He used cash, much safer in case anyone decided to check out credit card receipts for his caliber ammunition. “I’ll be well away from the tourists. I aim to bag me a ten-point buck. I spotted one yesterday heading right toward a hunting zone.”
“Good luck.” The man handed him his purchases.
He strolled outside and grinned into the sunshine. Some days it was worth getting out of bed. The players in his pay-per-view had just confirmed the weekend’s schedule. He could not believe his luck. Rather than following them around for the next couple of days to discover their plans, he could finish any business he had to do in town, collect his gear, and head to the checking station closest to Bear Peak. His cover for being in the area would be secure. It was a long hike through the hunting area to the old trail they had mentioned, and fortunately close to his cave. He’d have plenty of time to set up then just sit back and wait for them to arrive. He dumped his shopping in the back of his rig, took out his burner cellphone, and sent a text to the organizer:
* * *
Saturday. Will give a one-hour countdown. Lock and load.
50
Saturday
In town, multicolored leaves blew across the blacktop and sat in drifts over the curb, giving the air the earthy smell that came with fall. It was a great day to be outside, sunny with clear blue skies, and the townsfolk and tourists were making the most of it. It was not yet eight thirty, but stalls selling everything from cakes to hotdogs lined the sidewalk. Kane slipped from Rowley’s cruiser and followed him and Jenna to the clothing store. So far, everything had gone to plan. Mariah and Paul were more than happy to cooperate after discovering they could be the next victims on the killer’s list. In fact, Mariah informed the sheriff she had the feeling someone had been watching them since their arrival in Black Rock Falls.
The couple had been enthusiastic in helping them trap the killer after Jenna had ensured their safety. Armed with one of Wolfe’s tracking devices, to activate if threatened, and with a deputy on duty close by, the couple had visited all the locations that handed out the old maps over the past two days. They had made a point of publicly discussing their plans for the weekend in each store and at the Cattleman’s Hotel. If the killer had stalked them, he would have all the information he needed.
They had planned the arranged changeover to the second. The couple arrived earlier to browse the range of goods for sale, more expensive than in the local outdoors store. Kane took out his notepad and paused to read his notes, to give the appearance he was on the job, then went inside the clothing store. He gave the owner a nod then went straight to the fitting room area, where he found Paul wearing one of his old uniforms and Mariah dressed as Jenna. “Okay, wait at the counter then go with Rowley. He’ll drive you to a safe house—it’s a ranch out of town. Deputy Walters will be checking on you by phone.” Kane handed them a burner cellphone. “His number is in the contacts. Don’t call anyone else at all. Understand?”
“Yes, the sheriff made it quite clear.” Paul pulled the black woolen cap down over his ears and shrugged into a jacket.
Kane gave the couple a once-over and nodded. “You’ll pass as us at a distance. Don’t make eye contact with anyone, just go straight to the car.”
The couple waited a few minutes then left with Rowley. He would drive them to the ranch then leave his cruiser in town. After changing into camo, he would collect Bradford and drive an unmarked rig to meet the rest of the team at Bear Peak.
Kane changed clothes and met Jenna at the counter. “All good?”
“Yeah.” She handed over her folded uniform to the clerk. “Thanks for your cooperation, Mr. Dowy. We’ll drop by on Monday and pick up our things.”
“M
y pleasure, Sheriff.” Mr. Dowy placed both uniforms in a large bag and pushed it under the counter. “These will be safe with me, don’t you worry none.”
Glad that Dowy was a retired cop and understood the meaning of secrecy, Kane grabbed the bags of spare clothes and ammunition they had stashed there and followed Jenna to Paul Benton’s rental car. He slid behind the wheel. “That went well. I hope the killer took the bait.”
“That was just a precaution.” Jenna buckled up. “I figure the moment he discovered the couple’s plans he would have hightailed it to Bear Peak to set up his macabre theater.” She glanced at him as they headed out of town. “If not, this is all a waste of time.”
Thirty minutes later, Kane checked his watch and pulled the rental into the parking lot near the falls. The success or failure of any mission was often in the timing. He called Wolfe for an update and listened in silence. “Roger that, we are moving out. ETA twenty minutes.”
Wolfe and Webber had taken positions above the trail and each could cover a one-eighty-degree angle of the forest below. Rowley and Bradford would be along soon. The team had dressed in camo to blend into the forest, and from the moment the couple had agreed to their plan, he had drilled the team like a sergeant. They were as ready as they would ever be.
Agreed, his plan had more holes than a sieve, but if it was one chance in fifty of stopping the killer, it was worth it. The location posed a number of problems and gave the killer an advantage. The density of the trees would hide a man in camouflage but Kane had selected a small area for the couple to talk about and Wolfe and Webber could zero in on them in seconds if the killer attacked. He had confidence in the team but his priority would be keeping Jenna safe. She was the killer’s main target and he was just window dressing.
As they climbed from the car and collected their backpacks, he glanced at her determined expression and an unusual trickle of worry ran down his back. She had jumped in boots and all to take down a killer who would dissect her alive. That took guts. Oh, yeah, she could fight, and if he went down, she had superior skills plus the backup of three good men with sniper rifles. I don’t plan on going down.
“You know, I can tell when you’re worried.” Jenna shrugged into her backpack and slid one hand inside her jacket to check the Glock in her shoulder holster. “You pull this face, like you’ve been turned to stone or something.”
“Yeah? I’ve been trained to turn off all external stimuli and concentrate on the mission.” He slid the handle of the bag carrying supplies over one shoulder then adjusted the straps of his backpack. “I didn’t think it was that obvious.”
“It is.” She smiled at him and slid on her sunglasses. “The killer could be scoping us right now, and you’re supposed to be a married man out with your secretary for a dirty weekend. Lighten up a bit.” She slid her hand into his and dragged him toward the trail. “Walk slow— you’re meant to be out of shape.”
“With the metal plate Wolfe added to my backpack for extra protection, I won’t need to act.” He grinned back at her but the smile did not reach the eyes peering at her over the top of his sunglasses. “Stay alert.”
“I’m always alert.” She led the way down the narrow path then took the trail to the left. “Here we go.”
51
He leaned against the moss-covered wall of his cave, an iPad balanced on his knees. Using his cellphone as a wireless hotspot, he brought up the images from his webcams and smiled. Exhilaration at seeing Paul and Mariah heading in his direction made his heart pound. He watched them weave between the trees, picking them up again as the trail brought them along the face of Bear Peak. He looked up and grinned at his friends; all looked back and their black eye sockets gave them a wide-eyed appearance. He liked the way their flesh-peeled skulls smiled at him. “Here they come. He turned around the screen to show them. “Do you like her? I chose her just for you. I’ll bring her here soon enough to keep you company.”