“He’s shrunken, like his insides collapsed and his bones shriveled.”
“What the fuck?”
“Exactly,” Everett replied grimly.
When they arrived at the site, Everett led Jericho down a narrow hiking trail.About a hundred yards into the dense thicket, he discovered exactly what Everett had meant.Ezra’s chest had caved in, as if there was nothing holding it up.His throat and face resembled a melted candle, and truthfully, was barely recognizable.
“What the fuck happened to him?”Jericho muttered.
“I don’t know.I’ve never seen anything like this.”
A prickling sensation danced across Jericho’s skin and he took a step back.“Get away from that body, Everett.Something is very wrong here.Don’t go near it until we can figure out what happened.”
The ranger immediately obeyed.
Jericho retrieved his cell from his pocket and placed a call.“Miles, I need you to come to the edge of Old Towne Road.About two hundred yards south from the trailhead.”
“On my way, Alpha.”
Jericho disconnected the call and slipped his phone back into his pocket.“Ezra kept his family on the very edge of the pack’s territory.Didn’t like his children mingling with others.”
Everett cocked his head.“Are you suggesting one of them did this?”
“No, I’m not suggesting anything.”Jericho lifted his head and sniffed the air.“Do you smell that?”
Everett also took in a deep whiff.“It’s rot.I know these woods like the back of my hand, Alpha.The air is tainted.”
Jericho walked the perimeter, letting his nose guide him.“Ezra was a bastard.Every time my father or I went to visit, he greeted us with a shotgun.”
“What was he, paranoid or something?”
“Not sure,” Jericho replied.“Probably.He never ran with the pack, nor did he allow his family to.Wanted to be left alone.”
“Perhaps his family finally snapped.”
“Maybe.”Jericho spotted some red on leaves and looked closer.A swath of plants was coated with the color.“It looked like it rained blood.”
“It’s not natural.”
“No, it’s not.”
The sound of the underbrush crunching had them both turning.Miles joined them and came to an abrupt stop as he spotted Ezra’s body.
“What happened?”
“Not sure,” Jericho said.“There’s blood all over the leaves but don’t touch it.Whatever happened, it made him...”
“Melt,” Everett finished the sentence.
“Apt description,” Jericho muttered.“Don’t tell anyone about this.The last thing I want to do is cause a panic.Everett, call Doctor Rosedale, have him pick up the body.Warn him it might be poison.Miles, search the area, but be cautious.Whatever this is, it’s dangerous.”
Both men nodded.
“Where will you be, in case I find something?”Miles asked.
“I’m going to check into Ezra’s background.See if anything stands out before I confront his family.Call me if either of you learn something.”
