Julia nodded, weariness on her face. “That’s why we need Gizmo’s nose.”
“How many K9 units are searching?”
“You’re the first one here. I’m not sure who else will make it.”
Kenzie lived closer than any of the other HRD dog handlers. “I guess Gizmo and I are it for now.”
“Megs has toned out the Team for technical support.”
If they found a body, someone would have to bring it in.
Kenzie sent Harrison a quick text, telling him she’d been toned out, then climbed in her truck and followed Julia and Rescue 1, with Creed and Nicole inside, up to the Russey parking area. Malachi, Mitch, and Austin arrived just after they did, Austin still on duty in his ranger uniform.
Kenzie climbed out, clipped the mic from her pack set onto her parka, and slipped her backpack over her shoulders. She did a quick radio check, harnessed Gizmo, and joined the others.
Julia handed Kenzie a plastic bag that held a glove. “I’m not sure if you use a scent article for human remains, but here you go. I’ve got something of hers and his.”
“The scent trail is three weeks old, but we can try.” Kenzie opened the plastic bag, took out the scent articles, let Gizmo sniff his fill, and then tucked them away in the plastic bag. “Gizmo, search!”
Gizmo seemed confused at first. Kenzie walked him along the edges of the parking lot, hoping to pick up some kind of trail. Then abruptly he headed off to the north, leading her down a narrow side trail that ran along a little creek, Julia and the others following at a distance so as not to distract him. Every so often, he stopped, wandered off the trail, then moved on again.
After about an hour of chilly, uphill hiking, they came to a little wooden bridge and crossed the creek, coming to a glade of bare aspens, their leaves like a carpet of gold coins on the forest floor. Beyond the aspens grew a thick stand of conifers.
Gizmo made straight for it, tugging at his leash now.
Kenzie hurried after him, dread curling in her stomach. What kind of bastard could kill his wife, the mother of his children?
Gizmo sat—and she saw.
A woman’s head, her eyes lifeless, her mouth open as if in a silent scream.
Kenzie fought to hold herself together, reaching down to pet Gizmo. “Good boy, Gizmo. Good boy.”
* * *
Conrad hadn’t yet gotten backinto the habit of keeping his Team pager charged and in his pocket. He was at Food Mart when Kenzie texted to say she’d been toned out for an HRD call and didn’t know when she’d be home.
He took the groceries back to his place and then drove with Gabby to The Cave to find out what was going on.
“Code black. They just found the victim’s head,” Megs said when he walked in with Gabby on her leash. “It looks like her husband did it. She had three kids with him—the sick son of a bitch.”
“Holy shit.” What kind of man could do something like that? “I’m going to head up there and see if I can help. Can you watch Gabby?”
Megs raised an eyebrow, but reached for Gabby’s leash. “If she pees on my floor, you’re cleaning it up.”
“Fine. Thanks.”
“And, hey, try turning on your pager.”
“Right.” He would have to find it first.
He grabbed a radio and drove up to Russey Ranch, parked, and hiked up the trail. He reached the scene just as the other Team members were strapping a half-empty body bag to a litter, Kenzie watching with Gizmo off to one side. The area was cordoned off with police barricade tape, detectives in forensic gear still hard at work.
Conrad walked over to Kenzie. “Hey. How are you holding up?”
She tried to act like nothing was wrong, but there was a shattered look in her eyes. “I’m okay. I’m fine.”
“Liar.” He knelt down, petted Gizmo. “Good job, buddy. You’re a rock star.”
