by D. K. Hood
“Then we’ll need to find out if he’s escaped ASAP.” Jo reached for her phone. “Although if he’s still in custody, you might have to consider a copycat killer.”
Unsettled by the thought of a copycat killer with her in his sights, Jenna pushed both hands through her hair. “That’s all I need.” She looked at Jo. “Make the call. If it is Stone, at least we’ll know who we’re up against.”
As Jo made the call, Kane and Carter came through the front door. She turned to look at them and held a finger to her lips to stop their chatter, but Jo stood and walked into the hallway. “Jo’s calling the county jail to make sure James Stone is under lock and key.”
“So, you figure he’s behind this attack?” Carter dropped into a chair beside her and pushed back the rim of his Stetson. “Kane mentioned the crossbow but honestly, Jenna. Stone isn’t the first killer to use a crossbow. It’s probably a coincidence. For instance, did Stone leave ears as his calling card? Or take them for trophies?”
Jenna shook her head. “No, but the crossbow and the intent reminded me of Stone. I’m wondering if he has a follower out there.”
“It’s possible.” Kane filled two cups with coffee and handed one to Carter and then refilled Jenna’s cup. “Although, because of the macabre nature of the case, details of the murders were withheld from the media. Only we know he blamed you, so this has to be someone else.” He sat down and added liberal amounts of sugar and cream to his cup. “One thing for sure, a woman is missing an ear. That message was loud and clear, but is he advertising the fact he’s murdered someone or is he holding them for ransom?”
Jenna moved her attention over Kane and Carter as they removed their Stetsons and almost self-consciously ran their hands through their hair. They had their sleeves rolled up, but apart from that, she would have walked right past them in the street. She leaned back in her chair and stared at them. The usual jeans and casual shirts had been replaced by suit pants and dress shirts. It was obvious both had visited the barber, although Carter’s sun-bleached blond locks looked as if he’d visited a stylist. His hair still hung over his collar but was fashionably untidy. Kane, on the other hand, looked slick, his dark hair trimmed to perfection. She must have been in shock not to notice the change in them before and wondered just how much she had missed during the home invasion. She cleared her throat. “I guess we’ll have to see if anything comes in today. Perhaps Wolfe can use the Snapshot DNA Profiler or whatever it’s called, again and we’ll be able to get some idea of what the person looks like who’s lost the ear.”
“I’m sure he will.” Kane smiled at her. “He’ll be by later to give you an update. He is arranging for some of his friends to come by and secure the property.”
Jenna understood by Wolfe’s “friends” he meant a government team would be by, no doubt by chopper, to secure the ranch. Having POTUS watching over their security meant things happened fast when necessary. She nodded. “Thanks.” She was going to ask about the conference when Jo’s voice came from behind her.
“Stone is under lock and key.” Jo walked into the kitchen. “He has visits from his lawyer, that’s all. His mail is opened and read before he gets it, he’s not permitted to send anything from the jail. There’s no way he can communicate instructions or discuss his case with anyone who may be a fan.” She sighed. “I spoke to the warden and because of Stone’s notoriety, they keep a very close watch on him. Apparently, he is a model prisoner and spends most of his time in the library reading law books and making notes. Maybe he’s writing a novel?”
“So, it will be a wait and see situation.” Carter finished his coffee and stood. “We’ll head off home now. Jo wants to see her daughter. Our resources are at your disposal if necessary and as it’s quiet in Snakeskin Gully right now, if you need us, just pick up the phone.”
“Thanks.” Jenna smiled at him. “I appreciate you coming by.”
“Any time.” Carter pushed on his Stetson and looked at Kane. “I’ll drop you at the ME’s office so you can pick up your ride.”
“Okay.” Kane turned to Jenna. “Unless you need me here? I could get a ride back to town with Rowley?”
Jenna shook her head. “Go, I’ll be fine. I’ll leave Rowley and Rio in charge of the office today and we’ll see if we can chase down anyone with a missing ear. I want you here to watch over the repair crew when they arrive.”
