Page 1 of Their Wicked Games

PROLOGUE

SUNDAY MORNING

Spring break had been a long time coming, and excited to be free from school at last, Leo Kelly and his best friends Ash Rogers and Zoe Ward headed into Stanton Forest for a day of fishing. They’d chosen the Devil’s Punchbowl waterhole, a favorite spot and not one discovered by the tourists. Being some ways from the hiking trails, it offered a secluded and bountiful day’s fishing. A stream running from one of the many lakes below Black Rock Falls fed the waterhole and replenished the fish at a rapid rate. As they moved higher up the mountainside, a chill seeped through Leo’s clothes, raising goosebumps on his flesh. He hadn’t expected the morning to be so cold. As they moved deeper into the dense forest, he led his friends along the trail at a good pace. The way ahead narrowed to little more than an animal track and they dropped into single file, negotiating their fishing rods and backpacks through the vegetation. Scanning the forest for bears and other wildlife, he slowed when something moved ahead. A crack of a branch pierced the silence. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled and warning bells clanged in his head. Stopping abruptly, he peered through the gloom. “Did you see that?”

“Didn’t see a thing.” Zoe flicked her long blonde hair over one shoulder. “You imagining things again, Leo?”

“Whoa.” Ash adjusted his backpack and stared into the forest. “I figured it was my imagination, but yeah, I thought I saw someone moving through the trees a ways back.”

Concerned, Leo turned to look at him. “I thought I saw someone in camouflage, moving ahead and to the left.” Nervous, he glanced over his shoulder. “Do you figure someone is following us?”

“There.” Ash pointed into the trees, his face creased with concern. “That can’t be the same person. If they’d crossed the trail, we’d have seen them. Maybe it’s just hunters.”

“Not in this part of the forest, and they’d be wearing orange vests, not hiding behind camouflage.” Zoe moved closer to Leo. “It’s too far to go back. We should push on to the fishing hole. There might be other people there.”

“We should spread out.” Ash scanned the forest in all directions. “We don’t know who is out there and we make an easy target bunched up like this.”

Heart racing, Leo nodded. “Okay, we run from tree to tree, stopping and then moving on. If they’re still following us by the time we get to the fishing hole, I’ll call the sheriff.”

“You can’t do that.” Ash indicated to Zoe with his chin. “We don’t have fishing permits and you know the first thing that she’ll do is ask us to produce them.”

Rubbing the back of his neck, Leo looked from one to the other. “You just tell her you’re watching me fish. We can hide your fishing rods in the trees and come back for them later.”

A rustle close by and a shadow moving silenced them. Someone was stalking them. Panic gripped Leo. He must get his friends to safety. Using hand gestures to indicate he planned to go ahead, he took off, moving swiftly from tree to tree. He glanced behind him, scanned the forest, and then motioned for them to follow. Crunching footsteps came from his right and something whizzed past his head. He gaped in horror as a crossbow bolt thwacked into a nearby trunk. Fear had him by the throat as he ducked low and ran to the next tree. Midstride, a rush of searing pain sliced into the back of his leg. He hung on to a tree and stared in horror at the bolt protruding out of his flesh. “I’ve been hit. Go back.” He waved frantically at the others. “Call the sheriff.”

Ten yards behind him, Zoe was on the move. She dashed toward him and opened her mouth to say something, but in a sickening thud, a bolt pierced her neck. Frozen with fear, Leo stared in disbelief as her eyes widened, and her hands flapped wildly at her throat before she crumpled to the ground. Trembling with terror and fighting back waves of nausea, Leo dragged his injured leg toward her. Panic gripped him at the sight of her wide vacant eyes. Unable to make his mouth form words, he stared around the slight bend in the trail. Slumped on his side, Ash lifted his gaze to him and made a gurgling sound. Blood bubbled from his open mouth, his eyes rolled back, and he fell sideways, eyes fixed and staring.

Terrified, Leo looked all around. He wanted to scream and tear someone apart. “Why are you doing this?”

An arrow hit him like a cannonball to the chest. Stunned, he fell hard on his side unable to take a breath and grasped the bolt protruding from his chest. Running footsteps thundered toward him, but the last thing he heard was whoops of joy before the forest spun and darkness rushed up to swallow him.

ONE

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Eyes squeezed tight, Sheriff Jenna Alton pressed her cheek into the back of her husband’s leather jacket as the motorcycle accelerated along the highway. Exhilarated, she tightened her grip around his waist as they flew past vehicles so fast she could hardly take a breath. When the smell of pine trees and fresh mountain air hit her in the face, she opened her eyes, but the forest was just a flash of green. She trusted Kane’s driving but it had taken him some time to convince her to ride with him. Knowing his love of speed, she’d been hesitant. As they whipped past more vehicles, she peeked over his shoulder. Ahead the highway was clear and she relaxed a little. Soothed by the purring sound of the engine, the wind slamming into her, but still the feeling of vulnerability scared her. One small mistake at high speed and it was them against the blacktop and anything else in their way.

