Hunted in Conard County Read online

  Except this morning he started getting restless soon after they entered the park. Instead of nosing around bushes and the legs of benches, he wanted to hurry. He raised his head high and she watched him draw in scents, huffing occasionally to clear his sensitive nose only to sniff again.

  Then he became agitated. Bailey never pulled on his leash. Well trained and, Edith suspected, aware that she was getting up there in years, he always remained happily at her side.

  But this morning he was clearly not happy and tugged on the leash. Hard. She was afraid he might pull free.

  “Bailey!”

  For a second, just a second, he gave her a hangdog look almost as if to say, “I’m sorry. I’m being bad. But...”

  She caught the “but” when he started tugging her again.

  “Dang it, dog!” Impatience was clear in her words, but he didn’t pay attention. It was unusual for him not to listen to her. At times she thought he was more sensitive to the tone of her voice than any human would be.

  Realizing she was going to lose this battle, and scolding Bailey wasn’t going to do a bit of good, she quickened her pace as much as she dared. The ankle-high lighting along the path gave her some confidence but she was unfortunately at a stage of life when she feared falling more than almost anything. Yeah, she’d had tests for osteoporosis that said she was okay, but she also remembered her mother breaking her hip and winding up in a wheelchair.

  On the pathway, though, with good walking shoes, she should be fine. She hoped.

  But then Bailey whimpered, the saddest sound she had ever heard him make. Her heart quickened as she wondered if her beloved dog was getting sick. She couldn’t bear the thought.

  He soon disabused her of the notion. He pulled away from the path into the thin woods to the side.

  “Bailey, no!”

  But Bailey had more than a few pounds on her and much more strength. Whatever he was after, he wasn’t going to stop.

  Feeling as if her arm might pop out of the socket, she followed. What the hell else could she do?

  They hadn’t gone more than a hundred feet from the path, into a small copse of trees, when she saw the pile of rags. She also heard a moan.

  Suddenly very glad that there wasn’t more light, she approached cautiously, noting the way Bailey suddenly seemed to be standing guard over the rags. Dark stains, wet stains, clothes in disarray, the pale, almost invisible face of a woman. She stirred and moaned again.

  Edith reached for the phone in her pocket, nearly dropping it as her hand shook wildly—911 was on her speed dial, and she pressed the button.

  “What is your emergency?”

  Words began to tumble out of Edith.

  Chapter 7

  Stu’s phone rang just as he was stepping out of the shower. He wrapped a towel around his waist and went to grab it from the bedside dresser. “Canady.”

  “Have you heard?” Kerri asked him. “There’s been another rape, this one at the city park.”

  What the...? “Kerri, where are you? How’d you hear?” He was already pulling a fresh uniform out of his closet, tearing away the dry cleaner’s bag with his free hand.

  “City park. I was out walking Snowy. Right now I’m sitting with a witness, Edith Jasper. She found the woman.”

  Sitting with a witness? Stu’s heart slammed. Who was letting Kerri into this? And why? The mere fact that she was talking to a witness might get her into trouble with the department or prosecutor.

  “I’ll be right there,” he said, tucking the phone against his shoulder.

  “No rush. Edith just didn’t want to sit alone until they’re ready to take her statement. That’s all I’m doing, Stu. Anyway, I have a class today. You said you’d stop by, and I just wanted you to know it isn’t necessary, before I forget and tell you too late. You’re going to be too busy.”

  Yeah, he was going to be busy, and what he’d feared was coming to pass. That woman was working herself into the middle of this. He really needed to rack his brain for a way to get her what she needed without getting herself into trouble.

  Although given her cop’s instincts and impulses he figured he might be trying to stop a freight train. She’d been saying that she felt useless, that she wanted to help in some way.

  Unfortunately, that could cause problems all the way down the line. She’d probably avoid most of them given her experience, but appearances mattered, too.

