Chapter 26
Twenty-Six
Rowley sat alongside Rio as Emily loaded images onto the big screen. He swallowed hard, not ready for the gruesome neck injuries received by the Axman’s victims. Behind him, the door closed as Jenna came inside and took her seat.
“Julie and Rhett have taken Jill, the little girl, for a medical evaluation.” Jenna shuffled papers and then raised her gaze.
“Father Derry will meet them there with a selection of winter clothes for her. She will stay at Her Broken Wings until we’ve found her sister, and then Rhett will evaluate the situation.
We’re hoping, if her sister, Becky, is with a suitable family, they might have room for Jill.
” She looked at Emily. “Thanks for dropping by to give us a report. You must be so busy with four homicides.”
“Dad wanted to come but Norrell convinced him to sleep in this morning. He’s been tired since he went away with Dave.” Emily’s gaze drifted to Kane. “How is your shoulder, Dave?”
“Just like new.” Kane smiled at her. “I’m impressed with the new treatment. Tell your dad he can experiment on me anytime.”
“Okay, Em, you have the floor.” Jenna smiled. “What did you discover?”
“Dad asked me to explain a few of the things that we discovered during the autopsy.” Emily tapped the screen, bringing up a close-up of bone under magnification.
“All four victims show identical toolmark signatures. The lacerations have the same kerf width, bevel angle, and most importantly the same microscopic striation pattern.” She zoomed in and pointed at the screen.
“Can you make out the parallel micro-striations?”
“Yeah, what does that mean, exactly?” Jenna leaned forward.
“Well, they’re caused by a defect on the edge of the blade.
It’s consistent across the victims. It’s almost as good as a fingerprint.
This one particular ax leaves this exact pattern when it strikes bone.
” She looked at Jenna. “There’s no doubt he’s using the same ax repeatedly.
If you look at the other images, I can place one over the other and each of the striations match.
If we recover the murder weapon, we can match it conclusively. ”
“Using the same weapon means he’s not improvising, he’s hunting.” Jo glanced at Jenna. “The exactness of the injuries suggests confidence. He understands the forest and he’s comfortable out there.”
Considering all the potential suspects Rowley rubbed his temples. “That’s just about three-quarters of the people living in town alone.”
“Yeah, this is why we’re searching for the peculiarities, so we can distinguish him apart from a normal hunter.
I have something else to show you that ties the homicides together.
” Emily displayed another set of images on the screen.
“We recovered trace metal transfer from inside the bone fractures. The allied composition is consistent across all victims. It’s been identified as a manganese-rich blend with a very specific impurity profile.
If we find the ax, we can match it using the striations made on the bone and the samples of the trace metal.
” She changed the images again. “Dad was suspicious about this bone fragment, mainly by its position. He ran it through a DNA profile and discovered it came from Avril Lampton, one of the first victims.”
“He’s telling us he killed the others.” Jo stared at the screen. “Anything about the candles?”
“They’re all generic, sold everywhere for Halloween.” Emily closed down the screen and sat down. “No fingerprints, nothing. He is very careful about leaving trace evidence.”
“I believe they are used as a distraction, to put us off the trail.” Jo pushed a hand through her hair, tucking it behind one ear. “It means nothing.”
“We need more information.” Jenna swung her gaze to Rowley and Rio. “How many more camps have you got on your list to visit?”
Rowley took out his tablet and scrolled through his notes. “One is located high above the forest warden’s station. It was getting too dark last night to go and check them out. The warden mentioned they were hunting elk farther up the mountain.”
“Okay, you head out now. Wear your Kevlar vests and sheriff’s office jackets so you stand out. I don’t want hunters shooting at you by mistake.” Jenna glanced at Kane. “Any advice?”
“This guy moves like a ghost.” Kane stared at them. “You won’t see him coming, so stay alert. Call in your position every thirty minutes, and when you arrive and leave. Make the hunters aware there is a killer roaming the forest.”
“Take your satellite phones. Ask anyone you meet along the way who they’ve seen and if anyone has been hanging around who doesn’t belong.” Jenna looked from one to the other. “Don’t be heroes.”
“We’re on it.” Rio pushed to his feet.
As they drove along Stanton, dark clouds hung over the mountains, making the forest appear dark and foreboding.
Rowley had spent many hunting seasons in the forest with his bow and was familiar with most of the local cabins the forestry supplied for hunters.
“Turn left once you pass the warden’s station.
We’ll stay on that fire road until we come to an old dirt road that goes to the left.
