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

by D. K. Hood

  “Nope.” He cleared his throat and Jenna almost believed he was Paul Benton. “It’s complicated, you know that, honey.”

  “Well, I won’t wait forever, Paul.” Jenna brushed the crumbs from her hands. “Tons of guys in the office want to date me.”

  “I know and I’ll fix things, you’ll just have to be patient.” Kane gave her a squeeze. “These things take time.”

  Wow, he is acting the part. She finished her coffee. “Ready?”

  “Five more minutes.” Kane chewed slowly and washed down each bite with coffee. “I’m exhausted after that long hike.”

  Jenna pulled items from their backpacks and tossed them into the tent. “We’ll leave most of our things here. I’ll take water and a couple of energy bars.”

  “And the first aid kit.” Kane smiled at her. “Put everything in my bag, I don’t want you overtired for later.”

  Jenna gave him a wide smile and stood, handing Kane his backpack. “Which way?”

  “Downhill.” Kane unfolded the map and made a show of pointing the way. “The switchback is not too far but it will be uphill on the way back.” He pocketed the map then shrugged into his backpack and held out his hand. “Come on, it will be fun and we might see some squirrels or even a deer.”

  Jenna’s self-preservation instinct kicked in and the idea of walking into danger lifted the hairs on the back of her neck. With her nerves on a knife’s edge, she followed Kane’s lead along the narrow, uneven pathway. As they ventured deeper into the forest, the temperature dropped and every shadow they passed seemed to carry a potential threat. A glance into the branches as they walked revealed the killer’s trail cams placed in strategic positions. This was his killing ground.

  The wind moved through the trees in a cool caress, lifting the leaves on the trail and sending a rush of dread through her. He was out there waiting to make his move. The beauty of the forest faded into the background, leaving behind the threat of a frightening trap. The location alone gave him the advantage. It was fall and every shade of green, brown, and amber on an artist’s palette painted the forest. A man wearing camouflage gear would vanish into the background like a tiger in the jungle.

  Acutely aware of the groans in the tall pines as they swayed from the wind, she glanced behind her, scanning the immediate area. The woods played their own music, from birdsong to the chatter of squirrels and the sway of branches; all these sounds would disguise the killer’s footfalls. Will he strike now or tonight when we are in the tent?

  She tried to smother the rising uncertainty, but night would come soon enough and the day’s beauty would turn quickly to a shadowed feeding ground for the forest’s nocturnal inhabitants. The trees would become lines of black posts shutting her inside and preventing her escape. The moon would offer little light, and every boulder would loom out of the forest like some hideous gargoyle. She tried to swallow the rising panic creeping into her mind. He’s coming and I’m the target.

  53

  He checked his watch then removed it and left it in a backpack; he did not want it covered in DNA. The time he had planned to make his first move would be perfect. The sun had already dropped in the sky. One more weapons’ check and he headed out the cave and down the mountainside, moving with stealth through the dense undergrowth along the narrow animal paths he knew like the lines on his palm.

  Paul and Mariah had chosen a perfect spot for the hunt. One hundred yards from their current position, the trail fell away on one side to a canyon with a rocky ravine dug out of the mountain by a prehistoric glacier, and only a fool would risk running down there. The track ended in a switchback forcing the hikers to double back; in other words, his prey would be running around in circles. He would position himself in the middle and have a clear shot to bring down Paul in full view of the trail cams.

  His cellphone vibrated and he glanced at the screen. The viewers had voted for his first move. He chuckled. They were like a medieval bloodthirsty crowd waiting to watch someone hanged, drawn, and quartered. He tied the bandana around his face and put on his sunglasses. The cap covered his hair, and dressed like this with the voice changer app turned on, no one would recognize him. His earpiece and mic were in place and ready to live-stream. He turned on his body cam and spoke to his viewers. “Moving out. Come on, you sadistic assholes, make me work for it. I want to take my time and enjoy killing the bitch.”

