Page 4 of Their Wicked Games

“This is an extermination.”Wolfe cleared his throat.“These kids didn’t stand a chance.”

Horrified, Jenna stared at Kane. She understood what his work as a sniper involved, but what Wolfe was intimating chilled her to the bone. She handed Kane her phone, went to the sink to wash the cups, and then collected her things and pushed them into the saddlebags. Behind her, Kane was speaking in hushed tones to Wolfe. When he disconnected, she handed him the saddlebags and his helmet. “We need to get on scene as soon as possible. You can fill me in with the gory details when we get back to the ranch.”

“Are you mad at me?” Kane turned her to face him.

Trying to keep the concern from her voice, Jenna shook her head. “No, it’s just when you speak about your missions, you’re so cold. Targets, not people. Were they ever people to you?”

“I thought you were okay with what I did before I came to Black Rock Falls.” Kane examined her face, his eyes troubled. “Once we became involved, I never hid the fact that I was a government assassin and killed enemies who threatened the freedom of the USA. I’ll never apologize for what I did, nor am I sorry. For me it was just a job and, yeah, I would do it again, and will do it again if I’m ever called upon to protect my country.” He cupped her cheek. “We live in freedom because soldiers like me lay down their lives for the good of all.”

Shaking her head slowly, Jenna stared into his eyes. She knew and loved this man, and seeing him doubt her cut deep. “I know what you did. You’ve never hidden anything from me, well, apart from your actual missions. I believe we’re at cross purposes here. Do you honestly believe what you did during your time in service matters to me? What disturbed me about Wolfe’s call was what I’m sure is worrying him too: the evidence points to a pack of killers roaming the forest, which means any one of us could be next, or they might target the entire team.”

“I seriously doubt that they would still be there.” Kane headed outside and secured the saddlebags onto the Harley.

Jenna followed and climbed onto the motorcycle behind him. “I sure hope not.”

After arriving at the ranch, Jenna dashed inside to change, while Kane brought Carter and Jo up to speed. Jo Wells’ specialty as a behavioral analyst took profiling to a whole new level. Her take on the crime scene would be crucial, and having her as a friend Jenna could go to for advice was priceless. Jo’s work and current series of books on the workings of serial killers’ minds often had her away from the Snakeskin Gully field office speaking at FBI seminars. It was fortunate their last case had brought them to Black Rock Falls.

Pulling her Kevlar vest over her head, she headed out the front door. Kane and the others were suited up and ready to leave. Duke came bounding over to her, tail waving like a windmill. She bent to rub his ears before she headed for the Beast. She smiled at Jo and Carter. “Thanks for taking care of everything for us.”

“Anytime.” Carter smiled. “How did you like my little slice of Shangri-la?”

Jenna glanced at Kane. “Perfect. It’s so peaceful there and the moonlight on the river at night is mesmerizing.” She pulled open the truck door. “It took a murder to drag us away. I’m glad you’re both here. Wolfe is very concerned about this one.”

“I’m not surprised.” Carter climbed into the back seat and wedged himself between the door and both dogs. Jo squeezed in the other side. “It sounds complicated, and if the killers are still hanging around, a show of force is a good thing. They won’t be expecting the FBI on scene as well.”

They headed along the highway through town and took Stanton to the forest. The forest looked just the same, and was green and fragrant with a hint of snow from the mountains, but the beauty Jenna had come to love hid dark secrets. The fresh murders, and now the possibility of unsolved cold cases, weighed on her shoulders the deeper they went into the dim interior. After negotiating the fire road, they found the team’s vehicles and made their way along the narrow trail in single file. Jenna notified Wolfe they were on scene as Kane led the way with Carter coming up behind, both men scanning the forest with every step toward the crime scene. Jenna moved up closer to Kane. Ahead of him, Duke ambled along, his nose on the ground, no doubt recognizing the scents of the other members of the team. “This has to be a random thrill kill. I find it hard to believe anyone planned to ambush a group of kids. Most teenagers are unpredictable and don’t know what they are doing from one hour to the next during spring break. It would be difficult to plan a hit, if this is what Wolfe suggested.”

