Page 7 of Maddox: Wild Alaska
"It's not going to be a crime scene," he grumbles as he trudges away.
I slowly survey the area, checking for movement or anything unusual. Nothing catches my eye. The area back here is wildand untamed, with looming trees casting eerie shadows on the ground. When Branson returns with the test kit, I can't shake the feeling that we're not alone.
"Bro, don't react, but I have this feeling we're being watched,” I whisper.
"I sense it too." Branson crouches at the edge of the blood and fiddles with the kit in his hands. After about a minute, he curses wildly and stands up. His face is stone-cold as he slowly turns and looks deep into the forest. "It's human," he grinds out. Meeting my gaze, he adds, "I need to call this into Anchorage. I need a crime scene team out here."
"Want me to keep going?” I ask.
“I moved here for peace and quiet. I fucking hate seeing death."
I wince. "You don't know that we'll find a body.”
He gives me a dark look, which makes me feel like I’m grasping at thin air. "There's too much blood for there not to be one." He sighs and looks off into the trees. "I'll go straight ahead." He hands me some orange flags. "Head in and move alongside but stay about five feet from me."
"Got it." We've only gone a few steps when I shout, “Got something!” I put a flag on the ground and step around what looks like a partial boot impression.
After a few more steps, Branson shouts and places a flag. I wince at the mess I suspect my brother is going to have to deal with. He quit his job as a homicide detective in Boston six years ago to escape the gruesome scenes that sucked the life out of him. Now, he has one here.
Neither of us has anything to shout about until I hear my brother curse. He doesn't stop with just a few curse words. “Bro, over here."
"If you've found a body, I don't want to see it," I tell him.
"Stop being a pussy and get your ass over here."
He's found a body.
"Fuck!" I hiss at the sight. "Bro, not cool."
"Get over it." He snaps. "Do you recognize her? She looks familiar."
The poor woman is hanging from a thick branch by a rope around her neck. I force myself to look at her face, distorted by death. I glance away, not wanting to see her like that. Something about that quick glimpse triggers a memory, and I feel all the blood drain from my head. "Andrea," I whisper. "Gabe dated her a few times, but she skipped town."
"I don't think she skipped anywhere," Branson comments. "Can you get Hunter down here? Tell him I need him as my deputy.”
"Sure." I turn my back on the poor woman while tugging my cell phone out of my jeans pocket. I freeze. Movement to the left pulls my gaze, but whatever I saw has disappeared. I frown, wondering if it was human or animal.There!"Fuck! Person in the trees!" I take off toward where I last saw them, Branson's heavy footsteps behind me.
As I push through the dense undergrowth, I catch a glimpse of a figure disappearing into the shadows. With adrenaline coursing through my veins, I head in that direction. When I arrive, I don't see anyone. Branson and I stand back-to-back. He has his weapon drawn. There is no visual or sound of anyone nearby.
"Text Hunter," Branson orders.
Keeping my eyes and ears open, I quickly shoot our brother a message. He replies that he's on his way.
"Whoever was here is gone now." Branson holsters his weapon and steps in beside me as we head back to the body. "We need to tell Gabe."
"I'll head back when reinforcements show up and tell him then." I pause, taken aback by the sight of the poor woman. “Wait, shouldn’t she smell?”
Branson glances my way and frowns. "I only smell the forest and the tinge of blood.” He watches his steps as he moves toward Andrea. He sniffs. “She smells of ice. I think she’s been frozen.”
“Hell." I take a step back.
Branson grunts. “Our victim is frozen, so where the fuck has the blood come from?”
“Or who,” I add on a sigh. "Is Landon coming?" I just want to get the fuck out of here. Branson’s job fucking sucks.
“I sent him a message.” Branson moves closer and puts his hands on his utility belt. "When Landon and Hunter get here, you head out. I'd rather you not be here when the crime scene unit arrives.”
I wince. "I can handle Janice. You need me here."
