by Trevor Scott
“Understood. But you need to understand that I don’t work for you. I was sent here on temporary assignment.”
“To work in the empty slot from this district,” she reminded him. “Do I need to call your boss in Milwaukee and have him remind you of that fact?”
The law enforcement special agent tightened his jaw, his disposition changing from dismissive to reluctantly compliant. “That won’t be necessary. Will that be all?”
She waved her hand for him to leave. Wayne Cranston rushed out of her office and let the door slam against the jam on the wall.
Chris considered picking up the phone and calling Milwaukee, demanding that they recall that asshole. And she didn’t need that man trapping any bear on Disappointment Lake. Her people were capable of doing that.
4
Duluth, Minnesota
Max Kane had gotten to Duluth a couple of hours before he needed to pick up his sister at the airport. He used the time to drive around the city to see what made it tick. He spent some time at an outdoors store in Canal Park, an area of shops near the famous Aerial Lift Bridge, which lifted the road to let Great Lakes and saltwater ships into the harbor.
The helpful young woman had asked Max if he planned to head out into the wilderness camping. Since Max was wearing his western attire, from his cowboy hat and boots to his large silver belt buckle with a ‘Don’t Tread On Me’ message, he wasn’t sure if the girl was mocking him. It turned out she was simply trying to upsell him on bug repellant. He bought a couple of different types. He also bought a rip-stop and waterproof map of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
He got to the airport a little early, so he had a beer while he waited for his sister’s flight.
Finally, ten minutes early, Robin’s flight came in from Chicago. He sucked down the last of his beer and went to the baggage claim.
The Duluth International Airport was not exactly large. There were only four gates.
Robin came out with the other passengers pulling a large carry-on bag behind her. She looked taller with her own cowboy boots, and couldn’t help notice a few men checking her out. He didn’t blame them, though. His sister had it going on still, despite crossing forty-years-old a while back.
He gave her a welcoming hug and kissed her forehead. “Glad you made it in one piece,” he said.
“It was gorgeous flying in,” Robin said. “We flew right over Lake Superior.”
“It’s hard to believe it’s the same lake we encountered in Marquette, Michigan. That has to be more than two hundred miles away.”
“I know, right. Have you eaten? I could eat a horse.”
“You have.”
She hit him. “Have not.”
He smiled and said, “I take it you have more than just the carry-on bag.”
“You know me. And we never know how long we might be up north. I brought outdoors clothes mostly.”
Her bag came and they headed out to his truck in the parking garage. Since there wasn’t much room in the bed, he put her suitcases in the back seat.
Then he drove out and stopped at a fast food drive through for a burger and fries.
“That hit the spot,” Robin said.
By now they were quite a distance out of town, heading north on Highway 53.
“We aren’t at the edge of the world,” Max said, “but I think we can see it from here.”
“It’s pretty. A lot of trees.”
“Have you heard from our client?”
“I got a couple of texts in Chicago,” Robin said. “She sounds desperate and confused. I feel for her.”
“That’s why we got in this business,” Max assured her.
“I know. But things don’t always work out.”
She didn’t have to tell Max this. He had a lot of time to consider the case as he drove up from Missouri. How could a woman survive that long in the wilderness? Water wouldn’t be a problem, but food could be, he thought. Humans could live a few days without water, and a few weeks or a month without food. He jammed down on the gas with that thought.
“What was she thinking?” Max asked.
“They had a meeting this morning at the Forest Service office. They confirmed that the search was off. She’s frustrated.”
Suddenly, Robin’s phone buzzed and played a country western song. She checked the screen and said, “Speaking of the client.” She tapped the green button and said, “Hello, Kim. I have you on speaker with my brother.”
“Hi. It sounds like you’re driving.”
“We left Duluth about a half hour ago,” Robin said. “You’re in Ely?”
“Yes. At my sister’s house. She has a spare room for one of you. The other will have to take the couch.”
“Max will be glad to do so,” Robin said, smiling at her brother.
“Not a problem,” Max said. “I also have a blow-up mattress.”
“That would work even better,” Kim said. Then she let out a desperate sigh and continued, “I really want to thank the two of you for doing this. Nobody believes my sister is still alive. But I would know if she was gone. Wouldn’t I?”
Max turned to his sister and shrugged. “Siblings have a connection, Kim. I would think you’d know.”
After a long pause, Kim said, “I didn’t mention this earlier, but the Forest Service has sent a special agent from Milwaukee.”
“They have special agents?” Robin asked.
Max nodded and took the question. “They have a law enforcement and investigations division. A guy from Nevada has been trying to recruit me to join them.”
Robin explained, “My brother was a special agent with the Air Force.”
“You mentioned that,” Kim said. “Maybe Max can speak the guy’s language. He seems out of his element.”
“Has the autopsy on the young man come back yet?” Max asked her.
“Not yet. I guess they did a preliminary assessment and found that a bear had eaten part of the man. But they don’t have a true cause of death yet.”
“That could take some time,” Max said. “They would have to determine claws and bite marks being the proximate cause of death. That could be hard to determine.”
