Chapter 28
Twenty-Eight
Dim light surrounded Kane as he drove the Beast along the dirt road following Rio’s truck to the cabin.
The stillness of the forest surprised him.
It was as if every living thing had been removed.
A thick fog clung low and heavy to the trees making them appear to be covered by cotton.
It moved like a sea of white, its waves moving through the forest and leaving everything it touched dripping with water.
The silhouette of Rio’s trunk slowed in a clearing almost lost in the fog.
He pulled up beside it, and alongside him Raven’s truck and then Wolfe’s van slowed to a halt.
Kane slid from behind the wheel and inhaled.
The taste in the back of his throat was like walking into a freezer.
Snow was coming, although the metallic odor caught in the mist told him something else.
After spending time in battle, the distinctive smell of blood brought back memories he’d rather forget.
He waited for Jenna to join him as Rio and Rowley walked toward them.
Their rigid body language told him they were trying to hold it together.
He waited for everyone to climb from their vehicles and join them.
The need for the group to stay closely together was important until they confirmed the Axman wasn’t in their vicinity.
He scanned the forest. The small prickle at the base of his skull sent up a red flag that someone was watching them.
He looked at the dogs. Both Ben’s and Zorro’s ears pricked as if listening for a sound.
He turned to Jenna. “Stay close. This doesn’t feel right.
It’s too quiet. If there are bodies close by, the clearing should be teaming with crows and other wildlife. ”
“We saw crows earlier.” Rowley moved up beside him. “That was before the fog became this thick.” He gestured into the swirling mist. “The cabin’s over there.”
Kane turned around slowly, his eyes never leaving the forest. “Ready? Stick close together. Carter and Raven take up the rear. Listen and watch all around. The Axman loves a reaction. He could be close by and just waiting for ours. Keep your dogs on high alert. We don’t need anyone sneaking up on us. ”
He gave Jenna a nod and headed into the mist. The old cabin emerged from the fog like something from a nightmare.
He couldn’t imagine why anyone would want to stay there overnight.
The cabin’s lichen-covered horizontal logs had long since been blackened by time and sat at a strange angle, as if one small puff of wind would topple it in a second.
The roof looked okay and water ran from a gutter into an old wooden barrel sitting on the corner.
The front door stood open as if inviting any passerby to step inside. He glanced at Jenna. “I’m going in.”
“Not without me.” Jenna met his gaze with a determined stare. “I’ve seen severed heads before.”
“I’m right behind y’all.” Wolfe moved closer and stared at the cabin. “Watch where you walk. I don’t want the crime scene contaminated.”
Carefully avoiding the small bloody footprints on the floorboards, Kane moved up onto the porch.
The stench hit him first. Remnants of cooking, wood smoke, and that coppery smell that could only be blood.
He drew his weapon and as usual he went high and Jenna went low each side of the door.
The open door did nothing to light the interior of the cabin.
Cold seeped into his clothes, the damp air trying to creep down the neck of his jacket.
Mist curled around his feet and through the front door like an unwelcome visitor.
He pulled out his Maglite and the powerful beam lit up the interior.
Two severed heads sat side by side on a table on one side of the room.
Their pale waxy skin appeared more like a mannequin’s than real.
He gave his head a little shake, trying to take in the sight before him.
He’d seen many dead bodies in his lifetime, but these had their eyes and mouths wide open, which gave him the unsettling illusion of a fairground attraction where people put balls into clowns’ mouths to win a prize.
“That’s nasty.” Jenna shot him a startled glance, but her hands remained rock steady on her M18 pistol.
Kane remained fixed in position. Focusing every instinct on his surroundings.
Everything about this crime scene made him uneasy.
It wasn’t the heads—he’d seen much worse—but the silence of the forest that concerned him.
Wildlife had always been a good indicator of trouble close by.
Animals and birds watched for their own self-preservation.
The team’s entry into the clearing wouldn’t have disturbed the wildlife.
Even the dogs hadn’t made a sound and remained close to their owners.
A faint creak came from above, and as he glanced up, the unmistakable sound of footsteps walked straight past him.
On the other side of the doorway, he caught Jenna’s sharp intake of breath.
He glanced at her and gave his head a shake.
She believed in ghosts and this was a clever trick to unnerve them.
He indicated to Wolfe and Emily to take cover.
There was no need for him to explain anything to Jenna and he slipped inside the cabin, moving his flashlight back and forth.
