Page 14 of A Song for the Dead

Jenna watched Kane’s expression change to a softness she’d rarely seen. She took Tauri’s other hand. “Come on, my eagle-eyed warriors. Let’s walk through the spider’s legs and eat. I’m starving.”

SEVENTEEN

WEDNESDAY

After dropping by Aunt Betty’s Café to collect a ton of takeout and coffee for lunch for the teams, Jenna went to the office to update Rio and Rowley. She sent them to interview two of the suspects in the Freya Richardson case and then headed out the door. She climbed back into the Beast. “Okay, we’re good to go.”

They’d planned to meet Wolfe, Norrell, and her team for the trek to Bear Peak. They’d handled many cases involving the area in the past and it had become familiar, but it represented a very small part of what was vast wilderness. With Blackhawk’s assistance, they’d discovered the quickest ways to get to different locations. The fire roads offered the best choice and it was only a short walk to the current location of the graves. She’d considered the difficulty of carrying a body from the fire road to the burial site and decided the killer must be a strong man, unless he drove his truck and horse trailer to the fire road and transported the body on horseback.

Although, this is where old cases became cold cases. After six or seven years, the surrounding trails around the graves offered no clues nor any signs of what method he’d used. The thought still lingered in her mind as the convoy of vehicles pulled to a halt. She turned in her seat to Kane. “As we have a body missing, we should scout around and see if we can see any fresh tracks. If the killer is still using this location as his burial grounds, he could have driven here like us and maybe brought a horse with him.”

“If he had, he’d have dug the grave before the murder.” Kane pulled a black woolen cap over his head to cover his ears. “From the empty gravesite we found, that’s what he does. So, we should look there and see if he’s left a body in that grave. If he has buried her, Atohi is here. He’ll be able to track him.” He shrugged. “I doubt the killer is hanging around, but Wolfe is armed and so is Webber. Norrell will be safe while we go and poke around.”

After greeting the teams, Jenna went to Atohi’s side as they began their hike through the forest. “Would you mind coming with us to the partially dug gravesite? If the recent murder victim has been buried, that place would be logical. If he has buried her, could you track him for us?”

“I’ll ask the boss.” Blackhawk winked at her and turned to Wolfe. “Do you need me? Jenna wants to check out the other gravesite.”

“Nope. If Norrell finds anything unusual that we need you to examine, I’ll call you.” Wolfe glanced at Jenna and smiled. “Atohi is officially a member of my team now, but as my team and your team are inseparable, if you need his help, there’s no need to ask.”

Recalling how Blackhawk had refused to become an employee of the sheriff’s department, she turned to look at him. “Oh, that’s good. What changed your mind?”

“Ah, the nature of the work, Jenna.” Blackhawk raised both eyebrows. “Norrell explained the importance of having me around when necessary for excavating burial sites. I won’t be here unless I’m needed. Most of her work will be in the forest, and although the majority of forest is outside the res, long ago it all belonged to us. There are sacred sites throughout Stanton Forest, and you need a good tracker from time to time. So as I’m employed by the medical examiner’s office and not the sheriff’s department, it’s fine. On the res we have our own law enforcement. I wouldn’t want to be accused of jumping the fence.” He chuckled. “Although being part of your family now, Jenna, I believe I have one leg on either side.”

Frowning, Jenna squeezed his arm. “I hope us adopting Tauri hasn’t caused any problems with your elders. It wasn’t our intention. We have the greatest respect for Native American traditions.”

“If it had, they wouldn’t have allowed it, Jenna.” Blackhawk’s expression was serious. “We can see what is inside your hearts. Tauri belongs with you. I had a dream about him soon after he arrived on the res—he was riding with Dave in the forest—and then another the following night. I saw him grown in a photograph with Dave and you standing beside him when he graduated. They were powerful dreams and we take notice of dreams. He has a bright future with you and Dave. We are very happy he has found his way home.”

Stunned, Jenna hugged him. “Thank you.”

“Is there something I need to know?” Kane walked up behind her, one eyebrow raised.

“No.” Blackhawk grinned at him. “Don’t allow those eagle eyes to turn green. We were discussing your son.”

“Did she mention the fool following her and Tauri last night?” Kane shook his head. “Jenna is the last person I know to take out a serial killer. She always gives the order to bring them in alive, so she can question them, but last night, I swear she’d have shot that guy dead if he’d stepped a yard closer to Tauri.”

“Mothers are like bears with their cubs.” Blackhawk led the way in the direction of the other gravesite. “They’d die to protect them.”

Shivering, recalling the previous night, Jenna nodded. “I was focused on keeping Tauri safe at all costs. It’s strange, I wasn’t worried about me, as if I’d become a shield to protect him.”

“Really?” Kane barked a laugh. “Now you know how I feel and have felt since the day I met you. It’s not something I can turn on and off. It’s just there.”

Jenna looked at him. “Don’t you know I’d give my life for you, Dave? It’s not since Tauri came into our lives either. I’ve always felt that way.”

“That’s good to know.” Kane smiled at her.

Ahead, a small clearing emerged from the tangle of trees and they all slowed and searched the immediate area before moving toward the partially dug grave. As Jenna walked, mist curled around her feet. It was cold and eerily quiet. The only sound came from the river. Birdsong was missing and she glanced over her shoulder before she bent and scanned the overgrown mound of dirt. “No one has been here. Dammit, I was hoping he’d have completed his triangle or whatever.”

“If it’s the Halloween Slasher.” Kane rubbed the back of his neck. “Someone murdered Freya Richardson, but her body could be anywhere. Let’s face it. Even if it was dumped anywhere in the forest away from the usual hiking trails, the wildlife would have eaten it. She went missing Friday. It’s Wednesday and she could be spread all over the forest by now.”

“Many hunt at this time and it’s the law to field dress at the kill site and leave the entrails.” Blackhawk pointed to a few crows sitting silently, high above in the trees. “Crows would usually tell us where the dead lie but not during hunting season.” He turned and indicated toward the mountain. “The caves are the same distance away, if the killer wants to risk disturbing the bears.” He looked at Jenna. “You know how these killers think. What would he do? Where would he go?”

Hands on hips, Jenna looked around and shrugged. “I’ll think on it some more, but we’ve had bodies dumped down wells, mine shafts, under floorboards, in root cellars—you name it. He might have her in an acid bath for all we know.” She shook her head. “I’m just glad we don’t have gators. That would be my first choice.” She sighed. “I guess we go and see if Norrell has found anything.”

“I figure we need to know more about the Halloween Slasher.” Kane shrugged. “I’ll call Jo when we get back to the office.”

Jenna nodded. “Yeah, she’ll have something on him. He’s one of the cold cases and they never found a trace of him, did they?”

“Nope.” Kane waved Jenna ahead to follow Blackhawk through the trees. “The murders stopped. I’m guessing he likely died. It might have been an illness or a car wreck. No evidence was found to point to anyone, much like our current case. Our case could be a copycat.”

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