falls with a new face and name. Placing herself in the direct line of fire and risking a lunatic dissecting her alive did not appeal to her in the least. She chewed on her bottom lip and considered the implications then met Kane’s gaze. “I think you’ve lost your ever-loving mind but I’ll listen. Lay it on me.”

  “Crane resembles you, and the couple are out of Washington like us, so the accents won’t be a problem. She is the murderer’s type of preferred woman, and from the intel on their movements this coming weekend, I figure we have two choices.” Kane leaned on the desk, folding his huge forearms. “Get the couple the hell out of Dodge or get them to advertise their plans for the weekend far and wide then move them to a safe house and take their places. I’m pretty sure as the killer’s main focus will be on the woman, I’ll be able to pass as Benton at a distance, especially if I wear a Kevlar vest under my jacket to add the extra bulk.” His attention moved over Jenna’s face. “We are trained to take down this son of a bitch and we’ll have backup.”

  “If he takes the bait.” Wolfe’s expression was grim. “We are only surmising he picks out couples visiting town then sets a trap once he knows where they’re heading. He isn’t going to be sitting up in the mountains on the off chance someone will stroll by, and not every woman is going to fit the type he prefers.” He sighed. “I bet I could count on one hand the number of couples who venture up the old trails.”

  Jenna shook her head. “Not according to Nigel at the counter of the hotel. He informed us it is common for people to hike in the remote areas, and they pick up maps all the time.” She shrugged. “This tells me we have two possible scenarios. The first: The killer could be either Woods or Canavar. As we haven’t found a trace of Canavar, he could be living off the grid somewhere in the forest, and we know Woods was prowling the area at night. If they set up trail cams on the more remote areas around Bear Peak, they could be monitoring the area. It wouldn’t be difficult to get to a suitable target if they placed themselves in a central position. Secondly: If the killer is lurking around town and maybe stalking suitable couples, as Kane suggests, he’ll take the bait.”

  “Assuming you’re right, I would say the killer is planning another pay-per-view, and he will need time to set up the location. So once he is sure of the couple’s destination, he will go on ahead.” Wolfe’s lips formed a thin line and worry creased his brow. “It’s risky. We have to assume this man has considerable IT skills. If I planned this, I would set up a hidden camera in the hallway outside their room and maybe place a tracker on their vehicle.” He glanced at Jenna. “That’s another thing, we are assuming this is a single killer yet he manages to kill, clean up, and dispose of the victim’s vehicles before we find the bodies.”

  “Yeah, but in the first murder, the wildlife took care of the bodies.” Rowley lifted his chin and looked at Wolfe. “He was expecting the same thing for Bailey Canavar and John Doe. I figure he has gotten rid of their cars after the murders to give the impression they left the area. From what we know, most of the tourists rent a car from the airport. He probably leaves the car at the drop-off point and cabs it back to town.”

  “That would work as the vehicl
es are cleaned and sent out again.” Wolfe rubbed his chin. “All trace evidence is destroyed but that situation wouldn’t apply if we catch him this time.”

  Jenna leaned back in her chair and ran the scenarios through her mind. Kane had tactical experience and so did Wolfe as both had served in the marines. “Okay, so we wear the Kevlar vests; that’s not going to help if he decides to take a headshot, is it?”

  “Nope.” Kane shrugged. “But it’s not his MO. From what we’ve seen, he disables the male victims with a lower lumbar shot to paralyze him. My vest will cover me and we will deploy the rest of the team in high positions. With everyone dressed in camo, we will look like a normal hunting party, but we will all be carrying concealed weapons. Wolfe, Rowley, and Webber will be carrying rifles, and they’ll look legit if they are seen by the killer.” He leaned back and stretched out his legs. “Look at the area we have to work with; it’s close to the mountain and we get to choose the location. We will have the advantage. We will know he is coming so he won’t have the element of surprise. We will be armed and highly trained. It should be a walk in the park.”

  “I’ll set up a few trail cams of my own as well.” Wolfe looked at her. “You’ll have trackers and coms just in case anything goes wrong.”

  “I don’t think Jenna and I can risk trail cams or use coms.” Kane turned his head to speak to Wolfe. “If he sees them, he’ll smell a rat. He will likely be using a scope to bring down the guy, and from what we have seen so far, he is not careless.”

  A wave of dread closed in around Jenna; her deputies were talking as if this was a military mission: no emotion, no worries they might die. Kane and Wolfe threw ideas back and forth, and she listened, intrigued. Unlike her, they had been deployed overseas during their time in the marines. Kane and Wolfe had gained more experience in the field than she had. What they had planned was potentially a life-threatening situation, and when dealing with a psychopath anything could go wrong. She offered up a few of her own ideas but decided to take a small step back and defer to their skills.