Chapter 12
TWELVE
Two more murders. And a killer still at large.
Laney offered him a small, encouraging smile. She knew he hated being the center of attention, and somehow, that gesture reached inside his chest and squeezed his heart tight.
Good grief, Foster. Pull it together.
He was tired. Processing the crime scene, followed by hours of reviewing witness statements and evidence, had worn him down. But the task force was waiting, and as lead investigator, he had a job to do.
Shoving aside his exhaustion, Jonah greeted everyone before attaching two photographs to the whiteboard.
“Yesterday, we discovered the bodies of Nolan Carlson and Lisa Valdez. Nolan was 30 years old, blond hair, blue eyes, and worked for a commercial construction firm. He’s an outdoor enthusiast who hiked regularly, was part of a rock climbing group, and traveled frequently to take part in mountain climbing competitions. ”
He tapped on the second photograph. “Lisa Valdez, 23 years old, brunette hair, brown eyes. A recent college graduate employed as a substitute teacher. Also an outdoor enthusiast, based on her social media posts. She and Nolan got engaged six months ago. They arrived at Piney Woods on Monday afternoon, and according to the initial coroner’s report, were killed on Wednesday.
That coincides with the cell phone records we’ve obtained.
Lisa and Nolan stopped answering their calls and texts on Wednesday evening around eight o’clock. ”
“Hold on.” Chief Deputy Williams straightened her spine, her brow furrowing. “They were killed before Ava and Tyler?”
“Yes. Lisa and Nolan were murdered on Wednesday. Ava and Tyler were killed the next evening on Thursday. The crime scenes bear striking similarities. Both men were shot, both women were sexually assaulted and then manually strangled.”
Jonah’s voice was flat and clipped as he gave the details, but the crime scene photos taken from the cabin told a horror no one should ever have to face.
After Nolan was shot, Lisa attempted to provide first aid, but the killer went after her.
She ran. Attempted to escape down the hall, leaving a bloody handprint on the wall.
She fought hard for her life. But it hadn’t been enough.
“The state lab compared the bullets removed from the murders. They confirmed the same weapon was used to kill both men. A Ruger SR9 that was recovered from Ava and Tyler’s crime scene.
” Jonah attached a photograph of the weapon to the whiteboard.
“Unfortunately, the weapon was in the water when we located it. We couldn’t get fingerprints or DNA from it. ”
“Both women were sexually assaulted.” Deputy Nate Martinez looked up from the pad he was taking notes on. His nose was sunburned from being outdoors interviewing campers staying near the cabin. “Was DNA recovered?”
“No. The perpetrator used a condom.” Jonah's jaw tightened. “Sexual assault kits were performed on both victims. We recovered trace evidence—fibers, potential skin cells under Lisa’s fingernails where she fought back—but nothing definitive yet. The lab is still processing.”
Nate nodded. Though he'd initially questioned Jonah's dedication at the first crime scene—protective of his jurisdiction and his sheriff—he'd proven himself to be a team player over the past two days. “There was no sign of forced entry at the cabin, right?”
“Correct. Whoever killed Nolan and Lisa either walked through the unlocked front door or was admitted in by one of them. Nolan’s SUV is also missing. A 2018 black Jeep Cherokee. A BOLO has been issued for the vehicle, but it hasn’t been found yet.”
Jonah moved to a blown-up map of Piney Woods State Park.
“Based on the evidence we have so far, the murders happened like this. On Wednesday evening, the perpetrator gained access to Cabin 3. He shot Nolan in the chest before assaulting and strangling Lisa. He leaves the cabin, closing the door behind him. We’re not sure how he arrived at the cabin…
maybe on foot. Could’ve been by boat since the cabin is on the lake.
Either way, I suspect he stole Nolan’s Jeep Cherokee. ”
Ryker frowned. “Why would the killer steal Nolan’s car?”
“He needed a vehicle for the next murder.” Laney rose from her chair and joined Jonah at the map.
She pointed to Campsite 8. “This is where Ava and Tyler were staying. It’s a remote campsite, and unlike Cabin 3, it’s not accessible by water because of an overgrowth of reeds.
Nor is it easy to walk to. The killer used a suppressor on the Ruger, but it wouldn’t have made the gunshots silent.
They just reduce the noise. The witness who reported 'fireworks' was driving past on the main road, about two hundred yards away.
Even with the suppressor, the shots were loud enough to hear.
The killer must've known someone might report them, which meant he needed a fast escape route.”
“So he steals his previous victim’s vehicle. This way, it won’t be traced back to him.” Tate whistled. “Whoever this is, he planned out these murders.”
“Yes, but he made a few mistakes. Dropping the gun in the weeds by the lake was one of them. Another was attacking Laney.” Jonah’s gaze automatically went to the bruises encircling her neck.
They'd faded to a sallow yellow, but still had the effect of kicking up his protective instincts. “The morning after Ava and Tyler died, someone was lurking outside Laney’s cabin. Scout alerted us to his presence. We followed his trail to the lake, where he likely escaped by boat. Later that day, we were followed by a black SUV, similar to Nolan’s Jeep Cherokee.
Since then, he hasn’t made another move. But…”
Ryker’s expression darkened as his attention shifted from Jonah to Laney and back again. “You think it’s only a matter of time before he does.”
“It’s been two days.” Laney reclaimed her seat at the table. “And the perpetrator hasn’t done anything. I’m sure he’s figured out that threatening a law enforcement officer would make things worse.”
Or he’s planning his next move. Jonah had little faith that the murderer would give up easily. The threat that Laney might remember an important detail from the attack was valid. Especially since the killer was probably someone she knew.
Ryker’s mouth flattened as he shared a look with Jonah.