“You’re right,” Kim said. “Especially since other predators had chewed on the man, from birds to rodents.”
Robin broke in. “You said they found human remains in the bear poo?”
“Scat,” Max corrected.
“Whatever. You know what I mean.” Robin rolled her eyes with precision.
Kim said, “Yes. Which means the bears were there long enough to digest him.”
“How long did it take someone to find him?” Max asked.
“About two days.”
Max couldn’t hold back a grimace as he shook his head. “I hate to be insensitive, but did the bear eat most of his intestines?”
“Yes. You know your predation,” Kim said. “They literally go for the soft underbelly. Then move on to things like legs and arms—meat that has softened with time.”
“Did they haul off his body?” Max asked.
“Only a few feet from the tent. But I’m guessing that would have happened in a day or so.”
“What about the bear?” Robin asked.
“What about it?”
“Have they found it?”
“That’s next,” Kim said. “The special agent from Milwaukee has authorized the trapping of the bear.”
“They’ll have to put it down,” Max said.
“We know. That’s standard operating procedure.” Kim seemed to be contemplating something on the other end. “What do you think happened?”
Max glanced at his sister for a second before returning his eyes to the road ahead. His sister pointed at him to answer. “I don’t like to speculate, Kim. But if your sister is as good in the woods as you claim, then I’d have to say she’s still alive.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” Max warned. “There are too many factors to consider without seeing the locati
on of her camp. From the maps I’ve reviewed, that’s one isolated location.”
“To the novice it is,” Kim said. “But for those familiar with the Boundary Waters, it’s an inviting place. Heaven on Earth.”
“We can only imagine,” Robin said.
Max added, “The drive up north is beautiful.”
“Hopefully you’ll get here before dark. Watch out for deer crossing the highway. They can be deadly.”
“Will do.”
With that, they both hung up.
Robin put her phone back in her small purse. “What do you think?”
“I can feel the pain in her voice,” he said.
“Understandable under the circumstances.”
Yes, it was. He just hoped the two of them could help the young woman relieve her pain.
A little more than an hour later, Max drove slowly into Ely, Minnesota, the sun starting to set over the thick forests of the Northland.
“Nice little town,” Robin said. “Take the next left.”
“I’m trying to imagine it in the winter,” Max said, and then turned down a hill toward a large lake in the distance. “It is nice in the summer, though.”
In a couple of minutes, they found the small house sitting among tall pine trees. From Max’s judgment, the lake was only a couple of blocks down the hill.
“Let’s go take a look,” Max said. “If it’s uncomfortable, we can find a hotel.”
“I’m sure it will be fine.”
Max thought the house looked like his place in Wells, Nevada. But he wasn’t talking about the physical nature of the place, he was thinking about how it would feel staying with someone they didn’t really know.
As they walked up to the front door, a young woman with a blonde ponytail stepped out onto the porch in stocking feet. She was wearing only a pair of shorts and a maroon UMD Bulldogs Hockey T-shirt.
Robin went directly to the young lady and gave her a big hug. They introduced each other all around, and Max stuck with a professional handshake.
“It’s nightfall,” Kim said. “We need to get inside or the blood suckers will eat us alive.”
“Vampires?” Max said with a smile.
“Just about. Mosquitoes.”
At that moment, Max smacked one of the creatures on his neck.
“Told ya,” Kim said, rushing into the house.
Once inside, Kim gave them each a once-over and said, “You didn’t tell me your brother was a handsome cowboy.”
“He’s handsome,” Robin said. “But he doesn’t own a horse.”
Max instinctively took off his cowboy boots and set them on a pad next to the door. “Actually, sis. I bought a horse last month.”
“You did? You didn’t tell me that.” She took off her boots also.
“She’s a three-year-old silver dapple just broken.”
“I stand corrected,” Robin said.
Kim smiled and said, “I hope this will be okay for you. No need to get a hotel. Besides, if you can find a room at this time of year, they really jack the price.”
“This is perfect,” Max said, glancing about the main room, from the small dining area and kitchen to the living room with the river rock fireplace. “It reminds me of my place in Nevada.”
“Great. Can I offer you a beer?”
“I’ll take one,” Max said.
“I’ll have some water,” Robin said.
After getting their drinks, they went to the living room and sat down. They talked for a half hour until Robin started falling asleep. Max took that as a sign to get their bags. He went out and pulled Robin’s bags from the back seat. Then he found his small duffle bag in the bed of his truck, locked inside his topper. As he was about to head inside, he heard a noise behind him. He turned slowly and saw a large black bear crossing the road into the neighbor’s backyard.
Back inside, he took Robin’s bags to the spare bedroom. His sister immediately got settled in.
In the living room again, Kim said, “Would you like another beer? I’m not ready for bed. I’m too excited. I understand you’ve been on the road all day and must be tired.”
“I could do another one,” Max said.
He sat on the sofa and watched her go back to the kitchen. She was a lovely young lady, he decided.