  54

  Bradford listened to Wolfe’s instructions in her earpiece and glanced at Rowley, positioned a few feet above, on the plateau. The sun was dropping and the team was moving down the black rocky slopes and into a better position. She trembled at the thought of being alone so close to the bottom of the mountain; the place Wolfe had sent her was only a few feet from the forest floor. She would have to run through the trees then dash twenty yards along an animal track before climbing into the safety of the crevice. The idea of being so close to a potential killer scared the hell out of her, and to make things worse, she had seen a bobcat earlier. In an effort to calm her nerves, she took one last look around then contacted Rowley. “Is it safe for me to move out?”

  “Yeah. I’ve scanned the immediate area and can’t see any movement. If the killer is stalking the sheriff, he’ll be way down the other end of the trail by now. The bobcat disappeared into the undergrowth and shouldn’t bother you. You’re good to go.” Rowley’s voice was confident. “Move out, I’ll watch your back.”

  She clambered down the rough pathway and headed for the trees. With her back to a tree, she searched all around then bolted for the small incline that led to the crevice. After being in the sunlight, the pathway through the tall pines was dark and claustrophobic. She pushed her way through the undergrowth, searching for the animal path Rowley had insisted was there. A flash of green caught her attention and she stumbled to a halt. Not green but the reflection from cat’s eyes. She bit back a scream as the bobcat sprayed his scent over the closest tree. The cat lifted its head and his eyes fixed on her, but only the tip of its tail twitched.

  Heart pounding against her ribs, she turned and ran for her life, stumbling over branches. The com link had fallen out of her ear and tangled around her legs. She ripped it free and ran through the forest, heading down the first trail she found. She heard the sound of something big behind her then a huge weight slammed into her back and she crashed to the ground. The wind rushed out of her lungs and she gasped painfully for breath waiting for the cat to bite. She heard a disjointed chuckle as someone rolled her onto her back then fell on her, crushing her ribs. It was not the scent of a cat or its sharp claws but a man.

  Terror slammed into her, cutting off the protest in her throat. A skull looked back at her, the eyes covered with mirrored sunglasses. She tried to move but the large man had her arms pinned under his knees, and with his weight on her chest, she fought to suck air into her lungs. His head turned from side to side, as if evaluating her.

  “Get off me.” Her voice sounded high pitched and breathless.

  Before she had the chance to inform him she was a deputy, he gripped her throat and squeezed. She could do nothing but stare into her own terrified reflection in the lenses of his sunglasses. Anger welled inside her. If he intended to strangle her, he would have a fight on his hands. She kicked hard with her legs then dug the heels of her boots into the leaf mold in an effort to push him off her. His reply was to squeeze her neck so tight, her vision blurred and she gasped for air.

  “We have an unexpected bonus.” The voice was strange, almost mechanical. “Why are you out here all alone?”

  “I was taking a shortcut back to the hunting area to meet my husband.” Bradford grunted. “He’s not far away.”

  “Really? I didn’t see anyone.” His voice made her skin crawl.

  The grip around her neck decreased slightly and she nodded, in the hope Rowley would be following her movements in his scope. The killer had found her, and without Rowley’s help, she would become his next victim. She had to get away from him but he was so str
ong. Somewhere in her confused panic, she remembered Kane talking about how psychopaths liked their victims to scream and fight back. In an effort to gain a precious few minutes, she forced her tense muscles to relax. The man noticed immediately, and keeping a grip on her throat with one gloved hand, he used the other to unzip her jacket. He slid out her service weapon from the shoulder holster and waved it in front of her eyes.

  “You should have drawn this when you saw the bobcat.” He ran the muzzle of the gun down her chest between her breasts. “A couple of shots in the air and the cat would have taken off. Yet you decided to run. Cats like to hunt. You ran and made it a game for him and me.” He stared at her. “Most girls would be begging me not to hurt them about now. Are you very brave or are you trying to psychoanalyze me?”

  She shook her head, refusing to speak to him.

