Ava’s shoulders slumped. “He had a car parked here. He’s gone.”
“Let me and Deputy Vaughn see if we can track him down,” Rachel said.
Ava gave the go-ahead and Rachel grabbed Vaughn and headed toward a vehicle.
“That’s it everyone. Let’s go back and prepare to leave soon.” Ava turned back toward the lodge with a bad feeling settling around her. What did Wax have in store for them today? Would they find another victim? Not a third, but a second. Thewoman in the lake had been dead for years. She was obviously someone he felt a connection with…like Ava. He kept her close through the years but had chosen to bring her out now. Why?
That was one question Ava was terrified of learning the answer to.
Chapter Ten
The Hidden Connection
Within the hour, engines roared to life outside the lodge. The convoy of vehicles headed toward the Glacier Creek Canyon area.
Caleb sat in the passenger seat of Ava’s SUV as they drove. Rachel shared the rear seat with Shadow who appeared on alert, his attention fixed on the windshield as if he were preparing for the hunt to follow.
Rachel continued to monitor real-time information coming in from the medical examiner’s office.
Rachel and Vaughn’s hunt for Wax had ended in town.
“Well, this is creepy enough.” Rachel blew out a low breath. “ME says the killer appears to have used some type of wax resin infusion to preserve the body before he added the final layers of wax.”
“What? I’ve never heard of anything like that.” Ava glanced at Rachel in the rearview mirror.
“That’s because it appears to be some homemade concoction. The ME removed the first layer of iridescent, wax-like material found on the other victims, and he encountered anamber shell composed of a resinous, wax-based substance. Oh, and underneath the outer wax, the ME found a note. Some type of poem. It’s to you, Ava.”
The SUV swerved slightly. Caleb’s gaze shot to Ava. “Easy there.”
“Sorry,” she apologized, gathering herself. “What did it say?”
Rachel scanned the tablet without speaking.
Caleb glanced back at her and could see her hesitation.
“It’s okay. Just say it,” Ava managed in a voice anything but steady.
Rachel cleared her throat. “Three were bound together by blood and betrayal. One was silenced, one was spared, one remembers. You were the spared, Ava. She was silenced. And I have never forgotten.”
Rachel met Ava’s eyes in the rearview mirror while those chilling words hung between them.
Ava blew out a breath. “He’s hinting at a tie between me, the lady in the lake, and himself that I have no idea what it means.”
“So, he added the final layer of wax recently after he included the poem.” Caleb’s frown deepened.
“I guess so.” Ava looked his way briefly before refocusing on the road ahead.
Beside Rachel, Shadow whimpered low as if offering his support.
Caleb admired the dog’s fierce loyalty to Ava. “If Wax is claiming the three of you are connected, I’m wondering if he’s part of your family maybe?”
Ava whipped his way. Both her mother and father were deceased. They’d died when she was around three. Ava was placed in foster care and later adopted by an older couple. Thehusband was a minister. The Blakes became the only family she knew.
“I have no idea. I can ask my adoptive parents, but I doubt that they know anything more than I do.”
“Still, it might be a good idea to check in with them,” Caleb said gently. He’d met Oscar and Zelda Blake on several occasions. They were good people.
“I’ll give them a call as soon as we finish this search.” Ava refocused on the icy road ahead. “Anything else from the ME?”
