"What did you say about a gun?" Whitney interrupted, stepping into the room.
Before Blair had a chance to answer, the others appeared in the doorway, eyes zigzagging around the space.
"Did you guys find a gun?" Sam asked.
Matt held the card aloft between two fingers. "A concealed carry permit."
Harvey scratched his forehead. "If Hazel has a gun, how was the killer able to abduct her?"
"Maybe because that’s not what happened," Logan said, a crust of smugness forming on his face.
"What’s that supposed to mean?" Sam asked.
"Hazel could have damaged the window herself to throw us off the trail," Logan suggested.
Blair threw him a bewildered look. "What trail?"
"Maybe she's not the quack she portrays herself to be, at all. She might be the killer. It’s a genius move—faking her own abduction."
Muttered protests echoed back and forth.
"Not likely," Sam responded. "She’s not strong enough to strangle a man."
"And why wouldn’t she have just shot him?" Matt added.
"Because someone from the campground could have heard it," Logan said.
Harvey folded his arms in front of him and grunted. "Wouldn’t matter. We’d have put it down to the hunters."
"It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever," Blair protested. "Hazel’s a healer, not a killer—you saw how she treated Rob and Sandy. Anyway, like Sam said, she doesn’t have the strength to overpower a man."
Logan sniggered. "Maybe she gave him one of her potions first and knocked him out."
Blair glowered at him. "What’s wrong with you? This isn’t a joking matter."
Harvey stroked his beard, a perturbed look settling in his furrowed face. "Logan could be on to something. Hazel was here before the rest of us arrived. We have only her word that the camper van was vacant when she got here. It’s possible she killed the guy."
Logan turned to Whitney with a triumphant gleam in his eyes. "I told you there was something off about that old hag when we ran into her at the gas station. Asking a bunch of questions, insisting we check this place out."
"It doesn’t explain why she disappeared," Matt countered. "It's not like any of us suspected her of murdering that man."
"Once a killer, always a killer," Logan said in a loaded tone. "Maybe she’s hunting for her next victim. Can’t help herself."
"You're sick, you know that!" Matt sputtered.
Logan shrugged. "I don't hear you coming up with a better theory."
To Blair’s relief, Matt let Logan’s jibe slide and turned instead to Harvey. "Did you notice anything out of place in the kitchen?"
Harvey shook his head. "Not that I could tell."
"Sam, how about the living area?" Matt went on.
"All the usual stuff; books, cards, board games, blankets. She has a high-end Canon camera with a telephoto zoom lens that I’m more than a little jealous of. It would be great to take on climbing expeditions."
Blair frowned. "Where is it? Let’s take a look."
They all trooped back into the living area and Sam retrieved the camera from a cabinet above the couch.
"Did you go through the pictures?" Blair asked.
A furrow formed on Sam’s brow. "That’s a bit personal. Didn't know we were getting that nitty-gritty. Like I said, this whole search doesn't feel right to me."
Matt grunted. "You’ll feel differently if it helps us find Hazel." He took the camera from Sam and pressed a few random buttons, looking increasingly frustrated.
"Give it here." Blair thrust out her hand for the camera. "You’ll never figure it out. You barely know how to take a picture with your phone."
She clicked swiftly through to the photo stream and began scrolling through the pictures. Her heart drummed a slow, ominous beat. She could scarcely believe what she was seeing.
13
"Blair!" Matt gestured urgently for the camera. "Let me see that!"
A cold sweat broke out over the back of her neck. She darted an uneasy look in Logan's direction before passing the camera to Matt. Her brain scrambled to find an explanation for the startling string of photos Hazel had taken of Logan and Whitney. Some of them were innocuous—the pair going in and out of their trailer, fetching something from their truck, or walking down to the road, arms entwined. But many of the pictures crossed a line of privacy. Evidently, they’d been taken with the zoom lens through the windows of Logan’s and Whitney’s trailer. Granted, none of them were in the bedroom area due to the blinds being closed. But Hazel had shot countless photos of them at their dining table, opening the refrigerator, playing cards, in the throes of an argument, even kissing on the couch. Every conceivable move had been captured. Blair bit her lip, at a loss as to why Hazel was spying on the honeymooning couple in the neighboring campsite.