“Roger that.” Kane bent to examine her face and frowned. “You should go and rest. There’s nothing you can do at the moment. Wolfe will be at least an hour, and Rowley and Rio are out looking for clues. No one will disturb you.”
“Sure.” Jenna stood and gave Jo a hug. She’d enjoyed her last visit with her daughter, Jaime. “It was good to see you again. Say hi to Jaime for me.”
“I will.” Jo smiled at her. “I’ve a feeling we’ll be back soon. This case is intriguing.”
A cold shiver trickled down Jenna’s back, as if someone had filled the back of her shirt with snow. She swallowed the rising apprehension. “I’m not sure if that’s the word I would use if this is a copycat killer of the Stone murders. I’ll send you the case files.”
“I’ll read them on the chopper and get right back to you.” Jo squeezed her arm. “You do want my evaluation on Stone, so you can make a comparison?”
Jenna nodded. “Yeah, I’d appreciate your input.” She grimaced. “If this is the same type of psychopath, we’re in for a bloodbath.”
Ten
The new Wild Outdoors store in Black Rock Falls impressed him with its range of goods, and he liked the fact it opened at six every morning to cater to the hunters’ and no doubt the hikers’ needs, selling everything most people would require. It was always busy, as people in Black Rock Falls liked to make an early start to the day. He inhaled the mixture of smells from leather to gun grease and scanned the floor from one end to the other. The massive store held everything from camping gear to bullets, and it was a great place to observe potential bait. Of late, the town had become a magnet for tourists, and even this late in the season when the first frosts were already glistening on the high country each morning, some folks still wanted to hike into the mountains. Returning to Stanton Forest after a time away had been like awakening the beast. Many things had changed in his home town, but the forest remained constant. So had the mountain ranges, lakes, and waterfalls, but the town had grown from a quiet place in the middle of nowhere to a bustling, busy vacation destination. The hordes of bright and happy faces surprised him considering the town’s reputation for being murder central. It seemed to him, being a possible target only added to the excitement of their visit.
He examined a top of the range backpack from a display he would never have considered long ago, but now he had money to burn. The equipment he chose said something about him, as did his appearance. People tended to trust the clean-cut type and avoided those who looked as if they planned to mug them at the first chance. He’d been following a couple from Aunt Betty’s Café, the local eatery, after overhearing their conversation about hiking into the forest. Tour guides were booked to capacity as people rushed to the area. The hiking season was coming to an end. The first snow would arrive soon and many hikers were discussing how long they had before the weather turned bad, what trails to take, and the designated hunting areas to avoid. Most of them he’d dismissed as unsuitable, but the young couple would be perfect. They’d been complaining about the availability of a suitable guide, the lack of maps, and were currently arguing about purchasing a GPS to take into the forest. The cost would mean they’d have to cut their vacation short.
He smiled to himself and zipped up his jacket, making sure the Black Rock Falls Private Tour Guide patch was visible. How simple that had been to replicate. These days anything could be copied. The technology was amazing. From growing ears to replicating a human heart on a printer, a simple patch was a walk in the park. He moved closer to the couple and examined an expensive satellite phone sleeve. He bit down hard on his lip when the young dark-h
aired woman nudged her companion so hard, he yelped in pain. He turned and smiled at them but said nothing.
“Excuse me.” The man looked at him with a pained expression. “I noticed you’re a tour guide.”
“I am. It’s a beautiful day and I can’t wait to get my hiking boots on.” He sighed dramatically. “Unfortunately, the party who booked me for the next couple of days decided to hole up in Blackwater with relatives until after Halloween.” He shrugged. “At least it gave me time to collect supplies.”
“Are you available for hire—for Tuesday?” The man’s face lit up with eager enthusiasm and he stuck out his hand. “Emmett and Patti Howard out of Sleepy Creek.”
He couldn’t respond with his real name and glanced around the store for inspiration. His attention settled on the crossbow bolts he’d stacked on the counter beside a box of Jerry’s Beef Jerky and the fine new hunting knife he’d chosen. “Ah, nice to meet you.” He shook the man’s hand. “Jerry Bolt.”