  A former cop talking to a witness before the witness was formally interviewed. Oh, man, a defense attorney could make hay out of that, claiming that Kerri had enough experience to know how to lead a witness. Why the hell were the officers allowing it?

  He jumped into his heavyweight winter uniform in record time, pulled on his gun belt and hurried to his car.

  He arrived at the park just as the first gray light of dawn was filling the day. Clouds hung heavily overhead like a looming threat.

  A large area had been cordoned off, the street was full of cars with their light bars flashing garishly and officers appeared to be everywhere, both city and county.

  Kerri sat on a bench with Edith Jasper, a woman who was well-known around town, partly because of her gigantic black-and-white dog, a dog who dwarfed Edith and must have seriously outweighed her. If anyone hadn’t known her from encounters over the long years she’d lived here, they’d certainly know her from that dog.

  Kerri sat beside her, Snowy at her feet. The dogs seemed to be getting along, as did the two women. He slipped under the cordon, greeting other uniforms as he went, trying not to disturb them as they worked and conferred. He’d get the story soon enough.

  When he reached the bench, he looked down at Kerri and Edith. The Great Dane raised his head, sniffed at Stu’s pant leg, then returned to rest.

  “Not discussing the case, are you?” he asked. He tried to sound pleasant but was afraid his tone sounded official.

  “Of course not,” said Kerri. “I know better.”

  “There’s nothing to discuss, anyway,” Edith said. “I just saw her and called for you guys. Then they put me here to wait and I was shaking so bad. Kerri was kind enough to sit with me. Stu, I’ve never seen anything so terrifying in my life. And if I’m not allowed to say that to anyone I want to, too damn bad.”

  Well, Stu couldn’t exactly argue with that. “It’s just—”

  “Appearances,” Kerri interrupted. “I understand. But Edith was sitting here alone and so obviously distressed, what was I supposed to do? Just walk by? No one had any time for her just then.”

  “You were just walking by?” This was a long way from her apartment house.

  “Well, it was still dark and I saw all the lights.” She shrugged. “I’m as curious as any other person. Say, I wanted to get Edith some tea or coffee to warm her up, but I didn’t want to leave her alone.”

  “I can take a hint,” Stu answered, finally able to smile slightly. The uniforms around him seemed to have everything under control and no one was demanding his help. “Do you want to run over to Maude’s?” Then he paused. “Stupid question. I’ve got a car, you haven’t. What’ll it be, ladies?”

  He left with quite an order. A dozen or so coffees for the working officers, a latte for Kerri and a large green tea for Edith. He hoped Maude was ready to start.

  It turned out Maude had opened early, expecting an influx. She’d apparently noticed the police activity, too. She already had several pots brewing and started the tea immediately when he placed the order.

  “Might take a bit,” she answered. “Or maybe if you want to go with medium coffees I can fill all those cups right up. I’ll get Kerri’s latte going, too.”

  How had she known it was for Kerri? he wondered vaguely. But that was far from the most important thing on his mind.

  “Another rape?” Maude asked, and she started filling cups, then pulled some shots from her lat
te maker. Everything went into insulated cups.

  “So I heard. I’m not involved yet.”

  “And you wouldn’t tell me, anyway,” Maude grumped. “I need a better source.”

  “If you find one, you’d better let us know. Talking out of school can ruin a case.”

  “So you people keep telling me. Everyone in this town knows I’m no gossip.”

  “You’re right, but we still can’t talk.”

  “Heard the ambulance scream its way toward the hospital. I hope she’s not too injured.” Then Maude stopped for a second. “Of course she’s injured. This will follow her through life.”

  “Personal experience?” Stu asked as the cups began to go into cardboard trays and then into cardboard boxes to hold them steady. He didn’t expect an answer, but he got one that shocked him to his very core.

  “My father,” Maude answered shortly. “And don’t be telling no one.”