  “I’ll give you a heads-up: I never negotiate and you’re about to die.” He gave a snort of mirth. “Open your mouth.”

  Tremors wracked her body but she complied. He ran the muzzle of the gun across her cheek then pushed the barrel into her mouth. Cold metal pressed against her tongue and the taste of oil spilled across her taste buds. She could not believe how calm and in control he was. Not the crazed, slashing maniac she had envisioned. Staying calm was her only hope, and Rowley would come crashing through the bushes at any moment.

  “Give me the figures.” He spoke into his mic and nodded as if getting instructions via his com then moved the gun back and forth in her mouth. “Where are the others now? Okay, I’ll get into position after I’ve dealt with this one.”

  He paused as if listening, and her eyes swiveled to notice the body cam and com pack he was wearing. He was awaiting instructions for his pay-per-view. Oh, Jesus, help me.

  “Oh, I like that and then I’ll be on my way.” His attention moved back to her. “If we had met at another time, we could have enjoyed this so much more.” He leaned to one side and she heard a swishing sound.

  Then she caught sight of the knife.

  55

  Kane wanted to protect Jenna. If the killer planned to aim a bullet at him, he could not risk him missing and hitting her by mistake. He gave Jenna a friendly push in the back. “You go first and watch your step. According to the map, the canyon is on the right; the edge is probably covered with vegetation and there is a ravine at the bottom.”

  “Sure, I guess if I slip you’ll grab me in time?” Jenna glanced at him over one shoulder.

  “You know I will.” Kane moved closer and rested one hand on her shoulder. “Is that better?”

  “Much.” Jenna’s muscles tensed under his grip. “The sun is dropping fast—how late is it?”

  Kane glanced at his watch. “Getting on for three.”

  They moved off again, looking like elephants linking trunks. Kane had picked this particular trail for the canyon that split the forest with its bottomless ravine. The killer could only come at them from one side, and he figured if an attack came, it would be on their return to camp and from the rear. So far, the killer had used the forest to his advantage, and on the way back they would be traveling uphill, and be slower targets. If they heard him, which he doubted, and turned to look at him, they would be looking directly into the sun and would not see him coming.

  His phone vibrated in his pocket. He waited. If Wolfe needed to speak to him, it would stop and start up again. If the team had laid eyes on the killer, it would keep on going. It stopped then started up again a few seconds later. He squeezed Jenna’s shoulder. “Hold up. Nature calls.”

  “Me too.” Jenna darted into the undergrowth.

  It was a planned move. They had noted the position of the trail cams and made sure they were out of sight. Kane walked into the forest, leaned against the widest trunk he could find and scanned the area. Sure that no one could see or hear him, he took out his cell. He needed to keep it short and get back to Jenna. “There are trail cams set out along the path. He’s here, I can almost smell him.”

  “If he is, we can’t see him.” Wolfe sounded tense. “It’s later in the day than we reckoned and the sun is blinding us. Right now, he could pick up a reflection from the scopes. I’ll move lower down the mountain but it will take time. I’ve sent Rowley to the plateau and Bradford to the crevice on the far right. They’ll be able to cover you, but when sun drops lower we’ll need to reposition again.”

  “Roger that.” Kane disconnected and hurried back to the trail.

  He glanced around and worry cramped his gut. Jenna had not appeared. “Mariah, where are you hiding?”

  “Right here.” Jenna pushed out of the bushes. “I need the wipes out of the backpack. Peeing in the forest is gross.” She opened a flap in his bag and pulled out the wipes.

  Kane bent and pretended to nibble her ear. “The team is moving. We are on our own until they relocate so take it slow.”

  “You say the sweetest things.” Jenna wiped her hands then glanced behind him. “I guess we better keep moving.”

  He looked at her and his heart skipped a beat. Had he made a fatal mistake by risking her life? The canyon loomed out of the forest and he paused to take in the scenery. Pine trees marched up each side and he could see the tops of some. The ravine at the bottom of the canyon must be over 100 feet deep. A multitude of bushes covered the bottom and he wondered what lurked down there. He touched Jenna’s arm to slow her. “I know you’re anxious to get back but I need a rest. There’s a log over there—let’s take five before we go on.”