She handed him another beer and sat on the sofa turning toward him. They talked for another half hour. Then Kim picked up a folding knife from the coffee table and handed it to him.
He looked it over and opened it, clicking the lock blade into place.
“Nice knife,” Max said.
“I gave it to my sister when she graduated from college,” Kim said. “She’s never without it.”
“It looks like it’s well used,” he said.
“Yep. I found it in her camp about two feet from her open tent.”
“Open or closed?” he asked.
“Open just like that.”
“You say her tent door was open?”
She nodded her head.
He tried to visualize that scenario. “She’s in her tent. Hears a noise. So, she pulls out the only weapon she has and goes outside to confront an attack.”
“She would yell at the bear to get out,” Kim said. “They both had bear spray with them, but neither of them used it. It remained in their backpacks.”
“If it was night, she would use her flashlight. Did you find that?”
Kim shook her head. “I never thought of that. We found one of her flashlights, but not her headlamp, which we both use as our primary lights. Good point.”
“Okay. Let’s say she hears something outside. She puts on her headlamp and pulls her knife. But for some reason doesn’t think about deploying her bear spray. Why not?”
Kim shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“Can we go to the camp tomorrow? Maybe I can better visualize it then.”
“Does your sister canoe?”
“We had a canoe as kids,” he said. “We used it at a lake in the Ruby Mountains. But neither of us are experts.”
“I have a friend who knows the Boundary Waters like the back of his hand,” she said. “He has agreed to take us into the wilderness tomorrow.”
“Awesome.”
“He’s also a local legend with black bears.”
“Speaking of which, you seem to have a major problem with them here. I just saw an enormous one going into your neighbor’s back yard.”
She shook her head. “That’s probably Yogi. He raids their garden every year. I’m not sure why they even bother. What the bears don’t eat, the deer do.”
The drive was starting to hit Max finally. He patted the sofa cushion and said, “I think I can pass out right here. Do you have an extra blanket?”
Kim got up and went to a hall closet, returning with a spare pillow, a sheet and a thin blanket, setting them where she had been sitting. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”
“This is great,” he said. “What time do we get up?”
They agreed that seven would be early enough, and Max knew that he would be up long before that—an unfortunate consequence of his military experience. Then they said goodnight and Max settled into the sofa.
He lay there thinking about black bears and blood-sucking mosquitoes before finally dozing off.
5
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Minnesota
Most predators had one thing in common—eyes in the front of the skull. Prey, like deer and rabbits, had eyes on the side of their skulls. This gave them better peripheral vision to see attackers coming from the side and even behind them, with the exception of a very small sliver at their very back end. But prey also had a dead spot directly in front of them, making it hard to see a predator lying in wait directly in their path. They had noses to smell for those in front of them, which is why they always traveled with the wind in their face.
Humans, on the other hand, had once been the greatest predators on the face of Earth. They could use tools to kill their
prey.
Deep within the boreal forest of this vast wilderness, the predator stepped lightly through the damp, humid night, with the only annoyance the swarms of blood suckers.
Ahead, the light flickered brightly from flames, with the humans sitting around and poking sticks at it.
The predator’s eyes kept looking straight ahead as it moved in closer to see the smelly humans. They were mostly young and the female of the species. Weak and vulnerable to a quick attack. There was only one stronger male. He would have to be dealt with first, or avoided.
Fire was the enemy, as was the light of day. Real predators only attacked at night.
The beast moved through the forest to the right, assessing any escape route, where others could lay and wait for the prey. The structures would not be a problem. They were large but flimsy. Could be ripped to shreds in seconds.
Moving further around the perimeter, the beast took in the smell of the fire. His eyes picked out potential targets. One in particular caught his intense eyes. She would be perfect.
Now the beast waited for the fire to die down and those sitting around it disperse to the flimsy structures. He saw his target move into one of the smaller places with another, smaller female.
The urge came over the predator to attack, but it was not the right time. Not yet. Instead, the beast moved in closer to the structure—close enough to hear their speech.
He placed the sound of this female deep inside his skull, an imprint that could not be denied.
The desire to move in for the attack became overwhelming. But there was no way to accomplish this now. Instead of pouncing, he reluctantly turned and stepped back through the forest the way he’d come. The predator followed clear trails that had already been traveled. He knew they were safe.
But the predator could only wait so long until the craving turned from a singular wish to a collective appetite. Soon.
Ely, Minnesota
The Ely Police Department sat in the downtown of this small tourist town in the Northwoods of Minnesota. With only two sworn officers patrolling this night, Police Chief Bram Simmons sat in his office contemplating the events of the day. He was their backup in case anything significant happened. Bram had taken over the job as the chief two years ago, after spending eight years on patrol. The old chief had groomed him for the job. Part of his appeal, Bram suspected, was the fact that the old chief had been a big-time basketball fan. At six feet five inches tall, and enough heft to push people around on the court, Bram had been a star at Ely High School and later spent four years at Bemidji State as a power forward while he got his criminal justice degree. The other men in the department had only two-year degrees.