“When was she last seen?”
“The neighbor saw her walking toward Stanton Forest carrying a towel after lunch yesterday. She got to town yesterday morning and is staying with relatives for the rodeo week. She could have been heading for one of the swimming holes but there are tons in that area. I’ll organize a couple of deputies from Blackwater to search the west side. You are on the Stanton Road side, so as far as I know, there are three main ones on your side.”
Kane frowned. “Okay, we’re in the area, we’ll check them out.” He ended the call.
After relaying the information to the other deputies, he followed Rowley along a narrow, winding path deeper into Stanton Forest, with Wolfe close behind. As the sound of running water reached his ears, he tugged on Rowley’s shirt to get his attention. “Hey, where is the river? I thought it was in an easterly direction from here?”
“This trail leads to one of the waterfalls. It’s not the one Lucky Briggs took to get to the rock pool. I reckon animals made this track but it’s on the hiking map. We can get to the first water hole from here then it’s an easy walk to the rock pool.”
“Lead the way.” Kane rubbed his chin. “How come this is the first time I’ve heard of a hiking map?”
“They are for sale everywhere. Aunt Betty’s Café has them on the counter on a display marked, ‘Things to do in Black Rock Falls County.’” Rowley wiped sweat from his brow and reached for a water bottle inside his backpack. “Most visitors here during the hunting season use the trails. Little Falls is one of the recommended areas. Hikers like it because it is picturesque but it’s a bit small as a swimming hole and one hell of a long walk for the locals. Big Falls is the better option, and only a short walk from the road.”
“Hold up.” Wolfe dropped his backpack on the ground. “We’ve been walking for half an hour and I need a break. I’ve noticed at least three trails leading off this one. Where do they come out?”
“They end up against the mountain range, bear caves mostly.” Rowley removed the cap from the water bottle and drank, spilling drops onto his chin, then lowered the bottle with a satisfied sigh. “I doubt anyone would use them at this time of the year. Black bears are hungry and on the move.” He waved in the direction of the trail. “It’s not much further, maybe five or ten minutes. I can hear the waterfall.”
“Okay. Keep moving.” Kane glanced at Wolfe. “Someone has used this path and recently.” He followed Rowley but indicated with his chin toward the cobwebs dangling between the trees. “I’ve not seen anything blocking our way, not a cobweb or a branch, but the covering of leaves and pine needles is so darn thick even my boots aren’t making an impression.”
“I’ve noticed a few damaged plants, and as you are both sticking to the middle of the path, it’s not you. Back there—” Wolfe gestured behind him with his thumb “—I examined a crushed fern. Problem is, with bears and deer in the area, we can’t be certain a person used the trail.”
“I don’t think so.” Rowley glanced back at them. “I haven’t seen any deer droppings or bear scat and they shit all the time.” He shrugged. “No recent claw marks on any of the trees either.”
The small trail opened out into a rock formation with a drip-fed pool. The place was deserted and the water so clean they could see the bottom. They split up and searched the surrounding forest but found nothing.
Kane stared at a wide path leading in the direction of the roar of water. “This way, I gather?”
“Yeah.” Rowley smiled. “Five minutes max.”
As the sound of water became louder, the damp earthy smell of the forest faded into the distinct smell of death. “Oh shit, can you smell that?”
“Oh yeah.” Wolfe moved to his side. “Victim number two?”
“I hope not.” Kane strode into the picturesque clearing and stopped in his tracks.
On an orange towel lay a young girl, eyes staring into nothing. He bit back a moan of dismay and held back an arm to prevent Rowley from entering the scene. “Same M.O. as before.”
“Looks that way.” Wolfe dropped his bag on the floor and opened the zipper. “Suit up then I suggest you call it in and ask the boss for orders. We are running out of time to check the other crime scene before any evidence is destroyed.”
Kane made the call.
Moments later, he joined Wolfe and Rowley. “The sheriff is on her way, with Walters and Mr. Weems.” He sighed. “Orders are to secure the area, take the shots, and complete a preliminary examination of the body then wait for her to arrive. As we have to check the other crime scene, she’ll take over here.” He pulled out a roll of crime scene tape from his pocket and handed it to Rowley. “You know the drill.”
He used his cellphone to capture the images and could hear Wolfe dictating his findings into his recorder. After collecting the girl’s clothes and shoes, he moved to Wolfe’s side. “Find anything different?”
“Not really but from the scratches all over her, I gather she tried to run away from the killer. The marks are consistent to running through the undergrowth and low tree branches.” Wolfe let out a long sigh. “We have her clothes but apart from that, it is a mirror of the first murder, right down to the flowers.”
Kane rubbed his chin. “He is escalating faster than I imagined. Time of death?”
“I’d say yesterday, not long after she was last seen. So, he killed twice in one day.” Wolfe covered the victim with a plastic sheet. “This is a lot worse than I imagined.”
By the time he had packed the evidence into labeled bags, Jenna and Walters arrived on scene with Weems and his assistant pushing a gurney. He drew Jenna to one side. “Same killer.”
“Okay, leave the evidence bags with me. I’ll take it from here.” Jenna glanced at Wolfe. “Come back to the office after you’ve re-checked the other crime scene. The autopsy can wait until the morning.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Wolfe moved away and removed his coveralls. “I’ll have my initial report on your desk this afternoon.”
Twenty
After Alton left the forest, Kane stripped off the face mask and his crime scene gear. He glanced at Wolfe and Rowley. “Okay, move out. We still have to check out Felicity Parker’s crime scene again.”
He led the way down the path and back into the forest. A short while later, they joined the original trail and headed toward the river, keeping up a good pace.
“It would make sense the killer used this trail to the river.” Wolfe moved beside Kane. “It’s isolated as hell, a great way to get to the location and leave without being seen.”
Kane nodded in agreement. “To escape the scene for sure but we have no evidence to suggest the killer knew the victim would be in the forest. Felicity’s parents believe she was going to a friend’s house and heading in the opposite direction.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I spoke to Jenna last night about this and we agreed the murder was not a random thrill-kill. It looks as if Felicity knew her killer and went with him willingly. I’ve spoken to the boyfriend but I’m not finished with Lucky Briggs and Storm Crawley either.”
“Or someone she knew called her after she left home and she met them here.” Wolfe stood, hands on hips. “We won’t know shit until we check the phone records.”
“The kids didn’t see anyone else that morning so if the killer used this path to get away, he must know the area.” Rowley grimaced and moved along the trail.
“Makes sense.” Kane shrugged. “Assuming he was soaking wet after murdering Felicity in the water, he would likely wade in the river again to clean away any residual blood. By the time he walked back to the road, he would be dry—sweaty but dry.”