Matt looked up from the camera and met her gaze. She knew he had all the same questions that were flitting around inside her head. What had Hazel been up to? And was this somehow connected to her disappearance?
"Pass the camera around!" Whitney clamored.
"Hurry up!" Sam reiterated. With an air of reluctance, Matt handed him the camera. The rest of the group clustered around, their faces slackening with shock as Sam began clicking through the surveillance-type pictures.
"That crazy cow!" Logan fumed, thrusting his hands into his hair. "I knew she was up to no good. She gave me the creeps from the get-go! Talking it up with Whitney at the gas station. Luring us here. All this time, she's been snapping pictures of our every move—stalking us. She’s a predator!"
Whitney pressed her palms to her cheeks, her face chalk-white with fear. "She … she was going to kill us next. That’s what this means, doesn’t it? Why else was she taking those photos of us?" She cast a terrified glance around the room as though seeking confirmation.
Sam shook his head in disbelief. "I’m not buying it. Hazel’s not a killer. I never got that kind of vibe from her."
Harvey moved his jaw slowly side-to-side. "Come to think of it, she was bound and determined to get inside my RV and sniff around."
Blair frowned, contemplating his words. Hazel had been eager to accompany Sandy into the RV—pushy even. And she’d admitted to snooping around in the bathroom, purportedly looking for Sandy's prescriptions. Had Hazel lied about not finding any, other than Vicodin? A shiver ran down Blair’s spine when another thought occurred to her. Hazel had insisted on making Sandy some herbal tea, despite Harvey’s protests. She could have put anything in it.
Was it possible they were trapped in this campground with a crazed female serial killer—one they’d unwittingly entertained? Blair rubbed her arms, mulling the idea over. Was Hazel going to methodically pick them off? It wouldn’t be hard if she had a gun. Suddenly, Blair wished with all her heart that she hadn’t talked Matt out of bringing his weapon with them on this trip. What had made so much sense at the time now seemed like a reckless call that could cost them their lives.
"What are we going to do?" Logan spat out. "If she’s the killer, we’ve no way of defending ourselves." His unsettling look slid from one person to the next. "Unless one of you has a gun?"
Blair shot Matt an abashed look. "We didn’t bring ours."
Harvey let out a heavy sigh. "Sandy's always been dead set against weapons."
"I don't own a gun either," Sam said.
Logan narrowed his eyes, shooting suspicious looks around. "I don't know if I believe any of you. Maybe you’re all armed and lying through your teeth about it."
"Wait a minute!" Blair held up her palms in protest. "Why would you assume any of us are lying? Maybe you’re the one who’s lying. How about we put this issue to bed once and for all and search everyone’s trailer? If we’ve nothing to hide, then it won’t be a problem." She cocked a challenging brow at Logan.
"What for?" he scoffed. "Do you think one of us has got Hazel stuffed in a closet or something?"
"The point is, we don't know what you might be
hiding," Matt replied, fixing a piercing gaze on him. "You keep crying about wanting to feel safer. How about everyone throws down their cards and opens up their rigs for inspection?" He looked intently around at the others. "Unless one of you has something to hide?"
Sam blinked rapidly, looking extremely uncomfortable. "It’s a bit intrusive, going through each other’s trailers. I’m not sure we need to take it to that extreme."
"I agree," Harvey said. "The last thing Sandy needs right now is you lot traipsing through our RV."
Matt folded his arms across his chest. "Like Blair said earlier, we either pull together or go our separate ways. I like to know who I'm working with. I say we search the trailers. Let’s vote on it."
Whitney gave a non-committal shrug. "Fine with me. If we can't trust each other, then it only adds to the danger we're in."
"Are we all in agreement then?" Blair asked.
Sam frowned. "I think it’s taking things a step too far."
Harvey pressed his lips together. "I’m with Sam. I’m against the idea."
"That’s three yesses and two no’s so far," Matt said.