Off the grid, ex-special forces sniper and Secret Service agent, with ties right up to the Oval Office, David Kane had come into her life almost five years ago, after she’d arrived in Black Rock Falls, and he’d become her deputy sheriff. His story was similar to her own. After taking down and giving evidence against underworld kingpin Viktor Carlos, Jenna had left the FBI, and her life as DEA agent Avril Parker, far behind. Under witness protection but living in plain sight, with a new face and name, she’d fought her way to become sheriff in the backwoods town of Black Rock Falls.

During her time as sheriff, she had gathered a superior team around her. She had trained Deputy Jake Rowley and hired Zac Rio, a gold shield detective from LA. Rio had a retentive memory, apart from other gifts, and was able to recall crime scenes and make evaluations on the fly. Dr. Shane Wolfe, the medical examiner also doubled as Kane’s handler, having been the voice in his ear during his tours of duty. Together they made up a superior crime-fighting team, which was just as well because Black Rock Falls had become known as Serial Killer Central. A series of novels covering the cases had become bestsellers and made the town a tourist destination. Although, why people flocked to possibly one of the most dangerous towns in the state confused her.

The motorcycle slowed and Kane turned off the highway and onto a narrow dirt road leading into the forest. They drove through dense pines for about half a mile before turning into a side road, posted with a sign warning that trespassers would be shot on sight, but Kane ignored the sign and they bounced over tire ruts along a dirt road weaving in and out of trees. The sound of water running in the distance came over the purr of the engine. As the road opened up into a clearing beside the river, she turned to see a neat cabin with smoke coming out of the chimney. Smiling at the sight, she relaxed the grip on Kane, her fingers numb from the effort of holding on so tightly. The motorcycle stopped in front of the stoop and she unfastened the strap on her helmet and let out a long breath. “Wow! You drive so fast. I don’t figure I took a breath from the time we left till just now.”

“Oh, sorry.” Kane’s brow wrinkled into a frown. “I should have taken it easy for your first time on the Harley, but I figured you’d be fine as it’s not your first ride on a motorcycle with me.”

Shaking her head, Jenna smiled. “No need for an apology. I enjoyed the thrill and it’s my fault for not riding with you sooner.”

Kane had built the classic Harley, spending months locating parts and creating his dream machine. This along with a bulletproof, bombproof missile of a black tricked-out truck affectionately known as the Beast were his pride and joy. The pressure of work meant that weekends like this one were few and far between, but they had struck gold when Special Agent Ty Carter and his partner, Jo Wells, arrived in town earlier in the week. Jenna had offered them the cottage on her ranch as a base while they investigated a local case. They were good friends, and she trusted them, so when Carter offered to care for their animals and give them the use of his fishing cabin for the weekend, they’d jumped at the chance.

Jenna’s cat, Pumpkin, was self-sufficient, but Duke, Kane’s bloodhound tracker dog, was very dependent on Kane and they rarely left him behind. After being found close to death, Kane had rescued the neurotic dog, who was so frightened of storms he hid, and words likebathandvethad to be spelled to avoid a meltdown. Duke trusted few people, but one of them was Carter, mainly because he’d bonded with Carter’s Doberman and bomb-disposal dog, Zorro.

Scanning the area, Jenna grinned at Kane. “So, this is Carter’s secret hideaway when he’s in town.” She ran her gaze over the log cabin. Although small, it backed up to the mountain and, surrounded by trees, it was safe and solid. A porch swing sat on the front stoop. Wisps of curled wood overflowed from a bucket beside a few sticks for whittling. It was just how she’d imagined it. “Why doesn’t he stay here with Jo when he’s on a case?”

“Oh, maybe because there’s only one bedroom.” Kane smiled at her. “When I went fishing with him, I slept in front of the fire. It’s not a place to bring Jo. She’d be uncomfortable. She likes her own space.” He pulled her close. “I don’t intend to go fishing. Some nice walks and toasting marshmallows in front of an open fire sounds good to me.”

Giggling, Jenna kissed him. “Okay, now I know why you wanted me to bring linen. I’m guessing Carter likes sleeping rough?”

“Nope, I just didn’t want to leave him a pile of laundry.” Kane shrugged. “I know he hauls his laundry to town to be washed.” He gave a reluctant sigh and let her go. “I’ll get the bags inside and go and start the generator.” He pulled the saddlebags from the motorcycle and waved her ahead. “The key is above the door.”

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