At the sight of two women fussing over a couple of ashen-faced young boys gripping fishing rods, Jenna pulled her cruiser to the curb on Stanton Road. Two bicycles sat chained to a nearby fir tree. She turned to Walters. “We’ll need to split the kids up, take down details, then compare our notes later. Make sure you ask the parents for permission to question their kids. I have their names and addresses. I’ll check out the body and when I get back, you take Mrs. Sanders and I’ll speak to Mrs. Ridley.”

“Right you are.” Walters opened the cruiser door and stepped outside.

Jenna slid from the car and took her notepad and pen from the inside pocket of her jacket. Moving toward the group, she smiled at the kids then addressed the adults. “Which one of you called me? Are you the parents of these children?”

“Yes.” A young woman pushed a lock of brown hair from her face and patted one of the kids on the head. “I’m Georgina Sanders and this is my son Ian.”

“I’m Prue Ridley, the one who called, and this is my son James, Jimmy.” The other woman stepped forward and pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “We came as soon as Jimmy called me, and Georgina waited with the boys while I checked the body. I’m a nurse at Black Rock Falls General but the girl was beyond help so I called you. As I said, a bear could have mauled the poor girl, although my boys haven’t seen any signs of a bear in the area. We thought it would be best to wait here.”

“Yes, the fewer people disturbing evidence the better.” She cleared her throat. “Do you mind waiting while I take a look?”

“I really need to get Jimmy home. He’s very upset and if it’s not a bear, whoever did this might be hanging around.”

Jenna sucked in a deep breath. “I doubt that very much but I’ll leave Deputy Walters to watch over you. I won’t be long.” She waved a hand toward the forest. “Where did you find the body?”

Before Mrs. Ridley could reply, Jimmy lifted a trembling finger and pointed to a path winding into the forest. “Down there. It leads to the river. We go fishing there all the time during summer vacation unless the big kids are swimming. We get there early because they don’t like us hanging around.”

“Okay, thanks.” Jenna patted the boy on the shoulder and slipped the pen and notepad back in her pocket. “Wait here with Deputy Walters.” She jogged down the pathway and, rounding the first bend, slipped her Glock from the holster. Bear or man, she would be prepared.

The trail ran beneath a canopy of trees, through an idyllic pine forest with points of sunlight highlighting the wildflowers and variegated vegetation. The area had a magical feel and she understood why the kids flocked to this place during the summer. The path wound through rough tree trunks, each wide enough to hide a man with ease, and she slowed her pace, tensing at every sound.

The whine of wind through the trees sounded like a pitiful moan. As she moved forward, the crack of a twig under her boot echoed in the quiet like a gunshot. Aware of her vulnerability to both bear and killer, she fought the panic hovering under the surface and held her weapon before her in both hands. As she moved deeper into the forest, a breeze carrying the unmistakable smell of raw meat hit her full in the face. She slowed to a walk and moved with caution along the winding trail, her gaze shifting from side to side, taking in any signs of a threat.

The thick covering of last fall’s leaves masked sound, and anyone or thing could creep up on her, or be hiding behind the packed pines. The forest closed around her in suffocating density and a shiver sent a warning down her spine. She waved the pistol in a sweep, checking every shadow before proceeding.

At last, the path opened onto a large clearing with the river glistening beyond. Heart thudding in her chest, she glanced around, checking in all directions for any sign of movement, then took a cautious step forward. As she turned to face the river, she gagged at the sight before her and staggered backward. With her back to a massive pine tree, and her weapon held at shoulder level, she inched forward, staring in horrified disbelief at the abomination laid out for all to see on a large, flat boulder. No bear had attacked this woman. The atrocity before her was the work of pure evil. “Oh my God.”

