“I do.” Cam’s voice held conviction. “I’ve seen bomb-sniffing dogs in action. The motto of every dog handler is to always trust your dog. The dog knows more than people understand. Their senses are finely tuned.” He nodded at Bruno who sat looking pleased with himself. “This is his alert.”
“Okay.” She blew out a breath. “What do you think? Do we keep searching for more signs of the killer?”
Cam pressed his lips together as he considered that. Then he glanced at his watch. “Not now, but maybe later. I don’t know that sticking around while the cops are camped around the crime scene is the best use of our time.”
She bent and stroked Bruno’s fur again. “You’re a good boy, Bruno. Yes, you’re a very good boy.”
The shepherd jumped to his feet, tail wagging in excitement. Despite the grim situation, she couldn’t help but smile. The dog had a way of lightening her mood.
Even on a day like today.
“Let’s keep going toward the river.” Cam gestured to the right. “Maybe Bruno will alert again.”
She nodded and turned away from the fallen log. It was far too easy to imagine the killer sitting there after doing something heinous.
“I’m glad Bruno seems to know this guy’s scent.” Cam grimaced. “At least the dog knows I’m not a killer.”
“We’re going to figure this out.” She spoke with a confidence she didn’t feel. In the years she’d gone toe-to-toe with surgeons, she’d gotten used to putting on a brave face. And standing her ground, especially when she knew she was right.
Nobody respected a weakling.
Now the corner of Cam’s mouth kicked up in a smile. “I’m grateful for your support, Evie.”
“I feel bad. I’m the one who dragged you into this.” She winced remembering their awkward phone call. “I should have left you alone rather than let you know what Bruno and I found.”
“I would have come no matter what. I have no doubt Rueger would have contacted me and requested I drive up for an interview even if I hadn’t already been in town.” He sighed and shook his head. “Besides, I want justice for Skye. You and I both knew she didn’t just leave town on her own. We were right about that.”
“Yes, we were.” It still bothered her that Rueger had blown them off fourteen years ago, only to turn around now, accusing Cam of killing his girlfriend. “I think that’s why Rueger is being such a jerk. He knows he was wrong to have ignored us.”
“Yeah, but it would be nice if he’d keep his mind open to other possible suspects.”
She nodded, appreciating his point. She eyed Bruno as he walked beside them. He seemed okay, but she belatedly realized she should have brought water for him. And for herself. Her mouth was suddenly painfully dry. “We need to get to the river.”
“There’s a break in the trees up ahead.” Cam gestured toward the area. She couldn’t see much but had faith in his sense of direction. “We’ll be able to gauge how far the water is from there.”
“You know, I don’t see any tire tracks or footprints for that matter.” The ground beneath their feet was hard and dry thanks to the two-week dry spell they’d experienced. “There were no footprints at the fallen log either. What do you think happened? Did the killer carry his victims all this way? Even for a strong man, that wouldn’t be easy.”
“That’s a good question. It seems the most logical assumption.” Cam’s brow furrowed. “Unless he forced his victims to walk into the preserve at gunpoint, then killed them.”
She shivered again, despite the warmth. “I can’t even imagine how Skye and that other young woman must have suffered. Honestly, if it were me, I’d have chosen the gunshot rather than enduring whatever he did to them.”
“Try not to dwell on that. You’re safe with me.” He touched her arm again. “No matter what Detective Rueger thinks, I am not responsible for these murders. I didn’t drive back and forth from the south side of Chicago to kill young women.”
“I know you didn’t.” Evie realized that without Cam’s reassuring presence, she wouldn’t be nearly so calm. She’d come to Grand Haven to decide what she should do about her mother’s house. There were openings in the Grand Haven hospital, and the idea of living close to the lake had held some appeal. She’d enjoyed growing up in the small tourist town. Now that she’d found two dead bodies, she didn’t like the idea of staying there. She’d never look at these woods the same way.
She’d always know Skye’s body had been lying beneath the dirt all this time.
“I served my country with honor,” Cam said in a low voice. “It hurts to know Rueger thinks the worst of me.”
“He’s grasping at straws.” She strove to sound confident again. “The truth will prevail.”
He nodded without saying anything more. They walked in silence as they approached the opening between the trees. Evie wasn’t sure whether she should be relieved or disappointed when Bruno didn’t alert on any more mounds of dirt. As she followed Cam up the hill, she stopped and caught her breath when she saw the glistening water of the Grand River shimmering beneath the sun below.
Oddly, the river looked smaller than she remembered, despite knowing the mouth where the river emptied into Lake Michigan was eight hundred feet wide. The entire area looked nicer than she remembered too. It was clearly more of a tourist attraction now than it had been fourteen years ago.
“There’s a bubbler down on the pathway along the river,” Cam said, using the midwestern slang term for water fountain. “Will that work for Bruno?”
“We’ll find a way.” She wanted to kick herself for not being better prepared. Then again, finding another dead body wasn’t part of their plan when they’d headed out on what should have been a short morning hike. “Let’s go.”
