Page 57 of Cold Case Murder Mystery

Zeke studied the map. The south entrance was a possibility. It would take considerable time and skill to make it from the back of the cave to the front of the cave where Brooke was situated, so why would the rescue start there when there were closer places to get to her from?

“We’re going to try this one.” He pointed to the map. Right under the dire warning about exploring the cave on your own without any equipment. How dangerous it was. How easy to get lost.

“Let’s go,” Royal said.

He glanced at Carlyle, who shrugged. “Some backup wouldn’t hurt, but I’m all for it.”

“Text Walker. He can round up whatever Hudsons won’t cause a fuss.” Zeke pulled out his own phone. He didn’t have much service, but hopefully enough to get a message off to Granger.

You know of anyone in the area? Brooke needs help at the cave.

He didn’t bother to send any other details. Granger knew where they were and where Brooke was working. If he knew any former operatives—from his North Star days, or DEA days, or whatever and however Granger knew and collected people—who weren’t too far away, he’d send them to help.

“All right,” Zeke said, shoving his phone back in his pocket. “Sooner we get started, the better.”

Carlyle patted her hip. “I’m armed. What about you two?”

Royal hesitated then lifted his shirt to reveal a holster with a gun in it. Zeke sighed, walked back to the truck, unlocked his glove compartment and got his gun out.

“Let’s go.”

Brooke pressed her back to the rocks that had trapped her inside. Some of the smaller ones gave a little and cascaded down to her feet, but most held firm. A wall she couldn’t scale to get out of here.

The old man stood all the way across this particular “room” in the cave. There was a narrow hallway behind him that she’d planned to explore once she’d completely excavated this “room.”

Maybe she was glad now that she hadn’t. Because she did not think this man had happened upon one of the other natural, inhospitable entrances and all the signage warning against going too deep in the cave system.

No, he didn’t look like he’d seen the outside of this cave in a long time. And that gave her the feeling that he might have had something to do with the sheer amount of bones buried inside.

“You’ve been doing a lot of digging in my front yard, young lady. I can’t say as I appreciate it. I’ve worked very hard to landscape.” Then he cackled like he’d told a joke.

“Do you live down here?” she asked, trying to sound calm.

“I don’t justlivedown here, Ithrivedown here.” He spread his arms wide. “Do you know how many people wander into these caves—purposefully and not—and make themselves easy pickings to the god of the cave?”

Brooke had been part of North Star. She had training. She knew how to deal with a threat. She knew how to protect herself. She would not let herself panic. She would engage with this man while her brain whirled for a way out. “The god of the cave?”

He smiled again. “Me.”

Okay, so she was dealing with... actual psychosis. She wasn’t sure if that was better or worse than a murderer with a sound mind. If he really thought he was the god of the cave, how could she predict anything he did?

She had to fall back on that North Star training. She’d mainly been in the lab. A scientist, not an operative, but she’d still had to be trained on how to deal with danger. And she’d lived in Zeke’s pocket while he’d been protecting her.

Granted, from a with-it criminal who’d just wanted to silence her or to stop her from finding the evidence the case needed. Not someone who was just... unhinged. And perhaps a serial killer.

That meant it was probably in her best interest to remain calm, to play along. “What should I call you?” She half expected him to give her some ridiculous godlike name, but the one he gave her was a shock.

“Leon Rogers.”

Rogers, like Jen, clearly, but also like that photograph Dahlia had pulled out of the scrapbook. The writing on the back had saidL. Rogers. But Brooke didn’t think he could be the man in the photograph. He wasold, but notthatold, unless their dating was wrong.

She wondered though... was this a family affair? From the Rogers in the picture, to Jen Rogers. With this man as a link in between? One Leon Rogers to another? The family business of murder and hiding out in caves?

“I don’t suppose you have any relation to Jen Rogers?” she asked, trying to keep everything light and conversational. No doubt the deputies would be working to get her out of this cave. She only had to keep herself safe and sound until they did.

She hoped.

“Oh, Jen. My disappointment.” Leon shook his head. “She never understood the history. Never respected our fate, or godliness.” He put his palms together, pointed his finger up to the cave ceiling. “She only ever focused on her anger. Death isn’t anger. It’s freedom. You see, we’re just freedom fighters down here. She never understood. She used it, tainted this, and she never understood.”

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