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“No bodies?”
She shook her head. “We tried to send divers down and drag the lake, but there were constant problems.”
My supernatural sensors started buzzing like crazy. “What kind of problems?”
“Unexpected storms. Murky water. The grappling hooks kept breaking. You name it. Bone Lake was already considered one of the most haunted places in the county, so this only helped seal its reputation. From what we gathered, the hikers were there to see the lake for themselves.”
And paid the ultimate price for their interest.
“How were any skeletons discovered before then? Did their divers not have issues?”
The chief hesitated. “Because they didn’t find the skeletons in the lake. They found them scattered in pieces around the lake.”
Delightful. “Now I get why you were surprised no one warned me about it.”
And, even better, I now had a hunch where two werewolves from out of town might be hiding.
I was in and out of the grocery store in under five minutes. As I climbed into my truck, my thoughts were still fixated on Bone Lake. I knew I should share my theory with West and let the pack investigate, but something held me back.
I glanced at the grocery bag. It was twenty-seven degrees outside. No chance the milk would spoil if I took a quick trip. If the wolves were there, I’d sneak away and then decide whether to report my findings to West or the chief.
I searched on my phone and found what I assumed was Bone Lake on the map—a small blue dot located northwest of the Falls.
It was too dangerous to invite Officer Leo along. My best bet was someone with strong instincts and fighting skills, which basically encompassed every nonhuman I knew in Fairhaven.
I debated calling Kane, but I didn’t want to become overly reliant on the demon. Just because he’d made it clear he was on my team didn’t mean I had to include him in every potentially dangerous move I made. I’d been independent my entire adult life; I didn’t want to send a message that I needed him.
Because I didn’t. There was no needing of any kind.
In the end, I decided to stay within my comfort zone. I worked better alone. No risk of hurting anyone accidentally. No risk of discovery. I’d check for signs of a campsite, nothing more.
I turned off the main road and pointed Gary in the direction of Wild Acres.
It was a bumpy ride, and I was forced to abandon my truck before I was ready to brace myself against the cold. At least I was prepared. Thanks to Pops, I always kept spare clothes, a hat, and gloves in the emergency kit in the truck in case of a breakdown. I swaddled myself in layers and headed toward the most haunted lake in the county.
I hadn’t ventured to this part of the forest before. An eerie silence blanketed my surroundings.
I crisscrossed between a tight-knit group of birch trees. No squirrels. No birds. Even the animals were too frightened to dwell here. The question was—did the two werewolves feel the same?
A subtle pressure began to build behind my eyes and across my shoulders. There were spirits nearby. Many of them.
Bits of light filtered through the trees. The spirits stirred in response to my presence. The number of dead here… I was beginning to think the locals had underestimated the dark history of the lake.
I emerged from the darkness of the trees and immediately shielded my eyes from the brightness of the light’s reflection off the water.
I’d arrived.
I gave my eyes a moment to adjust. Twenty yards to my left, I spotted a flash of silver metal among the patches of brown and green. I ignored the call of the spirits and walked over to investigate.
Drops of dried blood darkened the ground as I approached the small metal object.
A lighter.
No sign of a bone or a full skeleton.
I fished a tissue from my pocket and wrapped the lighter inside.
My thought process was interrupted by a ripple of tiny waves across the lake. I watched the water and waited.