His wife, Hannah, was a prosecutor. She’d been threatened and nearly killed by a cunning killer determined to protect his identity.
Thankfully, the case had been resolved, and she’d made it out unharmed, but the lingering lesson had stuck: Never underestimate the lengths someone would go to avoid prison.
“It stands to reason,” Tate said, bringing them back to the case. “If the perpetrator stole Nolan’s car in advance, he had his victims picked out. He knew Ava and Tyler would be at Campsite 8 before they’d even arrived at Piney Woods.”
Ryker nodded. “I agree. So, are we looking at a budding serial killer? Or was one couple targeted, and the other killed to muddy the investigation? I think we need to ask Emilia Knox for a consultation. As a profiler, she can help us make sense of what we’re looking at here.”
Jonah nodded. He’d worked with Emilia before, and found her exceptional.
She was married to another ranger in Company A, Bennett Knox.
“I agree, let’s call Emilia in. My gut still says that Ava was the primary target.
” He winced internally , thinking of the crime scene photos.
“The killer spent more time with her. According to the coroner, she was alive longer during the assault. The strangulation was slower, more deliberate. With Lisa, it was faster—almost clinical.”
There had been a coldness to the scene in Cabin 3, to Nolan and Lisa’s murders. Almost as if the perpetrator had used them for practice. “I think whoever did this murdered the first couple to muddy the waters of the investigation, to make us think everything was random.”
“If that’s true,” Tate added. “Then Garrett is the most likely suspect. He harassed Ava and admitted that he was romantically interested in her.”
“I’ve been mulling that over and can’t make heads or tails of it.” Chief Deputy Williams beat her pen against her pad. “If Garrett killed these couples, why would he offer Nolan and Lisa as his alibi? He knew we’d go to their cabin to question them.”
“Maybe that was the intent. He wanted us to find the bodies.”
The room was silent as the weight of that sank into everyone.
“I attempted to question Garrett after discovering Nolan and Lisa’s bodies. Unfortunately, he’s invoked his right to counsel, and his attorney won’t allow him to answer questions. I applied for a search warrant for his home and business. We executed it this morning.”
“And?” Ryker leaned forward.
“Nothing. No stolen Jeep Cherokee. No suppressor.
No bloody clothing. His computers and phone are with forensics, but his lawyer is already filing motions to suppress anything they find, arguing the harassment allegations don't justify searching his digital life.” Jonah's frustration bled through.
“We've caught him lying about his alibi, but his lawyer claims he just mixed up the days, and without physical evidence tying him to the crime scenes, we can't arrest him.”
Tate squinted at the board. “Garrett’s an outdoorsman. Does he have a boat?”
“If so, it’s not registered or moored at any of the local marinas.”
“A small dinghy or kayak is easy to keep in a cove somewhere on the lake,” Laney added. “It’s not legal, but people do it all the time. Someone like Garrett, who has intimate knowledge of the lake and hiking trails, wouldn’t have any trouble finding an out of way place to store a small boat.”
“What about phone records?” Ryker asked. “Garrett’s phone could’ve pinged off a local tower, which would help place him near Cabin 3 or Campsite 8 at the time of the attacks.”
“I’ve requested it, but the phone company said it’ll take 48 hours.
We should have it by Wednesday morning. But I’m not hopeful it’ll help.
Someone smart enough to steal a previous victim’s vehicle and use it to commit a second murder has the brains to leave his cell phone at home.
” Jonah placed his hands on the back of a chair and nodded at Deputy Martinez.
“The sheriff’s department will monitor Garrett’s home and business. ”
“We need to tread carefully here. Garrett's lawyered up, and his defense attorney will argue we had tunnel-vision when it came to his client and ignored other viable suspects.
We need to question and eliminate anyone else who could've committed these crimes.” Ryker turned toward Laney.
“What do your records show about the time Ava volunteered here at the park?”
“She was sporadic, pitching in mostly during big events. The last time she volunteered was during the Spring Jamboree. It’s a week-long event taking place during spring break with activities ranging from trail hikes to craft making.
” Laney referred to her notes. “Ava volunteered for a couple of days and worked at the wildlife center. Ranger Zoe Papadopoulos oversaw the program, assisted by Eddie Sorenson.”
“Eddie Sorensen?” Jonah straightened. “He didn’t mention working with Ava when we interviewed him the day after the murders.”
“He may not remember her. There were 50 volunteers coming and going in the wildlife program. Ranger Papadopoulos didn’t remember her.
Neither did I.” Laney and Jonah had interviewed all the rangers on her staff.
No one recalled Ava. “Honestly, people run together unless they volunteer with us year after year. As I said, Ava was sporadic.”
“Hold on.” Tate was ruffling through papers. “I’m still working my way through the background checks of staff members, but I found something on Eddie Sorenson that I wanted to mention during the meeting.”
He found the paper he was looking for and offered it to Jonah.
“Eddie’s background check came back clear, but his ex-wife filed a restraining order on him about a year ago while they were going through their divorce.
She claimed he slapped her across the face during an argument.
He also showed up at her home at all hours of the day and night. ”
Laney looked dumbfounded. Her mouth dropped open, and she struggled for a moment before saying, “I’ve never seen a hint of anger from Eddie, even during stressful situations. What happened to the restraining order?”
“It expired, and the ex-wife never renewed it.”
Chief Deputy Williams leaned back in her chair. “I know Eddie Sorenson. My sister is married to his cousin. Eddie’s divorce was contentious, and his ex-wife unsupportive and not well liked in the family. I have to side with Laney here. Eddie’s not the violent type.”
Jonah respected her opinion. And Laney’s. But cunning people could hide their dark side. He’d seen it too many times in his career. “Still, we need to question Eddie again. I’ll handle that.”
Laney’s jaw tightened. “I’m going with you.”