They all turned to Logan who sputtered in indignation. "No way! Too invasive and a total waste of time. We should be figuring out how to defend ourselves in case that lunatic strikes again." He turned and took a step toward the door, but Matt grabbed him by the arm. "Hold up! Where do you think you're going?"
Logan wrenched his arm out of Matt’s grasp and took a swing at him, but Matt easily sidestepped him. Logan scowled and turned on his heel. "I’m heading back to my trailer." He pinned an accusatory gaze on Whitney. "Are you coming or what?"
"We’re not done here yet," Matt cut in. "We’re in the middle of a vote."
"Voting’s closed." A cocky grin danced across Logan’s lips. "Three in favor, three against. A tie means we aren't searching the trailers."
"I disagree. A tie means we need another voter," Blair said.
"How about we ask Rob to break the tie?" Sam suggested.
"Why should he have a vote?" Harvey protested. "He won’t care either way—it’s not his trailer he’s bunking in."
"I think Sandy should cast the deciding vote," Blair said.
Harvey frowned. "I can tell you what she’d say. You really think, as sick as she is, she’d want you lot piling into the RV and going through all her stuff."
"That's Sandy's decision to make," Matt replied. "Let’s take one last look around here before we leave. Now that we know Hazel has a concealed carry permit, it’s possible she has a safe in the trailer somewhere. Keep an eye out for any cabinets with a false panel."
"She might have her gun hidden in a fake book," Whitney piped up. "I saw that on TV one time."
Blair turned away to mask her frustration.
"Only an amateur would do that," Matt said.
"Oh, so now she's gone from being a missing person to a professional hit woman." Logan curled his lip. "You're so full of it."
Before Matt could retaliate, Blair spoke up. "Get busy! If there's a gun here, we need to find it. And if there's an empty gun safe, we need to know about it."
She returned to the bedroom with Matt and began checking all the panels at the back of the overhead cabinets. Next, they pulled up the bed and searched the storage area beneath it again carefully, looking for a removable panel that might conceal a hiding place for a weapon. "There's nothing here," Matt said, pushing the bed back down on its hinges. He opened the bedside cabinet nearest to him and got down on his knees to peer inside. Turning on his pocket flashlight, he tapped on the panel at the back. "Check the cabinet on the other side," he called to Blair.
"Nothing," she confirmed.
After straightening up the covers on the bed, they went back out to the living area.
"Find anything?" Matt asked, looking around hopefully.
Sam shook his head. "I pulled out the sleeper sofa and searched behind it, and underneath, and all around. No hiding places that I could see."
"Nothing in the kitchen either," Harvey said.
"Or the bathroom," Whitney added.
"All right," Matt conceded. "We've done all we can for now. Let's lock up here. If Sandy’s up to the task, we’ll have her cast the final vote on whether or not we search the other rigs."
The atmosphere was decidedly frosty—a Cold War of sorts—as the group wound their way to the RV, darting furtive looks at one another along the way. The whole situation was confusing to Blair. She was torn between believing Hazel was a victim and wondering if she could possibly be the killer. Or was it Logan? He could be hiding a whole lot more than just the fact that he was an abusive husband. Was that why he didn’t want them searching his trailer? Or could the killer be the elusive duck hunter? Blair traced her fingertips across her throbbing forehead. Everyone was hiding secrets. The only thing she knew for sure was that Bird Creek had become a hunting ground, and their unknown predator was extremely dangerous. It was time they formulated a plan to defend themselves.
When they arrived at the RV, Harvey went up the steps and unlocked the door.
"If Sandy’s sleeping, don’t disturb her," Blair said. "We can always go to plan "B" and have Rob vote."
Harvey nodded. "Wait here. I just need a few minutes to explain to her what’s going on."
A moment later, his desolate cry for help echoed throughout the RV.
14
Without a moment’s hesitation, Blair flung open the RV door and darted back to the bedroom. Harvey was hunched over, a dazed expression on his face. Blair fastened a horror-stricken gaze on Sandy who was lying motionless in the bed. "Is … is she—"
"She's dead," Harvey rasped. He brushed a shaking hand over his wife’s pallid forehead. "She’s gone. Sandy’s gone."
