“Ava, this is my team. They’re the best around,” Caleb said with pride as he introduced them to Ava.
“Nice to meet you all,” she said. “Thank you all for dropping everything to join us.”
“Ava, can I speak to you for a second?” Rachel asked, drawing Ava’s attention to her.
“Yeah, of course. Caleb, you should join us.”
Caleb excused himself and followed her and Rachel out of earshot of the others.
Ava had told him she’d be relying heavily on his expertise of the landscape, and he wasn’t about to let her down.
“You’ll want to see this.” Rachel brought up someone on her tablet. “The laurel sample that was found? The lab traced the pollen’s isotopic composition to a specific small grove south of Glacier Creek Canyon, near the old mining road. That’s near where Emily was located.”
Caleb’s pulse spiked. “That can’t be a coincidence.”
“It’s not,” Rachel said looking his way. “And there’s something else. The lab found microscopic glass particles embedded in the wax. They believe it's possibly old windowpane fragments. Could be industrial.”
Caleb frowned. “Like from a factory or a workshop.”
Ava turned toward the dark horizon. “Or a mine. They’d probably still have glass in the abandoned mine that’s up there. He seems determined to tie the scenes together with clues.”
“Yes, he does.” Would they find the second victim in time? Caleb believed he already knew the answer. His gaze shiftedpast the people gathered to the daylight breaking over the ridge. Somewhere buried beneath rock and rot—somewhere he knew they’d have to crawl into to reach their next victim.
Ava’s voice dropped, quiet but firm. “We move out in thirty minutes to give us more light. We’ll need to use snowshoes to traverse the snowy terrain.” She turned to Caleb. “Can you break the teams up into groups of four? I want a K-9 and their handler with each team along with one of your search and rescue people.”
Caleb nodded. “You got it.”
Rachel lingered for a moment, her voice low. “You think she’s still alive?”
Neither Caleb nor Ava had to ask who she meant.
Ava looked out across the snow-covered valley they’d be traversing while her expression turned steel. “I don’t think so,” she said. “He left that laurel so I’d know where to find her. He’ll be preparing to take his third victim soon.” She paused with a shiver. “And I don’t think she’ll be his last victim. He’s only just beginning.”
Chapter Eleven
Quiet Things
Rachel’s eyes locked with Ava’s. “You think he’s moved on to his next victim?”
Ava didn’t want to say the words aloud because she felt as if she were giving up on victim two. “I sure hope not.”
Shadow pressed against her leg, ears pricked forward, a reminder of what lay ahead.
His breath puffed white, his body trembling, not from fear, but anticipation.
Ava crouched and whispered, “Almost, buddy.”
Caleb returned. “All the teams are lined out on their search areas. All of them are wearing snowshoes. Grace will be with us.” He nodded to his teammate. “We’re ready when you are.”
Suddenly, Ava wasn’t so sure she was ready to face off with Wax again. Fear crept in, and she forced it back. She took her time putting on the snowshoes before straightening with her resolve firmly in place. “I’m ready. Let’s get started.”
Dawn cut a thin slice of light across the backbone of the ridgeline as Ava watched the team split up, each knowing their search areas and being led by a member of Ava’s RedeemedUnit. A bitter cold mist rose from the frozen meadow like ghosts returning to their haunts. Deep snowdrifts covered the land, hiding the breathtaking meadow that, in spring, would be ablaze with radiant colors.
“Deputies Vaughn and Archer, I need you here at the staging site. You’re our command post. We’ll be transmitting our findings back to you.”
“Copy that,” Deputy Vaughn spoke for him and his partner.
“Everyone, be on alert. I have a feeling he’s close. Watching.” She turned to Caleb. “We’ll head for the laurel grove. I believe it’s important.”
