Page 24 of Whisper Through the Pines

A moment later a child’s voice drifted through the door, so soft they could hardly hear it.

“Please let me in.” The knocking came again. “It’s so cold out here.”

Transfixed with horror, Cherry’s mind filled with the old story of a kid who lured men to their deaths in the mountains. He stared at the door. “You don’t figure a kid is out there, do you? In this weather at this time of night?” He shook his head. “This doesn’t feel right.”

“Maybe someone is lost?” Connor’s hand tightened on the lamp, his knuckles white. “Maybe we should take a look?”

Tap, tap, tap.

“Please, I’m cold. Let me in, mister.”

With every instinct screaming at him to stop, Cherry took the lamp from his friend and moved to the door. Heart pounding, he held the lamp high and cracked the door open an inch. Cold rushed in but no child stood on the porch. Only mist swirled across the small clearing outside the cabin. He let out his breath in a rush. “There’s no one there.” He went to shut the door when the light spilled over the porch. He froze in horror. A line of small footprints led into the forest on a light coating of snow covering the old wooden floor. He flung open the door and the icy chill went through him like a knife. “You seeing what I’m seeing or have I lost my darn mind?”

“I’m seeing it.” Connor peered over Cherry’s shoulder. “What the h⁠—”

A sharp knock came from behind them. They spun around, but nothing inside the cabin moved. Cherry lifted the lantern high and shadows danced around the walls. He stepped back and stared out of the door, scanning the trees. “If there’s a kid out there, they won’t last the night.”

“Look, the footsteps have vanished. We imagined them.” Connor moved the flashlight across the porch. “There’s no snow either. It must have been the mist tricking our minds.”

Unconvinced, Cherry raised the lantern again. He made out a small lump on the tree line. “Look over there. Isn’t that a kid?”

“If you’re going out there, I’m loading my rifle.” Connor walked to his gear. “Wait for me. Don’t do anything stupid.”

Cherry went back inside and closed the door. “I’ll grab my jacket. I’m sure as heck not going out there alone.”

As he pulled it on along with his gloves, Connor opened the door and stepped outside, the flashlight held alongside his rifle. Cherry turned to him. “Wait for me.”

“I see something.” Connor looked at him over one shoulder. “I figure it’s the kid.”

When the door closed behind him, heart pounding, Cherry picked up the lamp, grabbed his rifle, and headed to the door. Before he made it across the floor the distinct sound came again.

Tap, tap, tap.

He stopped midstride and stumbled back, knocking over a chair. The hairs on his neck rose and he couldn’t suck in a breath. “Connor, stop messing around.” He waited for his friend to reply but no sound came from outside the door. “Who’s out there?”

Taking a deep breath, Cherry pulled open the door. No kid stood on the porch and Connor’s flashlight no longer lit up the forest. He lifted the lantern and stepped slowly from the porch and into the thick mist. “Connor, where are you?”

Nothing.

A twig cracked close by, and Cherry’s heart raced. “I’m coming out. Don’t shoot me.”

He stumbled into the small clearing, holding the lantern high. A shadow moved to his left. “Connor?”

“I’m here.” A voice came out of the darkness, but it wasn’t right.

Uncertain, Cherry took a few paces toward the voice. He didn’t have time to scream.

Twenty-Five

Wednesday

Raven had said goodbye to the last rescue dog in his kennel. It had found a wonderful home with a middle-aged woman who’d recently lost her husband. The dog and new owner had bonded so well, he wouldn’t need to worry about them. Now he’d wait for another suitable dog to arrive at the dog shelter for him to train as a companion or K-9. The pups from his Belgian Malinois bitch, Ninja, and Ben would be due soon and Atohi Blackhawk, his partner in the dog-training business and Native American tracker and guide, would raise them on the res. He’d purchased Ninja the previous year. She’d attached herself to Blackhawk, who usually trained bloodhounds for tracking, so she lived with him and his mom, unless Blackhawk moved into his cabin a short distance from Raven’s small ranch, to assist him in training the dogs. It was fortunate he only had the chickens and Ben to feed, given the recent murders in Black Rock Falls.

A light dusting of snow covered the forest trails and mist swirled through the trees as he steered his truck along a dirt road to the fire road and then headed into town. He rarely arrived first. Maggie somehow managed to get there before everyone and had all the coffee pots brewing. This morning he’d arrived before Jenna and Dave and the rest of the team. He swung out of his truck, opened the door for Ben, and hurried inside. A blast of arctic wind wrapped around him and crept through the seams of his coat. He pushed open the glass door to the sheriff’s office and wasn’t greeted by the aroma of hot coffee. Maggie was behind the counter wrapping a child in a blanket. He moved closer. “Who is that?”

“She says her name is Jill Marsden.” Maggie handed the child a cup of hot chocolate. “I called Aunt Betty’s. They’re sending something for her to eat. Poor mite is starving.”

Raven went behind the counter and crouched to look at the girl. Her long blonde hair was unkempt, her thin dress and sweater not warm enough. She wore sandals, not shoes, and dirty toes peeked out. This child had been neglected but didn’t fear his uniform or him. “Hi, my name is Raven and this is my dog, Ben. You can pet him if you like. How did you get here?”