Page 53 of Cold Light of Day

She nodded. “Hank, if this is about a Bigfoot sighting, I’d prefer it wait.”

Disappointment registered on his face, and for some reason he looked to Grier for reassurance. Grier subtly nodded.Please don’t let it be about Bigfoot...

“Bear found remains. I don’t think they belong to Bigfoot. They’re human.”

TWENTY-THREE

Autumn had changed into hiking boots and donned a heavier jacket that she kept in her vehicle. The rain made the temps in the sixties feel cold, but the higher elevations would be even colder—and it could snow.

Hank and Bear led the small motley crew up the mountain and through the trees, the leaves and needles dripping with a steady stream of cold rain. At least they weren’t hiking through several inches of snow. Grier insisted on coming along and bringing his husky, Cap, even though by the look of things in his cabin he was packing up for a trip, if not leaving the area for good. She wasn’t sure why the idea had sent a spike through her heart.

He owed her no explanation.

Anger at herself—replacing the misplaced hurt—burned in her chest for going to his cabin to begin with. She shouldn’t need anyone’s help, but with the escalation in criminal activity and nearly losing her father, Autumn had wanted to reach out to the one person who seemed to have her back at every turn. The one person she connected with—though she hadn’t been ready to admit that to herself. She’d been drawn to Grier for a thousand reasons she didn’t understand and plenty of reasons she did.

He had a presence about him that caught her attention the first time she saw him in town. Good looks to go with what she believed was a good heart, and the mettle Birdy had brought up. Everyone saw it. And Grier...when he looked at her, he seemed to reach into her soul and touch the deepest part of her.

But she had no business thinking about that now, or ever, especially since he intended to leave. Her fear that he was a transient like so many others was coming true. She shouldn’t be so hurt by it since nothing tangible had transpired between them, and it was obviously all in her head. He had never even called her by her first name. Maybe she’d imagined their connection, but she didn’t think so.

And now, he should be on his way to wherever he was planning to go but instead was hiking up a mountain with her. Maybe he was here for Hank and not her. The two had a camaraderie, and Hank felt indebted to Grier for helping him find Bear.

As they continued up the mountain, Hank talked about spotting Bigfoot, and Grier responded as if he believed Hank, reassuring him. Though he wasn’t obvious about it, Grier had the bearing of a man who was well aware of his surroundings. She had no doubt he was one of the good guys and had exceptional training and skills. Why was he even here in this isolated fjord instead of out in the world serving the greater good?

His secrets bothered her, but she had enough to worry about without thoughts of Grier occupying her mind.

After hiking at least twenty minutes, she wished she’d assigned this task to someone else, but Hank often requested her specifically and seemed to trust her, so she would take that to heart as his vote of confidence. At least she had a few of those around town, but in the cryptozoologist’s case, she wasn’t sure what that said about her. Truth be told, there was no telling what Hank had found, and this could be a colossal waste of time.

Still, given the last few days, Bear very well could have found human remains.

“How much farther, Hank?” Autumn was growing breathless, and they were fast approaching the tree line.

Bear barked and ran toward a boulder. Cap joined him. The two dogs sniffed around.

“We’re here.” Hank walked toward the dogs. “Get back, Bear, Cap.”

Bear left the lump he’d been pushing around with his nose and sat at Hank’s side, but Cap wasn’t so willing to give up the find. Autumn approached the pile of clothes and remains. Using the satellite messenger, she texted Tanya that she needed assistance gathering evidence and supplies for transporting human remains, then shared their location.

Grier called to Cap, but the dog had no true master. Finally, Grier moved in and picked up the husky.

While she waited for her officers, Autumn donned gloves and pulled her camera from her pocket. She took pictures of the body and the surrounding area, then searched the jacket and pants, finding a waterproof wallet. She flipped it open.

“Who is it?” Hank asked. “I wanted to find you as quick as I could and didn’t bother to search for ID.”

“You did well, Hank.” She stared at the Michigan driver’s license and the name. Her stomach lurched.

“Well?”

“I should contact the next of kin to let them know first, Hank.” Except...she blinked up at him. Could it be coincidence? She hoped so. She looked into Hank’s brown eyes. “His name is Kenneth Duncan. Any relation?”

Hank’s jaw dropped, and he stared at her. “Kenny? No...no, no, no. It can’t be Kenny.” Hank rushed forward. “Let me see the driver’s license.”

She handed over the ID. Hank stared at the image, then dropped to his knees as a deep, gut-wrenching sob burst fromhim, as though his chest had split open. The sound echoed against the mountain.

Autumn comforted Hank as best she could, then rose to her feet and joined Grier. His pain-filled eyes remained on his friend.

“I need to gather evidence,” she said in a low tone so Hank wouldn’t hear, though she doubted he could hear over his grief.

“What do you think happened?” Grier asked.

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