  That might explain a whole hell of a lot about Maude, Stu thought as he started carrying boxes of coffee to his vehicle. A whole hell of a lot. He felt sickened for her, sickened for the newest victim and ready to chew nails.

  “What the hell is wrong with some men?” he asked himself as he backed out of the parking place.

  * * *

  Kerri really had been just sitting with Edith. The poor woman had been shivering like a leaf in the wind when Kerri saw her. Not one of the cops had tried to prevent her from crossing the cordon to sit with her.

  She knew what Stu meant, though. She’d been very careful not to question Edith or talk about what she’d seen, but her mere presence here could be misinterpreted. Oh, well. She could explain her actions in court if it ever became necessary. Edith needed some support right now and Kerri was trained to provide it.

  “How are you doing?” Kerri asked her.

  “Better.” Edith shook her head. “I know there’s always been evil in the world but I don’t think it was ever as bad as it’s been getting around here the past few years. Maybe I was wearing blinders.”

  “This hardly seems to be a hotbed of criminal activity, and I’ve only been here for two months.”

  Edith gave her a wan smile. “The past always looks better somehow. Like we tend to remember good things, not awful things. Or maybe I’m just lucky.”

  Kerri couldn’t answer that. She had enough bad memories that she was sure would never vanish. But she’d been more exposed to the ugly side of life than most people. Maybe it had warped her.

  * * *

  Stu returned with the coffee and tea and began handing it out, first the tea to Edith and the latte to Kerri. Then he passed around among the other officers where cups were gratefully received.

  “Don’t take those cups into the woods,” said a crime scene tech who was covered head to toe in a white Tyvek suit and foot covers. He was carrying a bag with a strap over his shoulder. “Contamination.”

  “Like we need to be reminded,” one of the cops answered, and the others laughed.

  Then Stu handed him a cup. “Got plenty.”

  Well, that halted the man in his tracks. Then he shook his head. “Thanks, but I have to get back there while evidence is still fresh.”

  Stu put the empty boxes into his vehicle, figuring he’d take them back to Maude for reuse. Then he looked around, saw that things seemed to be settling and made his way over to the scene commander.

  “Sexual assault?” he asked.

  Jake Madison, the city’s chief of police, nodded. “This time a jogger. She’s not able to talk yet, but Ms. Jasper found her around five-thirty. We figure from the way it looks that the vic must have been out here for over two hours. At least the perp didn’t cut any vital arteries.

  “Near as we can tell she was out here jogging,” Jake continued. “Weird time, but people have done more unusual things. Cut and beaten and currently unconscious.”

  “I hope she isn’t concussed.”

  “Well, we asked Sarah Ironheart to follow her to the hospital. When she can talk, Sarah will question her. In the meantime...” Jake waved a hand toward the park. Near the far side, Stu could see that flood lamps were lighting the scene.

  “I hope we get some good evidence.”

  “That would be nice.” Jake put his hands on his hips. “It’s only been five days since the last one. Just five freaking days.”

  “People aren’t going to ignore this.”

  “Nope.”

  “We sure as hell can’t go out there and pretend life is normal right now.” Not that anyone would believe it after this. Stu shook his head, anticipating the public reaction. It could become a problem on so many different levels. For just one thing, everyone around here owned a firearm. What if they decided to start patrolling the streets like vigilantes? Or what if they got nervous and shot some innocent person? Women were going to be afraid to go out alone, and God knew what they’d do if they lived alone.

  If every cop stayed on patrol all the time, the place would still leak like a sieve for the bad guy. He would find a way.

  “Need me for anything?” he asked Jake.

  “Not just now. Maybe after the techs wrap up. I’m gonna want to go over the scene with a fine-tooth comb. Again.”

  Stu understood. The light was still too dim for good vision. The techs would use every tool at their disposal but if they hadn’t widened the search far enough, or hadn’t looked up far enough, or...

  “Hell,” he muttered. “We have to find something. It’s just going to get worse.”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

  With that, Stu walked over to Kerri and Edith.

