Page 8 of Whisper Through the Pines

They did smell delicious and her stomach growled in appreciation. She glanced at her watch and then at Susie. “Thank you, they smell delicious.”

“I have a feeling that Dave will be ordering a pile when he gets back home.” Susie smiled. “They’re on the house.” She turned and walked away.

Trying to thrust the sight of the blood-soaked girl from her mind, she nibbled at the turnover and immediately her mouth exploded with flavor. She moaned as gravy coated her tongue, the savory filling, so rich and tasty she took another bite. The fear suddenly vanished and the shivering ceased. She could almost hear Kane in her head telling her his rule to eat when possible during a mission had saved his life. She finished her coffee just as Raven came through the door, wearing his Kevlar vest under his jacket and with Ben at his side.

“Did you make out anyone?” He dropped into a seat beside her.

Jenna shook her head. “No.” She lowered her voice to just above a whisper and gave him all the details. “I figure it’s a trap. I’ve read the story about the girl in a bloody nightgown luring people to their deaths. It’s another folklore story told around campfires to scare people—but I saw it and so did two other women. It was very real and terrifying.”

“Yeah, but if you didn’t know about the story, would you be tempted to follow her into the forest?” Raven shook his head when Susie appeared with the coffee pot. “Thanks, but we’re leaving soon.”

Jenna considered what she’d seen. “It did look real and, yeah, maybe someone might believe it was a kid in trouble and follow her. In any case, we need to go there and see if the Axman is lurking close by. He won’t be expecting us.”

“Maybe he will.” Raven rubbed his chin and looked at her. “You were in a patrol truck. He’d know you’d go and get backup.”

Rowley and Rio walked in and headed their way. Jenna brought them up to date. “I’ll grab a vest from my truck and then we can head out.” She turned at Raven and stood. “I’ll ride with you. My truck stalled when I tried to get away from whoever it was messing with me. I don’t want that happening again.” Pushing down the fear of seeing the apparition again, she headed for the door. “Let’s go.”

Ten

Unsure if it was his training as a doctor or concern for a friend, Raven flicked constant glances at Jenna. Since Kane and Wolfe decided to take off on a fishing trip, she’d been on edge. It was hard not to notice the dark circles under her eyes and the fact that unless pushed she didn’t eat. The kids were fine. He asked Blackhawk about them and he often visited Jenna’s ranch to see them. Being a close friend and relative to Tauri, he spent his time making sure Tauri was aware of his culture, and because Jackson was a child who craved to learn, Blackhawk had been teaching both boys his native language. Tauri was now fluent and slid with ease into conversations when he took him for visits to the res. As Raven worked with Blackhawk, they often spoke about Jenna and Kane’s boys. He’d noticed pride in Blackhawk at their achievements but hadn’t mentioned his concern about Jenna.

As they drove over the second bridge, he noticed Jenna stiffen and lean forward in her seat. He slowed and glanced at her. The mist rolled around them and he could hardly make out the headlights of Rio’s truck following behind them. “I doubt you’ll see anything. The mist is so thick this close to the water I can hardly make out the blacktop.”

“I’m sure there’s a white truck parked alongside the road. It wasn’t here when I came by earlier.” Jenna turned in her seat to look behind them. “It’s hard to tell, but I turned around somewhere along here and drove back toward the bridge, and then I saw the girl walking along the tree line. She came out of the mist and I could see her clearly.”

Raven nodded. Although the mist created shapes from the headlights and the motion of the truck, he hadn’t seen anything remotely like a young girl in a bloodstained nightgown. He used his com to speak to Rio. “I’m turning around just ahead. Jenna thinks there’s a parked vehicle closer to the last bridge.”

“Copy. I see nothing but mist.”

“I’m guessing you’re all thinking I’m crazy.” Jenna moved her attention to him. “Just remember, I came out here after a report, not on a whim.”

Raven turned his truck around and crawled alongside the road. “I read the statements from the two women, Jenna. I just wished you’d asked for backup. You knew I was helping out at the morgue tonight. Why didn’t you call me?”

“Because I figured they were seeing things—until I got here.” Jenna pulled on her bottom lip until it turned white. “It scared me and I don’t scare easy.” She pointed. “There, just alongside the road. See the white truck?”

The mist swirled ahead of them, but he made out the back lights of a pickup. “Yeah, I see it.” He pulled in behind it and turned to Jenna. “The engine is running.”

He waited for Rio and Rowley to stop behind them and opened his door slowly. Outside, apart from the purr of the idling engine, an eerie silence surrounded them. It was as if the thick white cover of fog had dampened everything. “I’ll let Ben out. He’ll soon let us know if someone is around.”

“We’ll check the truck.” Rio and Rowley moved forward, weapons drawn. They walked around the truck with their guns pressed against their flashlights. “It’s empty. Driver’s side door is open. Nothing here. No blood or signs of a struggle.”

“Over there.” Jenna moved her flashlight toward the forest. “That newly cut stump is where I saw the girl and she turned into the forest along that trail.” She turned to the others. “If you see someone coming at you with an ax—shoot to kill. I’m not taking any chances with this maniac.”

Scanning the forest, the hairs on the back of Raven’s neck prickled as he gave the order to Ben to be on guard and they moved out. Beside him, Jenna had pulled her cloak of professionalism around her, although he did notice a slight shake in the hand that was holding the flashlight. Behind him, Rio and Rowley were walking backward, their flashlights moving through the forest, searching for any movement. Beside him, Ben whined, moved in front of him, and turned around in circles. He turned to Jenna. “He smells something and it’s distressing him.”

“So do I.” Jenna pulled a face mask from her pocket. “It’s getting worse.”

The mist swirled in front of them in an impenetrable wall of white. Anyone could be hiding in the trees and he could almost cut the tension with a knife in the small group of people. He swung his flashlight around and noticed two lights. “Over there. I see lights.” The mist swirled around them as if taunting them to move closer. The stink of death hung in the cloud, sticking to their clothes. Raven blinked, unable to believe his eyes. “Sweet Jesus.”

“Oh, no.” Jenna raised her weapon. “We’re too late.” She glanced behind her to Rio and Rowley. “Stay sharp.”

Raven had seen many horrific sights in his time, but he shuddered as he moved his flashlight over the two severed heads sitting on a log in the middle of the forest. Their mouths had been propped open and inside two black candles glowed in the dark. The victims were both male. One of them still wore his ball cap, and they stared out into nothingness without expression. Blood coated the fallen log and led away through the pines. Behind him Rio cleared his throat and Rowley turned to spew into the bushes. He looked at Rio. “Did you say something?”

“No, but I hope you’re not planning on calling Em out here tonight?” Rio glanced at Jenna and then back at him. “It’s not safe for her to be driving here alone, let alone working a crime scene.”

Raven shrugged. “That’s not my call.”

“We’ll process the scene as best we can tonight, but we need to find the bodies. We can’t leave them out here for the wildlife to feed on.” Jenna turned to Raven. “Are there body bags and a forensics kit in your truck?”