“Well, are you free or not?” Patti Howard pushed a strand of raven hair behind one ear. “We need a guide to show us the trails into the mountain and a safe place to camp overnight. We have a good sense of direction and once you show us how to get there, we’ll be able to find our way back. We don’t want to stay up there for days, there’s so much to see in this area.”
Jerry shook his head. “That’s not a good idea unless you’re familiar with Stanton Forest, but if you want some alone time, I could leave you there and I’ll make camp some ways away and come back and get you later or the next day? Or I could take you to see some of the attractions before you hike back to town?” He shrugged. “I’m easy either way. I’m planning on heading into the mountains anyway, there’s a few less busy trails I want to explore.” He looked at Patti Howard. From the argument he’d heard, she handled the purse strings. “If you want to tag along, I’ll show you to a safe place to camp. If you decide you want a tour of the sights the next day, I’ll only charge you the going rate for one day.”
“That sounds great!” Emmett beamed. “What time do we leave?”
Amused, Jerry looked from one to the other. They looked so eager and trusting. It was a shame he had to seed the forest for his kills, but with so many people packing for bear, he needed to be careful. “Sure. Get your supplies together. Can you find your way to the parking lot at Bear Peak? You take Stanton until you see a road sign pointing to Bear Peak Lookout. Head to the parking lot and I’ll meet you there at eleven-thirty.”
“That seems awful late to start hiking.” Emmett frowned. “We’ll waste the entire day.”
Feigning disinterest, Jerry looked away. He didn’t plan on spending too much time with his prey. He had things to do, places to be, and waited a beat before returning his gaze to the couple and then shrugged. “That’s the earliest I can get there. It’s not a long hike to the campsite, and you’ll have time to set up your tent and eat before it gets dark. Once you’re settled, I’ll leave and come back the next day to make sure you get back to your vehicle. Or we can spend some time exploring the forest. It’s up to you. Either way, I’ll have you back here before it gets dark.”
“Okay.” Emmett nodded slowly. “Are there bears up there? I have a rifle in my truck.”
Jerry raised both eyebrows. “Of course, there are bears but they’ll leave us be and I’ll bring bear spray. You can’t just go around shooting bears in Stanton Forest when you feel like it, the MFWP, that’s the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officers, will haul in your ass. You’d need a license and as grizzlies are protected, they’d need to be attacking you before you could fire on them and I won’t allow that to happen.” He looked from one to the other. “There are rules you need to follow when hiking and camping so you don’t attract bears. I’ll show you how to protect your campsite.”
“Thank you. I’m glad we ran into you, Jerry.” Emmett took out his wallet. “Do you want me to fix you up now?”
“Nah.” Jerry laughed. “After is fine. I’ll see you later.” He turned away to select a backpack and then headed through the crowded store to the counter to pay for his purchases.
Outside, he made his way to the alleyway where he’d parked his truck and checked his supplies. He’d head out now, to see what chaos had been created at the sheriff’s ranch, and then head into the forest to choose a suitable killing ground. He liked to make sure he had everything ready for a hunt. The anticipation of the kill made his hands tremble with excitement as he turned the key in the ignition. He turned in the direction of the sheriff’s ranch, taking the backroad that led to the old pastoral trails. The sheriff couldn’t have the security up and running yet. He smiled to himself. He’d hole up there to watch the excitement and then head into the mountains. He had plans to make.
People rarely used the parking lot at Bear Peak anymore as too many bodies had been found in the area, but it was perfect for his needs. He wondered if Emmett would bring his rifle and try to defend himself. The idea added another level of thrill to his task, and the risk of his prey killing him was a chance he’d be prepared to take. Nothing in life was certain, that was for sure. As he drove deeper into the pine trees, the view seemed to brighten, colors became vivid. Like a butterfly exploding from a cocoon, he’d started to enjoy life again, and if it was for only one more glorious day, so be it.