  “Okay, I need a drink.” Jenna dropped down onto the log. “It’s beautiful here. I didn’t know there would be so many varieties of birds in the forest, and look over there, squirrels scampering up the trees.”

  “Yeah, it is, now I guess you’re glad you came hiking with me?”

  “Hmm, one weekend will probably be enough for me.” Jenna brushed ants from her boots. “I don’t like the insects, and if we run into a bear, I’m running all the way back to the car.”

  The fallen tree was on the edge of the canyon and Kane figured that if they kept their backs to the drop, they could keep watch for the killer. He shrugged out of his backpack and pulled out a bottle of water then handed it to Jenna. He rolled his shoulders and leaned back as if closing his eyes, but beneath his sunglasses, he scanned the forest from one side to the other. Nothing. Oh, the killer was good. If he was close by, he had the skills of a Navy Seal.

  A high and piercing sound cut through the peace and sent birds rising in flocks. The noise made his heart pound but it shot Jenna into combat mode. She swung around and stared up the pathway, one hand going to the zipper on her jacket. In a moment, she would pull her weapon and the killer would disappear like an ice cream on a hot day. He rested one hand on her arm. “It’s okay. That could be a bobcat some ways away. They are territorial and a rival has probably walked by or challenged him.”

  The screech came again and Jenna stiffened beside him. “That sounded more like a woman screaming than a cat.” She shuddered. “I’ve heard stories about forests at night. All sorts of supernatural creatures roam around. It might have been a banshee or a spirit bent on revenge.”

  Oh boy, Jenna is playing her role to the hilt. Kane pulled her against him. “Don’t worry; I’ll protect you against banshees and ghosts.” He leaned in then dropped his voice to a whisper. “Stay in front of me once we hit the switchback. If he is planning on hitting us before we get back to camp, it will be soon.” He wanted her some distance away from him and glanced around, taking in the trail cams.

  “Okay.” She turned away and strolled ahead. “Coming?”

  Kane smiled at her. “Yeah.” He continued down the path at a leisurely pace.

  Sometime later, Jenna stopped and turned around to look at him.

  “You are slow.” Jenna pulled a face. “It’s taken us over ten minutes to walk a hundred yards.” She turned and walked away.

  He grinned and raised his voice. “I’m not as young as you.”

  Pain shot through his
head in an explosion of agony and the forest went out of focus. He lifted one hand to his head and stared at the blood on his fingers. I’ve been hit.

  56

  The loud scream Rowley heard worried him; it could have been the bobcat but Bradford could be in trouble. After trying without success to contact her via her com, he used the scope on his rifle to scan the area between her last position and the crevice. The thick vegetation hampered his view but he could see the trail she had headed down earlier, and nothing moved in the immediate area. She should be safe by now and had only been out of his sight for a few yards before she reached the crevice. Why isn’t she answering her com?

  His job was to watch for the killer and protect the sheriff and Kane from a surprise attack during the time it took the sharpshooters to move into a better position. He scanned the forest again then reached for his cellphone, breaking Kane’s instructions to remain silent, and called Bradford. The call went to voicemail and he cursed under his breath. Where are you?

  Unable to leave his current position, he contacted Wolfe and explained the situation.

  “There is a chance her signal is blocked by the crevice. We are climbing down the rock face now and should be in position in about five minutes.” Wolfe was breathing heavily. “Do a visual scan of the sheriff’s position and the surrounding areas for the killer. If all clear, make your way to the crevice, but if you see the killer, follow the plan. Call the sheriff and we’ll drop to the forest floor and surround him. We heard the scream. Stay alert. If there is a bobcat down there guarding its territory, it’s likely there is more than one male prowling around.”

  “Roger that.” Rowley checked the area again, peering through the trees in the direction of the canyon.