She pushed down the instinct to run and took a few moments to allow her training to drop into place. The voice of her commander slipped into her mind like a calming balm. The dead can’t hurt you. Swallow your fear and find justice. Straightening, she pushed away from the tree. To avoid the smell of congealed blood, she breathed through her mouth, scanning the area for any movement and listening. Apart from running into the killer, the smell alone could attract black bears or bobcats roaming the area. The sound of rushing water and the odd bird call broke the eerie silence but no shadows moved within her periphery.

Pushing away the horror before her, she dropped into professional mode. Her heart slowed and the murder scene came into perfect focus. She moved from tree to tree, keeping her back covered and checking the ground for any clues before each careful step. Missing crucial details at this stage of the investigation could hamper the case. She needed to access the scene and get men here as soon as possible.

Moving as close to the victim as possible without contaminating the scene, she caught the low hum of a thousand flies and swallowed the bile rushing up the back of her throat. Adrenaline coursed through her, insisting she get the hell out of Dodge. A wave of panic hit her, sending her mind tumbling back into the past. Men had her tied and helpless. Rope tightened around her neck, restricting each breath. She had to escape. The flashback ebbed slightly and she gripped her Glock, comforted by the smooth handle against her palm. “Get a grip, Jenna.” Drawing up her last ounce of willpower, she cast her gaze over the body of the murdered girl.

The victim was young, maybe sixteen. An open gash across her throat gaped in stark contrast to her sheet-white skin, yet no significant amount of blood spatter covered the rock. It was as if the killer had drained her body of blood before laying her out. Naked, with arms out at her sides and legs spread, the killer had arranged her long black hair in a fan around her. The maniac had eviscerated her, and flies covered the spread intestines. Bright red lipstick smeared her mouth and garish red spots highlighted the stark bloodless flesh of each cheek. At her feet lay a posy of blue Michaelmas daisies and wild bergamot picked from the mass of wildflowers in the clearing.

Sick to her stomach, she did a visual sweep of the area and discovered no clothes, nothing at all. The hairs on the back of her neck stood at attention, triggering her flee response. She pushed it down, reluctant to holster her weapon to use her cellphone. I need backup. He might still be here watching me. Leaning against the trunk of a Douglas fir, she pulled out her phone and called Kane. “Kane, I need you on scene now. We have a homicide.”

“I’m with Wolfe, do you want me to bring him along? We could use his forensic experience.”

“Yeah, bring him.” She swallowed the bile in her throat. “Hurry, okay?”

“I’m on my way now.” Kane cleared his throat. “How bad?”

Jenna swept her gaze over the body and the sight sickened her. “Nasty. The victim is a girl and some bastard has mutilated her. I have the traumatized kids who found her waiting with Walters on Stanton Road but have no one to secure the scene. We need to get boots on the ground to protect the victim before the wildlife destroys the evidence, and I’m all alone here.”

“I’m getting into my vehicle now. Stanton Road is at the river end of the forest, right?”

“Roger that. Lights no siren. I don’t want a crowd of ghouls gathering here. I’m heading back to Walters now to interview the kids.” The day was warm but she shivered and goosebumps rose on her arms. “Stay on the line. I’m not sure if I’m alone here.”

“Roger that. ETA fifteen minutes. I’ll hand you to Wolfe.”

Jenna pushed the earbud to the cellphone in her ear. With the device stashed in her shirt pocket, she pulled out her Glock and carefully retraced her steps. A breeze rustled the branches setting her nerves on edge. Every small sound sounded like a footstep. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears as she waved her weapon from side to side and moved quickly back to the road. The forest appeared to become darker with each step, and since her close encounter with a couple of psychopaths a few months previously, dark wooded areas freaked her out more than she would ever admit.

Panic shook her legs but she kept moving, and relief flooded over her as the last bend in the trail came into sight. With the Glock back in its holster, she spoke into the cellphone mic. “I’m safe and disconnecting.” She pushed the device back inside her pocket.

