Chapter 12 #2
She quickly filled a bowl of water for Bruno, then took the pack from Cam so she could feed him. Bruno was a high-energy dog who loved to eat, digging into his food with enthusiasm.
She joined Cam at the table. “We need to say grace.”
He nodded and surprised her by reaching for her hand. Gripping it tightly, she drew in a slow breath. “Dear Lord Jesus, we thank You for keeping us safe today. We ask for You to continue watching over us as we seek to uncover the truth. Please also bless this food we are about to eat. Amen.”
“Amen,” Cam echoed. “Thanks, Evie.”
“You’re welcome.” She reluctantly released his hand, acutely aware of her growing feelings for him.
And wishing very badly that he might one day feel the same way about her.
Cam glanced at the screen of his phone as they ate, anxious for Doc to call him back. He needed to get himself or someone else out to the Lighthouse Motel before darkness fell.
Maybe it was a big assumption to believe the killer would wait until dark to strike. Especially after he’d nearly run them off the road earlier. Yet he couldn’t fathom why a hunted killer would take the risk of being spotted during the daytime.
He’d thought of mounting a camera in the motel room after he’d left to walk over to meet Evie at the restaurant. He’d decided against it, preferring to head back to the nature preserve with Evie while it was still light out. If nothing happened tonight, he’d set up a camera the following day.
By now, the body of Jasmine Kramer was likely out of the ground and lying on a slab in the city morgue. He wanted to know how she’d been killed and whether she’d been sexually assaulted. Not that Rueger would give him of all people any of the details about the murder.
“I need to take Bruno outside,” Evie said, when she’d finished her meal.
“Hold on, I’ll come with you.” He quickly ate the last of his fries and chugged his water. Then he stood. “Okay, I’m ready.”
“Let’s go, Bruno.” She turned and headed out the back door to the yard. Cam’s gaze went instantly to the path they’d walked earlier that day. Of course, nobody was there, but seeing it again made him think about how many hikers had tread there to create the path in the first place.
Bruno watered a few trees, then got down to business. Evie praised him as she took care of the mess. He admired her dedication to the dog, always putting Bruno’s needs first.
One of many reasons to admire her, he silently admitted. Tucking his hands into the front pockets of his jeans, he stood back, scanning the woods for any sign of a threat.
“Who’s a good boy?” Evie asked, clapping her hands together. Bruno romped toward her, his tail wagging furiously. Then he abruptly wheeled around and ran back toward the woods.
He was about to voice a protest when Bruno returned with a stick in his mouth. He dropped it at Evie’s feet, then backed up, looking from her to the stick and back down again, clearing expecting her to throw it.
She didn’t disappoint. The stick wasn’t heavy enough to go too far, but Bruno was all about the chase. He brought it back, and they repeated the game.
The third time, though, the stick landed farther in the woods. Bruno scrambled after it, but he didn’t reappear right away.
“Bruno! Come boy.” Even as she called out, Evie walked toward the path. Cam hastily ran over to catch up to her.
“That’s the stick.” Evie frowned. “Where did Bruno go?”
“You better wait here. I’ll find him.” Cam strode down the path, scanning the woods for the dog. Anything could have snagged the shepherd’s attention, but he couldn’t discount the possibility the dog had caught the scent of the killer.
“Bruno!” He couldn’t squelch the feeling of unease. Glancing back over his shoulder, he was glad to see Evie had stayed back as requested. He couldn’t afford to be distracted between watching her and the dog.
Within minutes, he was far enough into the woods that he grew uneasy. Where was Bruno? How could the dog have disappeared from his line of sight so quickly?
Cam had assumed that the killer’s dumping ground was the nature preserve, which was close to the river, perfect for unloading bodies, especially via a boat, but now he had to consider another possibility.
That the killer might have dumped his victims in a variety of places seemingly safe from detection.
Like Duncan Woods.
He pulled his weapon, holding it ready. He didn’t call out for Bruno again but continued scanning the woods for the dog. His phone vibrated in his pocket, likely Doc returning his call, but he let it go to voice mail.
After a full ten minutes of walking, he caught a glimpse of the dog moving through the trees to his left. “Bruno!”
This time, the dog turned his head at the sound of his name. Bruno must have spotted Cam because he trotted toward him, taking a direct path without regard for the thick brush.
“What did you find, boy, huh?” He dropped to one knee to examine Bruno more closely. There were no obvious signs of injury, which was good. Nothing in his mouth either. He still wasn’t sure what had drawn the canine this far from the rental house?
“Did you find something? Did you?” Bruno’s brown eyes were steady on his, but of course, the dog didn’t answer.
He straightened, then swept his gaze over the woods. Bruno took that moment to turn and head back into the brush, glancing back at Cam, clearly signaling he should follow.
Without hesitation, he did so, skirting some of the thicker bushes rather than plowing through. A minute later, he was surprised to find Bruno sitting tall beside another fallen tree. As Cam approached, the dog let out a sharp bark.
“I know you were trained as a police K9,” he said to the dog. He crouched beside the log to examine the ground. “Unfortunately, I have no clue why you brought me here.”
Had the killer been there? Cam rose and searched the ground further around the log. The dry spell they’d had was not helpful. He didn’t see anything remotely resembling a footprint.
Bruno continued to sit there, staring up at him. He sighed and bent to stroke the animal’s fur. “Good boy, Bruno. You’re a good boy!”
Bruno jumped to his feet, as if he’d been waiting to be praised. Then he left the fallen log and headed back in the direction of the path. Cam followed the dog’s lead, anxious to get back to Evie.
Maybe he shouldn’t have left her alone. Just because they had a rental car and a rental property didn’t mean she was safe. Bruno’s alert at the fallen log was proof of that.
Kicking himself ten ways to Sunday, he quickened his pace. “Evie?” He pitched his voice loud enough to carry, or so he hoped. “I’m with Bruno. We’re on our way back.”
“Okay.” Her muffled voice was difficult to hear, but her response made him feel better. He absolutely needed to do better moving forward.
What if the killer had drawn Bruno out into the woods on purpose for the opportunity to get Evie alone? The very thought of her facing off with this guy made him break out in a cold sweat, despite the heat.
Bruno stayed on the path, moving at a steady pace with his curvy tail swaying back and forth. The dog hadn’t growled in warning, so he didn’t think the killer was close by.
But it was logical to assume the killer had been at the fallen log at some point recently. Earlier today? Yesterday? The day before?
The not knowing was killing him. During his two tours in Afghanistan, he’d fought many an unseen enemy. It wasn’t easy to tell if an Afghan was friend or foe.
Oddly, this seemed worse. A nameless, faceless sicko who had already brutally murdered two women. And likely more.
“Bruno!” Evie greeted her dog with relief, bending and petting him enthusiastically.
He holstered his weapon, about to apologize for his actions, when she shocked him by throwing herself into his arms. “You shouldn’t have left me here.
” Her voice was muffled against his shirt.
“You were gone for an eternity. I went crazy imagining the worst.”