Not many people use this old cabin because they don’t know that the forestry recently renovated it.
From the outside it looks like a real dump, but inside it’s clean and has new cots.
It’s even been provisioned with a tin of coffee, canned food, and medical supplies. ”
“I don’t hunt.” Rio swung his SUV onto the fire road. “Are they used in an emergency or all the time?”
Rowley stared into the mist drifting in pale ribbons around the pines.
It made the forest look mystical, as well as creepy.
“Both, but at this time of year when they’re hunting elk, usually they’re used as a base camp.
Hunters set up a tripod and bring their kills in and hang them.
The game wardens come by and check them to make sure they are tagged and the hunter’s paperwork is up to date.
” He pointed ahead. “See that cottonwood? The turn is just about there. The road will be uneven, so slow down.”
“Driving with you is like driving with my grandma.” Rio grinned at him. “Is that what happens when you get married, everything slows down?”
Scanning the dark shadows between the trees, Rowley kept alert for any movement. He flicked him a glance. “Nope, I just don’t take unnecessary risks as I’m the only wage earner for the family. It’s all about being sensible, Rio.” He pointed ahead. “The cabin is just ahead, around the next bend.”
Mist had settled in the clearing like a white carpet completely obscuring the front steps of the cabin.
Rowley opened the door and his feet vanished in the mist. He scanned the area.
“I see a truck in the lean-to. I’m assuming belongs to either Cherry or Connor.
” He glanced over one shoulder. “Have you noticed how quiet it is?”
“Yeah.” Rio pulled out his weapon and checked it. “Too darn quiet.” He took a few steps toward the cabin. “The front door is open a crack. Maybe they’re inside eating breakfast?”
Rowley shook his head. “First of all, they wouldn’t leave the cabin door open with their gear inside. Something sure doesn’t feel right.” He glanced upward, checking the trees. “Crows are gathering but I don’t smell death.”
“That’s because it would have been freezing here last night.” Rio blew out a stream of steam. “It’s not much better now. If someone was murdered here last night, they’d be frozen solid.” He sighed. “We’d better take a look.”
Aware of how exposed they were, Rowley followed him toward the cabin, his hand resting on the butt of his pistol.
It was too quiet and even the crows hadn’t started calling to each other.
The wind had dropped and the mist just hung there, three feet deep and not moving.
As he walked through the trees, drips of condensation splashed on his cheeks from the branches overhead.
When he reached the steps, he noticed a small flash of color.
He crouched to examine a child’s shoe, lying on its side abandoned.
“Look at this. They wouldn’t take a kid hunting.
” He stared at the steps as the mist swirled and swallowed hard at the drips of blood on the steps.
“I see blood.” He moved his gaze to the porch floor and took a step backward.
Small bloody footprints led from the cabin and down the steps and vanished in the mist. “Are you seeing what I’m seeing? ”
“Yeah, I see them.” Rio glanced over his shoulder, scanning the forest. “Watch my back.” He pulled his weapon, moved slowly up the steps, and pushed the door open with two fingers.
The hinges groaned and Rowley’s stomach flip-flopped at the smell oozing through the gap.
The odor was very familiar, metallic and rancid.
He scanned the perimeter of the forest, but not even the mist stirred in the clearing.
In front of him, Rio took out his flashlight and lit up the small cabin’s interior.
“Oh, dear Lord.” Rio dropped his flashlight and staggered backward down the steps. Something cracked in the forest, close by. “Get back to the truck. Now!” He pulled his weapon and bounded away.
Confused, Rowley ran after him. “What was it?” He climbed into the passenger seat and locked the door.
“Cherry’s and Connor’s heads are on the table.” Rio grabbed his satellite phone. “We need to call this in.”
Heart thundering, Rowley held up a hand to stop him. “Tell her this is the Axman’s doing. This is another myth. Do you know the one about the child knocking, the kid who drowned in the river and comes out of the forest and knocks on cabin doors to lure people to their deaths?”
“Yeah, I’ve heard it.” Rio stared at him and then returned his gaze to the forest. “Another Halloween story to frighten people, but this time it’s real.
” He wiped a hand down his face. “Which means the bodies will be out there somewhere.” He started the truck, his eyes darting back and forth across the clearing.
“Keep searching for any movement. I don’t want him creeping up on us. I’ll call Jenna.”
A shiver slid down Rowley’s spine and he gripped his pistol tighter. “Do you figure he’s out there watching us?”
“He was the last time.” Rio pressed Jenna’s number. “This killer likes to play games.”