Blair checked for a pulse and then turned to the others, who’d followed her inside. She tightened her lips and gave a subtle shake of her head.
Whitney let out a whimper of fear. She clung to Logan who wore a look of bored indifference.
Matt’s eyes clouded over. He laid a hand on Harvey’s arm to get his attention. "Do you mind if I check to make sure?"
Harvey gestured dispassionately for him to go ahead. He appeared stupefied, as if he could barely grasp what was happening.
Blair stepped back and joined the others huddled by the doorway, their faces taut with shock. The unrelenting stress of the past couple of hours was engraved in their eyes, along with the burning question: Had the killer struck again?
Matt straightened up after a moment or two. "I can’t detect a pulse. I’m so sorry, Harvey."
"How … did she die?" Whitney asked, her eyes flitting from Matt to Harvey. "I mean … was it the cancer?"
"I don’t see any apparent injuries," Matt said, his face betraying nothing. "It appears she passed away peacefully in her sleep."
Harvey gave a rueful shake of his head. "If only I’d been able to get her to a hospital yesterday. This wouldn’t have happened. We shouldn’t have stopped off here. I tried to tell her this place was too remote, but she was a stubborn one."
"It isn’t your fault, Harvey. Don’t blame yourself," Blair soothed. "There probably wasn’t much more the hospital could have done to help her."
"Would you like some time alone?" Matt asked.
Harvey gave a tentative nod. "I … think that would be good." He sank down on the edge of the bed, folding in on himself like a deflated balloon.
Matt and Blair discreetly exited the bedroom and motioned to the others to follow them.
Back outside the RV, they congregated around the picnic table.
"Please tell me this wasn’t the work of the killer." Whitney’s voice trailed off on a note of despair.
Matt scrubbed his hands over his face. "I don’t see any injuries," he said in a low tone. "Or blood. She definitely wasn’t strangled or shot."
"But?" Sam prompted.
Matt exhaled a heavy breath. "I’m not a medical professional. I can't say for sure how she died."
&nb
sp; "It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out," Logan said derisively. "The woman had stage four cancer. She barely made it through the last round of chemo—she was the walking dead. Hardly a shocker."
Matt grimaced. "Heck of a coincidence, though."
Sam raised his brows. "Are you suggesting the killer might have struck again?"
"I don’t know." Matt gave a helpless shrug. "I just don’t know. And that’s what bothers me."
"Could Sandy have been suffocated—smothered with a pillow in her sleep or something?" Whitney asked. "That wouldn’t leave any apparent injuries."
"It isn’t how serial killers operate," Sam replied. "They usually have a pattern, commonalities to their crimes. They wouldn’t strangle one victim along a hiking trail, and then smother another one in their bed." He shook his head as if to convince himself. "It doesn't fit."
"What do you know about it?" Logan scoffed. "Are you some kind of FBI profiler now? I thought you climbed rocks for a living. Or did you give that up after your little accident?"
A flash of anger ricocheted across Sam’s face, shocking Blair in its intensity. He took a step in Logan’s direction, but Matt barred his way.
"Knock it off, Logan," Matt barked. "We might be depending on Sam’s climbing skills to reach help if someone doesn’t find us soon. In the meantime, let’s stay focused on the issue at hand."
"There’s no indication the RV was broken into," Blair said. "We can’t rule out the possibility that Sandy overdosed on her pain medication. Only an autopsy could determine that."
Logan pursed his lips. "She’d have been foaming at the mouth if she’d OD’d."
"She could have been poisoned with something that isn’t so easily detected," Matt said, tucking his hands into his armpits. "Any one of us could have done it."
Whitney frowned. "How? We were all over at Hazel’s trailer."
"Except for Rob," Sam pointed out. "But I can’t imagine he would have any reason to harm her."
"You keep talking like serial killers are rational beings." Logan threw up his hands in frustration and began pacing between the picnic table and the fire pit. "They’re not. They’re raving lunatics."
You Will Never Leave: A psychological suspense thriller Page 10