Mist oozed through the cabin, making everything shimmer and distort in the shadows.
As he moved around, the old floorboards groaned under his boots.
He found no bodies, but evidence of the men’s sudden departure indicated that their murders happened elsewhere.
Wolfe and Emily would handle the details.
He waved Jenna inside and Wolfe, Emily, and Webber followed close behind.
He turned to face them when three soft taps came from behind him.
He spun around and stared outside. “Did you hear that?”
“Yeah.” Raven loomed from out of the fog. “I thought it came from inside the cabin.”
“More like underneath it.” Carter jumped from the porch, crouched down, and shone his flashlight under the cabin.
Tap, tap, tap.
Kane stared out the door, trying to make out the forest. His flashlight seemed to bounce off the thick fog, hiding all but the closest trees from his view.
Anyone could be out there, an Axman or someone carrying an automatic weapon, and they could cut them down in seconds.
With every instinct screaming at him to stay vigilant, he looked at the team.
“Rio and Rowley, watch the perimeter of the clearing. Carter, Raven, see if you can find any wires under the cabin. This guy likes to frighten people and he’s set up something to make noises. ”
“What have we got here?” Jenna moved closer to Wolfe, pulling on examination gloves.
“There’s not enough blood.” Emily approached the table, moving her flashlight across the floor.
“I agree. These men weren’t killed here.” Wolfe moved his flashlight across the walls and over the ceiling. “There’s no blood pooling or spatter. The heads were placed here postmortem.”
“They’re exactly the same as the others.” Emily bent to peer inside the open mouths. “Black candles just like before. Do you figure he’s treating them like morbid jack-o’-lanterns?”
Kane nodded slowly. “Yeah, he staged them like a display. He’s opened their eyes and made them appear as creepy as possible. He wants people to see his work, as if he’s proud of what he’s doing, and I figure he’s out there waiting for our reaction.”
A loud knock came from the back of the cabin and then a small, frightened voice.
“Mister, I’m cold. Please let me come in.”
“It’s coming from under the cabin.” Carter’s voice came from close by. “I’ve got it.”
“Oh, so that’s how he lured them out last night.
” Jenna’s face had drained of color. “I’ve researched the local myths and legends.
I know this one. Decades ago, a young boy went missing during a blizzard near an old hunter’s cabin.
The legend says he comes back at Halloween and knocks on the doors, begging to be allowed inside.
They say if anyone opens the door, they’re found slaughtered or eaten by animals. ”
“The problem is, which myth is he going to use next?” Emily raised both eyebrows.
Kane kept his attention outside. “That device is likely used by remote, which means he’s still here.” He glanced at Jenna. “We need to hunt him down.”
“It’s quite ingenious.” Carter walked into the cabin and handed Kane a device inside a plastic evidence bag. “He used a burner phone and left it on speaker. The line is still open. He’s watching and listening to everything we do.”
“Not now he isn’t.” Jenna took the evidence bag from Kane and disconnected the call. “I agree with Kane. We need to hunt him down.”
“We might be walking into a trap.” Raven stood inside the door, scanning the clearing. “Have Rio and Rowley checked in yet?”
“Not yet.” Jenna tapped her com. “Come in, Rio.”
Nothing.
Refusing to play the Axman’s game, Kane grimaced and touched his com. “Can anyone hear me?”
“No, I can’t. He’s somehow jamming the signal again.” Jenna rolled her eyes. “How long before we get the new ones, Shane?”
“Tomorrow.” Wolfe eyed her critically. “It’s now y’all need to worry about.”
Movement came from outside. The mist swirled and Rowley and Rio came striding toward them.
Relived to see them, Kane swallowed hard.
The Axman had tried to play on their fears, but the team didn’t scare easy.
Behind Rowley and Rio, he caught a flicker of movement like someone slipping between the trees.
The Axman was testing to see how close he could get without being seen.
Step out and give me a clear shot. Kane raised his weapon and both men hesitated. “Come inside double-time.”
As Rio and Rowley dashed toward the cabin, the shadow vanished and swirling fog wrapped around the trunks like long white ghostly fingers. Taking his gaze from the forest, Kane stepped aside to allow the men to enter. He turned to the others. “Did you see that?”
“Yeah. He’s close and watching us, isn’t he?” Jenna stepped to his side. “I can feel him.”
Every muscle coiled. Kane stared into the forest with a certainty that chilled him to the bone. “And the creep is enjoying every second.”