Ava’s shoulders tightened. “What kind of something?”
“Plant material. Pollen grains and fragments of a specific leaf embedded in the wax. The lab’s preliminary analysis points to mountain laurel.”
Caleb frowned. “That doesn’t make sense. Mountain laurel doesn’t grow anywhere near Hidden Lake or where Emily was found.”
“Exactly,” Rachel said. “It’s native to the lower elevations—mainly around Glacier Creek Canyon. The ME also detected fir pitch in the same residue sample. Both point to forest terrain, not alpine.”
The implications sank in hard. “He has another victim.”
“He’s leaving breadcrumbs to her body,” Caleb said grimly.
Rachel nodded. “This is different from the last time. He’s not following his previous pattern.”
Ava exhaled slowly, setting the mug aside. “Call off the Hidden Lake sweep. We won’t find anything more useful there.”
Caleb’s head snapped toward her. “You’re sure?”
“Yes. We’re chasing our tails there. He left his victim and his clues concerning the lake. Now, Wax’s is moving east.” Her tone carried quiet authority, the kind of command that left no room for argument. “I want all units rerouted to the Glacier Creek perimeter. Get drones airborne before dawn and use thermal scans if visibility drops. And tell the rangers to stage at the service road near the canyon mouth.”
Rachel was already typing. “I’ll handle the satellite grid.”
“It’ll be daylight in a few hours. We can set up our staging area and head out at first light.”
Ava managed a nod but all she could think about was they had a victim that had been dead for years. They’d been right. Victoria wasn’t Wax’s first victim.
The command center erupted in motion. Agents packed up laptops, rolled maps, and began transferring gear to field vehicles. The soft thud of boots on wood mixed with the crackle of radio chatter.
Ava watched from the center of the room, her jaw tight. The realization gnawed at her. Wax had been leading them by the hand the whole time, playing a game only he knew the rules.
Shadow rose from where he’d been resting near the hearth. His nose twitched, nostrils flaring. He padded toward the open door as a gust of cold air swept in, carrying the scent of snow and evergreen.
Ava crossed the room to the dog. Shadow whined low, his body going rigid before he pawed toward the darkness.
Caleb joined her at the doorway. “You think he smells something?”
“Maybe,” she murmured. She knelt beside the dog, rubbing his neck. “Easy, Shadow. Show us what you have?”
Shadow sniffed again and trotted over to something just outside the light from the door.
“What is that?” Caleb asked and clicked on the outside light.
Both went over to investigate. A cluster of white cup-shaped flowers.
“Those are mountain laurel flowers. But they don’t bloom until late spring or early summer.” Caleb clicked on his flashlight and examined them closely. “They’re not real.”
“But he was here. Wax was here.” Ava sounded the alarm.
Rachel gathered the flowers into an evidence bag. “I’ll get these to ERT for testing.”
“Thanks,” Ava murmured. “Hunt, Shadow.” She and Caleb followed the dog from the porch and out into the predawn while other members of the Redeemed team assisted.
“I can’t believe he was that close,” Caleb said as their flashlight lit the way into the woods near the lodge. “That’s pretty brazen.”
“He’s had lots of practice staying in the shadows. Moving around without really being seen.”
The direction they were heading would lead them straight to the road. With Shadow leading the group of K-9s and straining at his lead, soon the trees thinned and the snow-covered road appeared.
And the trail ended.
