Tonton (A Hunter Kincaid Novel)

Hunter moved the side of her foot lightly in an arc to rake leaves and reveal the ground. It was bare earth, nothing more. She took a single step towards the fire and did it again.

A white line as wide as her palm showed on the dark earth.

“What do we have here.” John said.

Young said, “That, is what was missing.”

John turned to the police officer, “How about taking the boys to the office?”

“Sure.”

“Have them call their parents, too. They can be there when we interview.” The officer nodded, gathered the boys and left the clearing. John said, “We need a leaf blower.”

Randall said, “Got it covered.”

“You have a leaf blower on you?”

“At the house. I’ll be back pronto.”

“You’re going to run with the lights and siren on, aren’t you?”

“Only way to fly.” He took the keys from John and started through the trees.

John yelled at him, “That’s why you’re a top flight detective.” Randall waved behind him and disappeared among the foliage.

Hunter and Andre waited until they heard the car leave, then walked to the pot. Andre said, “Oh shit.”

John said, “What?”

Hunter pulled out the evidence bag in her pocket. The hair color matched. She and Andre joined the others, showing them the evidence bag.

John asked, “Where?”

Hunter said, “Behind the abandoned warehouse where Ariel saw the vodou ceremony.”

Young Anson moved closer. He said, “Even if you told the story before, please tell it to me now.”

Ariel did. Young asked questions at certain parts, making her describe details. He nodded when she finished.

John asked him, “Well?”

“I need to see what is hidden,” he moved his hand to indicate the leaf-covered clearing, “Then I will know for sure.”

As they waited, John walked to the rattlesnake on the stump. “Will one of you hold its head?”

Young Anson said, “What are you going to do?”

“Pull out the nail.”

Young looked at John’s hands, “You have no tools.”

“I think I can get it.”

Young shrugged, turned to a nearby tree and broke off a finger-thick limb that had no leaves, then walked to the stump. The rattler’s head extended a foot beyond the stump’s edge, and it was agitated. Young used the limb to rub the snake’s back, from the nail to its head. He did this several times. The snake lowered its head and let it droop over the edge of the stump and down the trunk. Young ran the stick along its body one more time and followed it with his other hand. He used his thumb and finger to grasp behind the triangular head. He said, “Go ahead.”

John gave Young an appraising look, then turned his attention to the nail. A half-inch stood above the snake’s back. He grasped the exposed portion with his thumb and forefinger, saying to Young, “Don’t turn loose.” He worked it back and forth, feeling a tiny give in the wood. Thirty seconds later, he pulled it free. The nail was long and thick, a twenty-penny common nail. Untraceable.

Young turned to Handley, “Do you need the snake as evidence?”