CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER FIVE
Two hours later, Matt stood back as the K-9 team worked the last section of the clearing. The sleek, black German shepherd was all business. Her handler, Deputy Laurie Collins, was mostly just letting the dog do her thing. Collins and Greta had completed their training, been certified, and officially joined the sheriff’s department several months before. Since then, they’d proved to be valuable additions to the team.
Forensics stood by, kits in hand, waiting to see what the dog found before beginning their search for evidence. Bree had called in two deputies on their day off. The first body had been bagged and carried out of the clearing. Dr. Jones and her assistant were working on the second body under lights.
Despite the night’s gruesome discoveries, Matt watched the dog with pride. He’d found her accidentally through his sister’s canine rescue. The same high drive and relentless energy that made her a difficult house pet also made her an excellent working dog. After the friendly-fire incident, Matt had planned to raise and train K-9s. He’d bought a suitable property and built kennels—which his sister had immediately filled with rescues.
Greta sniffed the ground, lifted her head, then took a deep inhale of night air. She glanced back at body number two. No doubt sorting out the competing scents of multiple bodies so close to one another. Matt had faith. She was a young dog, and new to the job, but she had great instincts. She naturally seemed to know what was needed or expected of her.
Greta returned her focus to the ground in front of her. The dog took another sniff, another step, then sat and whined. Matt had seen her bark in excitement when she found live suspects. Most K-9s loved a good chase and takedown. They were trained to think of work as a game. But her alert for the dead was more subdued, even sad. She looked over her shoulder, giving Collins a second thin, desolate whine.
The dog knew.
He didn’t believe for a second that animals didn’t have emotions or souls. Dogs were more honest, more loyal, and frankly, better than most people. Canines encompassed all the good qualities of humanity and none of the bad. If there was a heaven, and Matt ended up there someday, he’d be seriously upset if there were no dogs. He might not even want to stay.
Bree and Dr. Jones moved in. Bree used gloved hands to carefully shift dead leaves—one by one—piled up against a tree trunk. She uncovered a piece of fabric. Faded camouflage on one side, worn brown on the other. “Here’s another tarp.” It was twisted around the base of the tree. Matt’s flashlight caught the dirty white of bone. He craned his head to see better. Lodged in the dirt was a human skull.
“Light, please!” Dr. Jones shouted.
At Bree’s direction, a deputy shifted one of the lights.
The ME changed her gloves, then squatted next to Bree. “Victim number three. This one is mostly skeletonized.”
Small and large bones were scattered. With loose bones, there was no doubt that animals had carried off some of the remains. They’d be lucky to recover a majority of the victim. Matt glanced at the downward slope. Bones could have been washed down the hill.
“Older than the first two,” Bree said.
“Yes.” Dr. Jones cocked her head. “It’s been here longer. Probably since early fall or late summer, since it would have needed time to decompose before winter set in.” The ME moved her flashlight. “The skull appears female, but I need additional bones to confirm.”
All the victims would be female. Matt knew it in his gut.
Dr. Jones stood, stripped off her gloves, and turned to scan the clearing. Her gaze landed on the dog. “Do we think Greta found all the remains in this clearing?”
Collins nodded. “She seems done.”
“OK, then.” Dr. Jones took a deep breath. “Let’s get cracking. We’re going to be here all night.”
The forensics team and sheriff’s department would be here longer.