“I guess we will have to make that determination when we get there.” Kane waved a hand in front of his nose and snorted in disgust. He pulled a face mask out of his pocket. “The crime scene can’t be far away. I can smell it.” He pulled on the mask and turned to look at Jenna. “As first responders, did Rio and Rowley do a recon of the immediate area for evidence?”

Running the phone call through her mind, Jenna shrugged. “Rio didn’t mention it specifically, but he’s experienced enough to have followed procedure.”

In apprehension of what lay ahead of them, Jenna’s stomach tightened. The stink of death was seeping through her mask like an entity, thick and pungent. The sound of voices came from just ahead, and Duke’s tail wagged and he gave a short bark in greeting.

“By me, Duke.” Kane patted his leg. “Come here, boy.” He turned and looked back at the others. “Stay over to the right. We should be able to circle around the bodies through the trees.”

Inquisitive, Jenna peered around him and swallowed hard. The first victim, a male teenager, his head toward them, lay expressionless, as if time had stopped with his death. Ants swarmed over his face and above a murder of crows argued, waiting for their turn to feast. Suddenly nauseous, she turned away and followed Kane through the trees. She hated this part of her job. Seeing young lives wasted kept her awake at night.

FOUR

The atmosphere in the forest was somber. The team was moving around in almost complete silence, taking photographs and hunting for evidence surrounding the bodies. Fishing gear lay near the victims, and it was obvious they’d been heading for the Devil’s Punchbowl fishing hole, when they’d been attacked. Kane shook his head. “Why attack a bunch of kids going fishing? It makes no sense. They weren’t a threat to anyone.”

“Murder never makes sense, Dave.” Jenna sighed. “I’ve seen enough here. I’ll leave Wolfe to do his thing and go and speak to the forest warden. Wolfe will need you to determine the trajectory of the arrows or whatever.” She indicated through the pines to where the pale and obviously stressed forest warden stood leaning against a trunk. “Call me if you find anything significant.” She walked away through the trees.

“I’ll get an update from Rio and Rowley.” Carter headed off in their direction.

“I think I’ll tag along with you, Dave.” Jo stared at the bodies. “This looks like it’s going to be an interesting case.”

Kane ordered Duke to stay beside Zorro, gloved up, and went to Wolfe’s side. “The victims are spread out. Somehow I figured they’d be in a bunch.” He scanned the forest for the fiftieth time that day and then moved his attention back to the position of the first victim, a young male approximately sixteen to eighteen years old. The teenager was lying face down with his head turned to one side.

“The ground is soft, and we found no footprints past the blood spatter, just up there.” Wolfe indicated to the end of the trail in the direction they had arrived from. “I figure he was hit in the thigh and staggered back this way to warn the others. The second shot came from behind, and he dropped where he stood, falling flat on his face.” He looked at Kane. “With the trees and all, there wouldn’t be too many clear shots available.”

Summing up the dynamics of the area, Kane nodded. “If the shooter used a crossbow, we have to assume he took both shots from the same position. It would be difficult to maneuver the bow when the trees are this dense.” He looked at sprawled figure of a female about the same age farther down the trail. “And her?”

Keeping to the tree line on the edge of the trail, they went to examine the second victim. Confused by the angles of the shots, Kane shook his head slowly, taking in the entry and exit wounds in the girl’s throat. The ground around her had been disturbed and hastily brushed over with a tree branch to disguise the footprints in the damp soil. “They took the time to remove the bolts and sanitize the scene.”

“Yeah, that’s what sent up a red flag for me.” Wolfe gave him a direct stare. “This isn’t an opportunistic thrill kill, is it?” He cleared his throat. “This looks way too organized. I wonder what these kids witnessed. Someone wanted them dead, that’s for darn sure.”

Unconvinced, Kane walked along the trail to the third body and crouched down beside it. He examined the face of the young man and then flicked his attention back and forth from one victim to the other. He looked at Wolfe. “Don’t you think it’s a little unusual that the three victims all have their eyes closed? Most people who die suddenly always seem to have their eyes open.” He bent closer and brushed ants from the young man’s face. “I figure there’s something under the eyelids.”

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