Page 16 of Whisper Through the Pines

“Unlikely.” Jo shot him an annoyed look. “I believe he’s on a mission but right now the mission is hidden. Nothing I’ve seen in these crime scenes tells me he’s killing for pleasure. It’s too well planned for it to be driven by rage and we’re not seeing any signs of sexual gratification. I figure he is killing to achieve something—but what that is right now is beyond my expertise.”

Mind racing, Kane placed his cup of coffee on the desk and looked at her. “Are you saying you believe he is using the murders as a camouflage to cover his true intent?”

“Yes.” Jo pointed to the candles placed deliberately inside the mouths of the victims. “This makes no sense at all. It’s not in any occult ritual I know about, so the only reason I can give you is he is using the black candles to mislead you.”

“What else can you tell us about him?” Jenna sipped her coffee and peered at Jo over the rim.

“He could easily be either a hunter or a military person by the way Kane described how he moved through the forest quietly. Blood obviously doesn’t worry him, nor do dismembered human body parts. I might add here that decapitation murders are rare—they are very personal, in the way you see strangulation. Removing a head is like cutting the head off a snake—or removing a threat.”

Kane stared into space, thinking for a beat. “The only similar murders I can recall, the killer wanted to make the victims stop talking. It came from his mother constantly berating him and he needed to shut her up. When he finally murdered her, he stopped killing. Are we looking for the same type of suspect?”

“I’ll need more details before I can narrow it down but that’s possible.” Jo pushed a pen behind one ear and shrugged. “The only problem I have is the variety of victims. I’m sure the killer you are referring to killed only women because they were the facsimile of his mother?”

Kane nodded. “Yeah, they were all women.”

“Okay, then getting back to profiling him. A woodsman is possible because of the use of the ax. He is very comfortable in the woods, probably prefers isolation.” Jo took a deep breath and turned to face them again. “He understands how people react to fear. He is a planner but not a perfectionist. He has the ability to improvise and adapts to each situation as it presents itself. Nothing in the crime scene photographs tells me that he is obsessive. I would say he is more practical.”

Kane listened and then shook his head. “You’re describing someone who is almost normal. Don’t you believe we are dealing with a psychopath?”

“I’m seeing emotionally detached.” Jo sat down at the table and smiled at Raven as he pushed a cup of coffee in front of her. “Both crime scenes tell a story. They tell me he’s not impulsive or chaotic. He’s very organized. It’s as if he’s following a path to make a point. It’s as if he has purpose.”

“We’ve had many psychopathic killers who are organized.” Jenna turned to look at Kane. “You have very good instincts, Dave. What did you get from him when you were in the forest?”

Turning his cup in circles with his fingertips, Kane mulled over the few minutes he’d been alone with the killer. “I didn’t fit into his wheelhouse of victims and I didn’t feel any fear from him at all. It was as if he was just watching to see what I was doing. I don’t think I frightened him away. I believe he chose to leave rather than confront me because that wasn’t in his plan. I figure he’s killing people who fit into the scenario he needs. All these theatrics are leading to something.”

“I agree.” Jo nodded and breathed out a long sigh. “I would imagine he’s trying to re-create something from his past. I don’t know what it is yet but it likely comes from his childhood, hence the old stories. Everything that’s happened so far is just practice. He is honing his skills and he’s not finished yet.”

Nineteen

A shiver ran down Jenna’s spine. The profile could fit many people. She rubbed her temples trying to work out possible professions for the killer. She turned to Rio. “We need to consider suitable suspects. Once you put out the media release about the murders, if we get calls about people acting suspiciously, we need to know if they fit a loose profile at least. Taking Jo’s profiling into consideration, we’re looking for someone who works or lives in the forest. A forestry worker or warden, they would know remote areas, cabins, and trails and be comfortable moving around in the dark.”

“I’m thinking a mechanic, engineer, or handyman who can build devices, rig projectors, and modify tools.” Kane leaned back in his chair, making it creak. “Right now, any of the workers at the Haunted House could be contenders. They know how to frighten people and build scenarios similar to the girl in the bloody nightgown.” He drummed his fingers on the table. “We should consider anyone dealing in Halloween displays, or even theatrics.”

“That gives me an idea.” Rowley snapped his fingers. “What about the Old Mitcham Ranch Halloween crew? They only appear once a year, which would be perfect for a seasonal killer. They’d know all the legends of the local area and be used to working in dark, creepy environments.”

Jenna nodded and Rio added it to the board. The murders at the Old Mitcham Ranch went back over one hundred years and had continued until recently, when the Halloween crew purchased it to put on Halloween fright nights. She looked around the table. “Any other suggestions?”

“The list could be endless.” Raven rubbed his beard. “Any hunter in the area is skilled with blades, comfortable with blood, and knows how to stalk prey. It seems to me we have a massive list of possible suspects. We’ll need to narrow it down.”

“It’s more likely that someone who has that type of ax would work in the forest.” Rio looked around the table as he paused from writing on the whiteboard. “My thoughts lean toward someone who fells dead trees and sells the wood, maybe from his home or through a store. He might be a supplier. He’d know how to use an ax and have the strength to decapitate someone.”

Jenna nodded. “Okay, Rio, send out the appropriate media releases and make sure Maggie has help to answer the phones in the morning. Call for volunteers if you need to or call the Louan sheriff and ask him to loan us a couple of his deputies.” She scanned the faces of the others sitting around the table. “Start by hunting down local woodsmen. Contact the forestry and find out if any of their men are currently working in our area or if any of them are on vacation. Rowley, get a list of any hunters in the crime scene areas who have reported to the wardens they might have seen someone. If they’re in the forest, we’ll need to speak to them.”

“I figure we go and speak to the men working on the Haunted House.” Kane looked at her. “We know the general height of this man and his physical condition. We might strike it lucky.”

“I’ll head out to the Old Mitcham Ranch and see what’s happening there.” Raven clicked his pen and pushed it inside his pocket.

Jenna gave him a long, considering stare. “Not alone you’re not. That place is a minefield of disasters waiting to happen. I’d burn it to the ground if I had my way.”

“I’ll go with him.” Carter tossed a toothpick into his mouth and smiled around it. “There’s two of us and the dogs. We’ll be just fine.”

“I’d like to remain in the office with Kalo if that’s okay, Jenna.” Jo collected the coffee cups and took them to the sink. “I need to run through the evidence and hopefully Wolfe will upload something to the server we can use to narrow down the suspects.”

Pushing to her feet, Jenna nodded. “Thanks, Jo. If you need anything while we’re gone, just order it and put it on our tab. I have no idea how long this will take.” She glanced at the others. “Okay, everyone, get it done and make sure everything is documented.” She gathered her things and turned to Kane. “Let’s go.”

“Duke won’t leave. He wants to guard his bone.” Kane grinned at her. “I’ll take him to the office and he can munch away all afternoon in his basket. He knows to go to Maggie if he needs to go for a walk.”

Jenna stared at Duke, his mouth stretched around a juicy bone, his eyes flicking to Ben and Zorro with a slow warning growl. “Okay, but they’re all going in the trash before we go home.”