Eleven
Once the chopper lifted off, Jenna stared at the suit jacket over the back of the chair and Kane’s bag by the front door. A restlessness crept over her. Sleeping was out of the question. How could she rest when someone had invaded her sanctuary? She didn’t feel safe anymore in her own home. She walked to the door and flung it open and took in the view. The big blue sky had pushed away the storm clouds and she could see the snowcapped peaks high above Stanton Forest. She turned again to take in the rolling lowlands wearing their fall coat of many colors. Beauty had surrounded her like a warm hug and someone had spoiled it. She turned and looked at Duke, curled up in his basket beside the fireplace. He gave a shiver as if he joined her in her concern. Kane’s loyal companion would have given his life to protect her, same as his master, and the thought humbled her. She went to the thermostat and turned up the heat and then went to Duke and pulled his blanket over him. One sleepy eye opened and Duke licked her hand. She stroked his silken head. “Go back to sleep, everything is going to be fine.”
Jenna made her way over to her house and surveyed the damage with a clearer head than before. The sturdy front door had been ripped off the hinges, and that took some strength, but inside had been trashed. Her new lamps and coffee table were in pieces, windows smashed, and the only picture of her, taken at a cookout with her friends, had been crushed under the heel of a boot. The new rug in front of the fire was covered in glass. She’d been proud of the renovations, and everything she’d worked on with Kane and her friends had been destroyed, apart from the darn drapes in the family room. She swallowed hard. All those memory triggers gone forever. Shaking her head to crush the remorse, she remembered the reason she didn’t collect personal items. Nothing from her past life existed and always being ready to run meant she couldn’t leave any clues behind.
“Jenna.” Shane Wolfe walked up beside her. “I’m just about done here.” He glanced around. “He didn’t touch your bedroom, and the kitchen looks fine. The drawers were open and a couple of your knives are missing from the block. I’ve collected samples from all over, but I doubt he left anything we can use apart from the ear. No fingerprints on the bolts, no hair, fibers, or any trace evidence. The bolts are sold everywhere, same with his boots.”
“He must be strong to have ripped the door off the hinges, Shane.” She stared into his concerned face. “This security is supposed to be the best available and yet he got in with ease and could have murdered me in my bed. I didn’t hear a thing. If Duke and Pumpkin hadn’t alerted me, I’d probably be dead.”
“It was my fault.” Wolfe looked at her with his steady gray gaze. “I shouldn’t have left the remote to the ranch in
my glovebox. I had no idea anyone even knew I had one. He wouldn’t have got in without it, but I’m arranging another fail-safe. We’re putting a second backup generator in the cellar. Kane said there is an empty part of the cellar you converted, which will work just fine. We’re also removing the power box from the pole outside. Most people have a switch inside now with a surge protector built in for storms. It can go in the mud room.”
Jenna nodded. “I don’t blame you, Shane, but whoever did this still has the control for the gate.”
“Everything is being upgraded and will work through your phone now.” Wolfe smiled. “Don’t worry, Bobby Kalo the FBI whizz kid will make sure everything is hacker proof.”
Jenna shuddered. “Unless someone cuts off my thumb.”
“Then we’ll incorporate a retinal scanner.” Wolfe shrugged.
“So, they’ll cut out an eye?” Jenna rubbed both her arms, suddenly cold. “That makes me feel a whole lot better.”
“We’ll keep you safe, I promise.” Wolfe gave her a long look. “Do you want to come stay with me and the girls until this is sorted?”
Jenna shook her head. “Much as I’d love to, I’ve work to do and Kane’s spare room will be just fine. I don’t think anyone will get past him or Duke.”
“Me either.” Wolfe gave her a long look. Dave will guard you with his life, and I mean every word.”
Jenna rolled her eyes. “Yes, I know, and I’d just gotten him out of being overprotective.” She sighed. “It’s not that I don’t appreciate him, I do, but when he’s worried about my safety, I lose my friend and he becomes a different person.”