Page 26 of Scent of Death

Her stomach knotted. “So we’re back to square one.”

“Yeah.” Griff shook his head. “I should have known it wouldn’t be this easy.”

Alexis tried to keep a positive attitude. Yet as she gazed out toward the town of Greybull, it was disturbing to realize the killer was still out there.

Ready to strike again.

Griff swallowed his keen disappointment.The good news was that Sue’s tech had lifted several prints. Once they had another suspect, the evidence would help prove his case.

But they still had no idea who this guy was. Or where he was staying.

It was tempting to call back to ask for information on Alexis’s former boyfriends, but he refrained. Not liking two men because they’d cheated on a woman he admired and cared about wasn’t probable cause.

And he needed to stay focused on who could do something this heinous.

“I’m going to take Denali for a short walk.” Alexis jumped up from the bench seat of the picnic table. “She hasn’t had much exercise yet today.”

“Sounds good.” Griff’s knee had been stiff that morning but was already feeling better. The ibuprofen she’d given him had helped. He made a note to ask for more prior to their trek back to the burial site.

Watching Alexis with Denali made him smile. At first, they strolled across the grassy area, but then Alexis returned to get the pink piggy from her backpack.

Intrigued, he watched as she told the dog to sit. Then she walked into the woods. It didn’t take long for Alexis to be hidden from view.

“Search!” Alexis called.

Without hesitation, Denali ran straight into the woods, finding Alexis within a matter of seconds. Alexis laughed and threw the piggy back toward the campground. Denali whirled and ran back to get it.

“That’s not much of a challenge,” he said. “She clearly watched you go into the woods.”

“I know. But we’ll try again. You’re going to help me this time.” After she played with Denali for a few minutes, she held out her hand. “Drop.”

Denali obeyed, then backed off, as if anticipating another throw. Instead, Alexis crossed over to him. She made Denali turn around so that the K9’s back was to the wooded area. “Stay.”

Griff was amazed that Denali stayed in place without turning her head. This was an exercise they’d done before. After a long few minutes, Alexis called, “Search!”

Denali wheeled around, lifted her nose to the air, then to the ground. She flawlessly followed Alexis’s scent trail until she found her in the woods.

“Good girl.” Alexis threw the piggy again.

As much as he enjoyed watching the pair, Griff was anxious to get to work. He needed to follow up with the ME’s office regarding the autopsies of Josie Allen and Megan Riley. The killer had used a ligature, so he didn’t know if they’d find fingerprints embedded in their skin. Still, the techs could find and isolate hair fibers, skin cells, and other sources of DNA.

Especially if either victim was sexually assaulted.

Too bad Brent Wilson wasn’t their guy.

In the middle of their playtime, Denali abruptly turned and stared toward the woods. It was so jarring he found himself searching for what had caught the dog’s attention.

“What is it, girl?” Alexis knelt on the grass beside her dog. “What’s wrong?”

Denali didn’t growl or bark the way she had earlier that morning upon catching a whiff of their bad guy. But her ears were pricked forward, and her gaze seemed to be focused intensely on something he couldn’t see.

Griff crossed over to join them. “What caught her attention?”

“I have no idea.” Alexis frowned as she straightened. “But I think we’d better find out.”

“Okay.” He rested his hand on the butt of his weapon. “Stay close in case this guy is hiding nearby.”

Alexis nodded. “The wind is coming from the west, so it could be that Denali hasn’t scented him yet.” She turned to look at him. “Or she could be alerting us to a wild animal threat, like an elk, moose, or some other animal.”

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