Page 50 of The Whispering Girls (Detective Katie Scott #14)

FORTY-SIX

Katie drove to Devin’s property with the cabin on Pine Cone Way and then made a sharp left leading to the adjoining property owned by Jack. The road, even though it was mostly dirt and light gravel, had less snow, making it easier for Katie to maneuver the Jeep.

“I want to make this completely clear,” said Katie. “We’re doing a recon to try and find Jack, the chief, and most importantly John.”

McGaven nodded.

“But you know…”

“That we will do whatever it takes, no matter what,” he said.

“Until our backup arrives.” Katie clenched her teeth.

Tension rose in her body. She wanted to catch the killer and demand answers.

She thought about the article Jack had saved about a possible serial killer and that Carol Ann might have been a victim.

Nothing in her experience indicated that Jack was a serial killer—she could see him performing a revenge killing or a crime of passion perhaps, but not the planned murder of young girls.

“Having second thoughts?” said McGaven.

“No. I’m just trying to make fit that Jack or the chief committed all these murders. But it just doesn’t.”

Katie decided to take a side road where they could hide the Jeep and continue on foot so no one would notice them or the car.

“Are we taking Cisco right away?” McGaven asked.

Cisco heard his name and whined. McGaven petted the large dog.

“Not right away.”

“You ready?”

“Absolutely.” Katie wasn’t as sure as she should have been, but there was nothing she wouldn’t do to save a friend.

The car was safely tucked in a wooded area. Katie prepared herself with layers of clothing, a big coat, gloves, and weapons. She made sure Cisco was fitted with his tactical vest, but he had to wait in the car until the door popped open. She also noticed that McGaven was moving slower than usual.

“Everything okay?” she said.

“Yeah, fine.” He finished layering his clothes and coat. Pulling on his gloves, he said, “I think it might be a bit warmer and the winds have died down.”

Katie nodded in agreement.

After looking at the map again, the detectives decided to sweep their search to the north, but first they wanted to walk the property line.

Katie shut the doors and hatch. It always made her tense leaving Cisco behind, but he would be with them shortly.

Her idea was to use the dog to search for the men, but they needed to know what they were up against first.

Katie took point and headed in the direction of the two property lines. Glancing at her phone, there was no cell signal. She trudged forward realizing the snow was more difficult to not only move quickly but move quietly, without making a crunching noise.

McGaven kept up easily behind her, constantly watching left, right, and behind.

Katie felt better once they had trees to camouflage them. She fitted her walkie-talkie and whispered to McGaven. “Can you hear me?”

“Affirmative.”

It made Katie feel protected from anything or anyone sneaking up behind them as she kept her focus straight ahead. She moved deliberately and at a consistent pace.

Once in the trees, it was clear it would make a good hunter’s spot.

Katie stopped. Both detectives started scanning the immediate area for a wildlife camera.

It took about ten minutes until Katie saw the brownish box affixed to a tree trunk with a black band.

She retrieved it. There was some recorded video and a card. She showed it to her partner.

“I can read the SD card,” he said. McGaven put down his backpack, which was filled with all types of tools, ropes, and technology, retrieved his small laptop, and inserted the card into a designated slot.

They scrolled through the photos that showed the camera had been active within the last twelve hours. It was just some of the native wildlife seeking out food, but then, there it was…

“Is that…?” said Katie.

“It sure looks like Jack walking through with a long gun. Look at his stance. He’s on a mission,” said McGaven.

“Does that mean that…”

“No, it doesn’t mean that John is dead.”

“What’s the timestamp?”

“Looks like about three hours ago.”

“Where’s he going?” she said. Katie looked at the compass on her watch. Since they were heading north, then Jack was too. “ We’re heading the right way. It must be toward one of those structures.”

“Let’s go.”

Katie finally felt a jolt of energy and a feeling they were going in the right direction. She kept the path straight and continued.

“How far can you be from Cisco and still open the door?” he said.

“About two miles.”

McGaven was impressed. “Wow.”

After walking for about fifteen minutes, Katie saw some interesting changes in the snow. She veered slightly to the left. “Do you see this?”

McGaven walked near her to take a look. “What is that?”

Katie knelt down. “These are footprints and, by the looks, I think there are two sets. They appear to be stepped around several times and one set had the impression of slipping.”

“You think there was a struggle maybe?” he said.

“I don’t know but it’s definitely human footprints.”

Katie and McGaven continued on their trek in the same direction as the footprints. They stayed close to the property lines and continued north.

Katie estimated they had walked almost a half mile when she started to observe the landscape change from densely wooded to more spread out with light in between the trees. She became more observant and careful.

Along the boundary divider, there was one of the drainage ditches, just like on Devin’s property. She still thought it strange. Looking back, she saw McGaven regarding it as well.

Katie decided to walk more left, but still north. It was partly cloudy, alternating between low lighting and then bright sun. She heard a strange sound. It seemed like footsteps but could be anything. It was crunching in the snow, but it wasn’t coming from them .

Katie and McGaven stayed still, both listening, trying to figure out where the noise was coming from.

The sound stopped.

Katie motioned to McGaven to back away. She was just about to retrieve her weapon when they heard a man’s voice yell.

“Show me your hands!”