Jenna beckoned Walters to her side and wandered some distance from the witnesses. “It’s a young girl, maybe sixteen or so, and a brutal homicide.” She looked up into his shocked expression. “Kane and Wolfe are on their way. I’ll talk to the kids.” She sighed. “I want your eyes on anything that moves in the forest.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Giving herself a mental shake to dispel the horrific images replaying in her mind, she attempted to adopt a natural expression and approached the witnesses. “May I ask your son a few questions? Deputy Walters will speak to Ian, if that’s okay?” She glanced at Mrs. Ridley and raised a brow. At her nod of consent, Jenna squatted in front of the young boy. “How old are you, Jimmy?”

“Ten last March.” The boy with tousled hair rubbed the end of his nose with shaking fingers and peered at her through lashes still wet with tears. “I’d like to go home now.”

I’ll need to arrange counseling for these kids. “Sure, your mom can take you home real soon but first I need to help the person you found. Can you tell me what time you found her?”

“’Bout ten, we ran away and I called my mom.” He dug the cellphone out of his pocket and held it up. “See, I called her at ten fifteen.”

Jenna smiled at him. “That is very helpful. So, you arrived about ten. Do you come here to fish often?”

“Yes, we came yesterday, ’bout ten thirty. We bring sandwiches and sit on the big rock and have lunch.” Jimmy shuddered. “I’m never going back there again.”

She straightened and pulled out her notepad to make a note of the time. “Did you see anyone this morning or any vehicles parked along the road?”

“Yeah, two of the cowboys from the rodeo came out of the forest and took off fast in a red SUV.” Jimmy sniffed, pulled a tissue from his pants pocket, and blew his nose.

“Where did you see them?” Jenna stood and waved a hand toward the perimeter of trees. “Here near this path or somewhere else?”

“We rode right past them. They came out of the trail that goes to the rock pool. They’d been swimming because they had wet hair and only wore their jeans and boots.” He rubbed his nose. “I know they’re from the rodeo, I’ve seen Lucky ride many times.”

Jenna lifted her attention to Jimmy’s mother, Mrs. Ridley. “Do you know Lucky’s last name?”

“That would be Lucky Briggs, and no doubt the other man would be his friend Storm Crawley. Everyone in Black Rock Falls knows Lucky, his family lives here.”

I’ve never heard of him. “I see.” Jenna wished she had time to attend a rodeo. Usually the chaos surrounding the contestants clashing with locals kept her busy. “Where is the rock pool located?”

“About fifty yards away in that direction.” Mrs. Ridley pointed in the direction of town and gave her a strange look as if she was remiss in not knowing. “There is a sign. We don’t let the children go there to fish. It’s not safe. It’s said to be a bottomless pool.”

“Okay, that’s all I need for now.” Jenna took a card out of her pocket and smiled at Jimmy. “If you remember anything at all, even if you think it’s silly, ask your mom to call me. I don’t want you to talk about this to anyone. I need to make sure her family knows what has happened before the story gets out.” She gave Mrs. Ridley a meaningful look and handed her the card. “This wasn’t a bear attack, and I suggest you keep the boys close to home for a while. I can arrange counseling for them, if you like?”

“No need, we have someone we can speak to, and don’t worry, we won’t say a word, not while a maniac is on the loose. He might take it personal like if he finds out my son is a witness.” Mrs. Ridley took the card and patted Jimmy on the back. “You’ll ride home with me. Get your bike and I’ll put it in the trunk.”

Jenna nodded. “Thank you for your help. I’ll be in touch if I need any further information.”

Glad to be in the sunshine and away from the murder scene, Jenna shook her head, trying to dispel the images of horror and the disbelief that anyone was capable of committing such an atrocity against a young woman. It did not take a profiler like Kane to see this murder was different from the cases she had worked in the past, but thank God she had his expertise to figure out the mind of a psychopath. The person or persons who had mutilated the young woman enjoyed the shock value of displaying their victims, which meant they would be close by, absorbing the fear they caused like a sponge. Goosebumps prickled over her skin as if a freezing breeze had brushed her bare flesh, and she glanced around. Are you watching me, asshole?