Chapter 38
THIRTY-EIGHT
Mystic
Cord verified Ellie’s updated security system was installed and her bed removed from the house, then left the cleaning crew to do their jobs.
He’d phoned Ellie to tell her, and she’d asked him to check out the ornithologist theory.
With birdwatching popular in the area, he discovered a bird specialist was located in Mystic who kept a small office to supply information for birdwatching groups, tourists and others interested in the habits of birds, preservation of endangered species and the ecosystem.
Cord parked across the street, the morning air slightly crisper than the day before, which meant the predicted storm was headed their way.
A shingle hung by the doorway of a small rustic building with the name Horatio Brant, PhD, in bold letters along with an etching of birds of prey perched on several tree limbs.
A nature lover, Cord was instantly drawn to the display of various species, stunning colors of the sunrise, sunset, moonlight and the paths along the AT.
A thin man wearing camouflage pants and a dark green T-shirt emblazoned with a crow on the front looked up at him.
His wiry hair was pulled into a ponytail and hung down his back, and gold wire-rimmed glasses sat askew at the end of his nose.
His eyes were a grayish color and almost bulged from his eye sockets, reminding Cord of a mad scientist from a thriller movie and his jerky movements exuded an eccentric vibe.
“Dr. Brant,” Cord said then extended his hand. “I’m Ranger Cord McClain. I’d like to ask you some questions.”
The man gave a nod and shook Cord’s hand. For a thin man, he had a strong handshake, indicating he wasn’t as frail as he looked. His hands and arms were also scarred, confirming he spent a lot of time in the woods.
“I’m assuming about fowl.”
Cord nodded and glanced around the room.
A section in the corner held glass encasements of various bird feathers with their names and information about each species.
Cord had once been interested in taxidermy and the room had designated a separate section to that.
Another room held a table, chairs, whiteboard and teaching charts.
“Interesting photographs. How did you get into the study of birds?”
Brant shrugged. “I grew up near Midnight Ridge. At night, I saw crows outside my window. As a kid, I was actually afraid of them, but my dad took me into the woods and started teaching me about them, and I lost my fear and became intrigued with the study.”
Cord noticed a collage of crow feathers in the shape of a bird’s wing. A wing very similar to the pattern of the feathers where Minnie Benton’s dead body had been lying.