  * * *

  Ivan knew he shouldn’t go back to the scene. Too much interest on his part might draw attention to him. Still, curiosity plagued him. Eventually he decided that he could just walk by safely. Why shouldn’t he get a glimpse of the excitement he had caused?

  That appealed to him, as well. Not as much as taking the woman had, but he couldn’t quite bring himself to stay home and miss all the people he’d affected. He loved to watch cops work. One of these days, he was going to be one, although not around here. Even so, he didn’t go after the women because he wanted to watch police work.

  No, the attacks were first and foremost to him. Watching the scene crawl with police was just an added way to enjoy what he’d done. Ripples spreading outward, he thought with satisfaction.

  As he walked by, he saw the woman with the Great Dane seated on a bench within the cordon. Beside her sat that teacher from the community college, the one with the service dog. Kerri something-or-other. What was she doing there?

  He walked a little slower, listening to people talk. Crime scenes always gathered a crowd of curiosity seekers, and this was no different. Everyone was hoping to learn something.

  Before long he’d heard the Great Dane had found his victim. Okay. That old lady wasn’t a threat of any kind. But the college instructor beside her? He quickened his pace again, trying to ease past the small throng as if he had somewhere to go.

  Kerri. Hey, didn’t she teach that criminal justice class? Didn’t someone say she was an ex-cop? His stomach soured a bit, because it was unusual for anyone not involved to be allowed inside a police cordon. Special privileges? Or did they hope she knew something?

  Well, she couldn’t, Ivan assured himself. He’d left a clean scene behind, clean as always. He hadn’t even forgotten to reclaim his jacket. He was sure the only thing they’d find was his boot prints, softened by leaves, and those work boots were of a kind worn by most men around here. Nothing identifiable.

  He kept walking, and a block later had to restrain himself from whistling because he felt happy.

  There’d be more, he assured himself, although he should wait a little while. Yes, there’d be more.

  The memory of last night filled him with a surging sense of his own power.
That was the thing. Those women had been utterly at his mercy.

  And he was merciless.

  * * *

  When Stu reached Edith and Kerri, he patted the Great Dane, avoided touching Kerri’s service dog as was necessary when the animal was on duty, then squatted in front of them.

  “Are you going to be all right for a little while longer, Edith?” he asked. “It might be a while before we can take you to the station to get your statement.” Never had he seen Edith look so frail.

  “I’ll be fine,” Edith said stoutly. Her hand trembled a bit as it held the cup full of tea. “That poor woman. I’ve never seen such a sight and hope I never do again. I don’t know how you police stand it.”

  “It’s not easy,” Kerri said.

  “If it ever gets easy,” Stu remarked, “it would be time to quit.”

  Edith nodded slowly. “I was just walking Bailey and...” She trailed off. “I’m not supposed to talk about it. But it was horrid, seeing them load her into the ambulance. The poor girl wasn’t even moving. I can’t imagine how long she was lying out there.”

  Kerri reached over and held Edith’s hand gently. Stu was warmed by her instinctive caring. “Try not to think about it,” Kerri said quietly. “I know it’s all but impossible to put it from your mind but concentrate on the fact that you and Bailey found her and were able to help.”

  Edith nodded slightly. “It’s all I can do.” She shook her head a bit. “What is this world coming to? The granddaughter of a friend of mine was attacked only a short time ago by a man who had kidnapped her years ago when she was five. He was afraid she might identify him. Scared her to death and he did nearly kill her. But now this. This is even worse, and I can’t really say why. Two women. Maybe that’s why. What motivates them?”

  “Power,” Kerri answered. “A sick lust for power. It’s not about sex, Edith.”

  “How could it be when they leave a woman bleeding and nearly dead?”

  At that moment, Chief Madison approached. “Stu? You wanna take Miss Edith over to your office to get her statement? Gage says he’s ready if she’s willing.”