“What can you tell us so far?” Ava asked, bracing to see Wax’s latest victim.
“Female, late twenties. Time of death approximately twenty-four to twenty-eight hours ago.”
Ava drew in a slow breath as Dr. Hale pulled the sheet back, revealing the victim’s pale, wax-coated form. “I left the wax on the body until you could see her, but I’ve run some bloodwork. She was drugged with a ketamine-based compound. Sedated, but conscious. She felt what he did to her.”
Ava’s voice wavered. “He enjoys pain. He wanted her to suffer.”
Dr. Hale nodded grimly. “He made sure she did. The wax is his signature, but this time he left us something else. It was found underneath the victim when she was removed from the scene.”
He lifted a small evidence bag with a gloved hand. Inside was a tarnished key. It appeared antique, like the kind used for an old trunk or lockbox. Stamped into the handle were two letters: H.L.
Caleb frowned. “Not her initials, and probably not Wax’s either. It could be a location. Possibly Hidden Lake?”
“Maybe,” Ava murmured. Hidden Lake was a popular lake in the area. But it will be frozen over by now.
Dr. Hale set the key down. “There’s more residue under her nails—pine sap and granite dust. Sounds like what you might find near the Hidden Lake area.”
“We’ll check it out. Thank you, Doctor.” Ava grabbed her cell phone and called Rachel. “Run the initials H.L.” She told Rachel the doctor’s findings. “Cross-reference with any property or abandoned structures in that range—cabins, lodges, anything that matches. Start searching near Hidden Lake.”
“I’m on it.”
Caleb’s eyes met hers as they left the morgue. “You think he’s hiding up near the lake?”
“I think,” Ava said, her voice low and certain, “we’re finally closing in on where he calls home.”
Outside, the wind screamed through the valley, rattling the windows. Shadow barked from inside Ava’s SUV, restless, nose pressed against the glass as if he sensed the shift.
Ava stared at the distant tree line, a chill slipping beneath her skin.
Wax Saint was done hiding. He was playing a game of chess with her. He’d moved his pawn.
Now, it was her move.
Chapter Seven
The Cabin in the Woods
The morning emerged cold and colorless, the kind of dawn that never truly broke through the clouds. The white snow and gray skies made the world appear in black and white.
Snow continued to fall as it had most of the night. Caleb hadn’t caught more than a few snatches of sleep. Seeing that woman’s body had been a horrific reminder of the monster they chased.
The one who felt a personal connection with Ava. The thought sickened Caleb.
He raised his parka’s hood over his knit cap. He removed one glove to double-check his rifle and ensure it was fully loaded. Caleb always carried additional ammo. This time he’d doubled the amount because he couldn’t get the woman’s terror out of his head.
Using the rifle scope, he scanned the horizon, then shifted toward the peaks rising high above Hidden Lake. Was he looking at Wax’s lair? At this time of year, those peaks would be inaccessible.
“You see anything?” Ava asked. She knelt beside Shadow, tightening the strap of his vest. The Malinois sat still, gaze locked on the trail ahead, his breath misting the frigid air.
“Nothing yet,” Caleb said while trying to ignore the uneasiness crawling into his stomach that warned of a bad outcome.
“You ready to get to work, partner?” Ava said to the K-9.
Caleb had been impressed by the dog’s work the day before. After hearing Shadow’s story, that had doubled.
The dog’s ears twitched in anticipation. He waited with pent-up energy for Ava’s next command.
Rachel and the two rangers from the day before, Rangers Larabee and Shackelford, stood nearby, their radio chatter muffled by another winter storm rolling in. They wouldn’t have long to search before the extreme conditions shut it down completely.
