Her email pinged a few moments later and she opened the files. A gruesome image flashed onto the screen. The skull with tufts of black flowing hair stared at her from bottomless black sockets. She swallowed the bile rushing up the back of her throat at the unmistakable sight of a bullet hole right between the eyes. With the front teeth missing and a crack from jaw to cheek, the open mouth might as well be screaming homicide.
3
Jim and Bailey Canavar waited at reception in the Cattleman’s Hotel. As Bailey enjoyed staying at this five-star hotel, Jim had the chance to slip away on his own to go hunting, but his wife wanted to cut off that avenue of pleasure. He had renewed his hunting license just in case. He might have lived in Kansas for the past ten years, but as a born and bred Montanan, he visited the state many times. Black Rock Falls was in the middle of nowhere but the hotel had a bar and first-class restaurant. He loved roughing it outdoors but his bride had found the idea of hiking and camping in the woods akin to sleeping under a bridge. At least by combining one or two days hiking with the equivalent luxury of the Cattleman’s Hotel, he would keep her happy for a while. When the person in front of him in line stepped away, he moved up to the counter.
“How was your day?” The receptionist, dressed in a suit and tie with a gold badge displaying the name Nigel on his lapel, smiled at Bailey. “Did you enjoy the hike?”
“Not particularly.” Bailey did her usual pout of displeasure. “Finding a skull ruined my entire day, maybe my entire honeymoon.”
“A skull?” Nigel blinked a few times then leaned on the counter. “Do tell.”
Not sure if the sheriff would approve of them blabbing the information around town, Jim lowered his voice. “We found a human skull up near the border of the reservation. We’ve just returned from the sheriff’s office.”
“Oooh, how exciting.” Nigel gave him a conspiratorial wink. “You do know Black Rock Falls is becoming famous for serial killers.” He grinned. “People love to hear the stories. We have strange goings on from way back, haunted barns, and did you know around these parts people go missing and are never seen again?” He waved to the advertisement for a crime thriller on the back of a tourist handout. “They’re even writing about us now. It’s great for tourism.”
“Really? There is no accounting for taste.” He was familiar with the area but scrutinized the maps on the counter. “Can you recommend another trail, nice and quiet, we can try? Someplace we can make camp overnight.”
“You said we could have two days in the hotel.” Bailey flicked a lock of hair over one shoulder. “That was the deal.”
“Yeah, honey, we’ll stay here a couple of nights then head back up the mountain. The weather might not hold, then we’ll be staying here again.”
“Okay.” Bailey let out a long sigh. “At least all this walking is good for my figure.”
“And I have just the place.” Nigel opened a map with a flourish and pointed at a winding road into the mountains. “You can drive through the mountain here and follow the road to this parking lot. It’s a new one and has a convenience store with a gift shop on-site. The family who owns the place runs a couple of cabins for hikers out back.”
“I was looking more for a camping site, something well away from the tourist areas.” Jim pointed at the map. “Where does this trail lead?”
“Ah, yes, Bear Peak. There is an old trail up there. It’s half a mile from the parking lot and a bit isolated but there is a plateau some ways up and it has a nice secluded place to camp. Great views from up there too.”
Jim grinned. “Thanks. That sounds perfect. I like isolated.” He smiled at his wife. “I think a nice hot bath then a fine dinner will put you in a better mood plus there will be plenty of time for you to go shopping and visit the beauty parlor while I gather what we need for the trip.”
“I’m in a better mood already. I’ll head on up to our room.” Bailey smiled at him, brushed past a man standing beside her and drumming his fingernails on the counter, and made her way to the elevator.
4
Perfect would become his word of the day. His attention moved over Bailey and his smile fixed in place, covering his inner turmoil. Nothing beat the thrill of watching a woman—particularly a spoiled, obnoxious young woman like her—running for her life in the forest. How satisfying it was to watch their horrified expressions when they realized no matter how far they ran or where they tried to hide, he would find them and they would die.
He took a map from the counter and a pen from an ornate holder, marked the trail leading to the campsite, then folded the map neatly and pushed it into his pocket. He noticed Nigel was staring at him. “Could you book me a table in the restaurant for dinner at eight?”
“Yes, sir.” Nigel picked up the phone.
He turned away from the counter, pulled out a small black book from his inside pocket, and searched a coded list. He ran the tip of his finger down the page to select a few suitable names. A shiver of excitement rushed over him. He loved the chase and finally the kill. No other adrenaline rush matched the exhilaration of running down a woman and killing her slowly. It was addictive and next time the thrill wouldn’t be his alone. Next time, he’d have a special guest.
5
Tuesday
Jenna slid from the cabin of Kane’s black rig and surveyed the new parking lot at the top of the mountain. M
ayor Petersham had spent a great deal of money clearing a landslide blocking the road to the popular fishing spot. Although fishing and hiking were two attractions, the town’s history of brutal murders lured sightseers by the thousands. With tourists bringing prosperity to Black Rock Falls, having the road open again was a sound economic move. A new owner had refurbished the old cabins and lived on-site, offering a convenience store, which sold everything from hot coffee to ammunition.
Jenna took in the spectacular views; at her back, mountain peaks rose up to form an impenetrable barrier, dark against a brilliant blue sky, and waterfalls sprang from the many fissures in the black rocks, feeding into a lake, which spilled down the mountainside in a thunderous roar toward town. By turning a few degrees, she could take in a vista of the pine forest and down to the wide-open spaces leading to the town of Black Rock Falls.
A cold wind lifted her hair; soon winter would arrive and life in town would change dramatically but for the next few weeks, the crisp, fresh mountain air drew hunters and hikers galore. She turned to Kane. “This has changed since we were last here. I’m glad we don’t have to ride up that steep track beside the falls to reach the crime scene.”
“From what Wolfe said, it’s still about half an hour on horseback.” He walked to the back of the horse trailer then turned and his face broke into a wide smile. “It sure is pretty up here. I’d love to explore it some more, maybe hike along some of the lesser-known trails and camp overnight.”
Jenna gaped at him; surely, he was out of his mind. “Camp up here? You’ll freeze to death.”