Chapter 24

The sun hadn't risen yet as Laurel helped lug her mom's heavy suitcase out of the farmhouse.

"You stop that right now." Deidre rushed to grab the suitcase. "I've got it."

Laurel tried to strengthen her grip while also waving to the two officers in the patrol car near the driveway. These were local police officers from Genesis Valley, and she appreciated their diligence. "Mom, I'm pregnant, not injured. I can help you."

"No, I have it." Deidre gently pushed her away.

A black town car rolled to a stop on the well-lit driveway, and her mom's second-in-command, Dolores, jumped out of the back. "I can't believe this. This is insane." She ran toward them, her dark hair curled around her head. She was broad-shouldered and tall, and she elbowed both women out of the way. "I've got it. I've got it."

A man emerged from the front of the vehicle and hurried toward them. He wore a full suit with a bow tie. "I can help you, ladies," he said gently, prying the suitcase out of Dolores's hands.

"That's very nice of you, Charlie." She patted his arm and nearly knocked him over. Then she reached for Laurel and gathered her in for a hug. For the journey, she wore black pants and a thick gray sweater with several scarves knotted around her throat and jangly silver bracelets up her arm. "This is so kind of you. I've never been to a spa like this. I did my research, and they read your aura, and they do your tarot cards, and then you get a massage." She hopped once. She was in her midforties, her dark eyes lit up and her wide face liberally spread with makeup. "I'm just so excited. This is so much fun."

Deidre smoothed back her hair. "You're going to need to dial it down a bit, Dolores. It's five in the morning."

"Oh, you." Dolores tossed a hand toward Deidre. "Cheer up. The unexpected is often fun."

Laurel shook her head. "No, it usually isn't. However, in this instance, I think you'll both enjoy the spa."

Deidre reached for her carry-on bag. "I don't know, Laurel. What about—"

"It's all taken into account, Mom," Laurel said. "Your employees can handle the shipments from the warehouse. We haven't opened your shop yet, so there's no reason for you not to enjoy yourself. You love this trip every year, and now it's starting out with a spa weekend."

Dolores clapped her hands together loudly. "A spa, a real fancy type of spa. You know movie stars go there, Deidre. We may see somebody famous."

Deidre sighed. "We're not going to see anybody famous."

"You might," Laurel countered. "I heard many actresses go to detox at this place. I think you're going to love it."

Deidre pulled her in for a hug. "All right, Laurel. I'll leave town, but you be careful, okay? Promise me."

"Of course I'll be careful."

They both stiffened as headlights showed down the driveway.

"Who would be here at this time of morning?" Dolores asked, turning and making all of her jewelry jangle.

Laurel narrowed her eyes at seeing Monty Buckley's Fish and Wildlife truck. "Perhaps Monty is coming to say goodbye to you."

"How thoughtful," Dolores said. "He likes you, Deidre."

Monty slowly exited his truck. "Huck told me where to find you, Laurel."

"Is everything all right?" Laurel asked.

He shook his head. "Not really. There has been a new development in the case." He looked at Deidre and then Dolores. "We can discuss it after these two get on their way."

"Oh, no," Deidre said.

"That's okay, Mom." Laurel gave her another hug and ushered her toward the town car. "You need to get to the airport to catch your flight. It's quite a drive. I'll miss you, but I love you, and I want you to have fun."

Monty moved in and reached for Deidre's hands. "Have a wonderful time, and when you return, I'll be a hundred percent. We'll party like the kids do."

Deidre smiled at him. "Take care of my girl, Monty."

"You know I will," Monty said cheerfully.

Laurel barely kept from rolling her eyes but safely deposited her mother and Dolores in the vehicle. Then she watched as it slowly drove away. "What development in the case?"

Monty's shoulders hunched. "We have another body."

Laurel ran back toward the house. "I need a heavier jacket and my weapon. Tell me what happened."

Monty hustled after her. "We received a distress call from a personal locator beacon about an hour ago."

She barreled inside. "Please tell me it wasn't out at Witch Creek."

"It was out at Witch Creek." He coughed.

"Damn it." She kicked off her slippers and yanked on her heavier boots and a thick parka before fetching her weapon and a travel mug containing warm tea. "Would you like me to brew you a coffee?"

"No, I've got one," Monty said.

She put her hood over her hair and followed him outside, stopping to lock the door before walking down and climbing into his truck as Monty slid into the driver's seat. "All right, give me the details."

He sighed and started the engine. "Somebody hit a personal locator button signaling an emergency that notified Fish and Wildlife. Two of their officers went to investigate, and they found a body next to Witch Creek. All I could get from them is that she's blond and frozen to the ground, face down."

"So being blond seems to be a pattern." Dread slid through Laurel. "Jason Abbott's first victim was found next to Witch Creek, and she'd engaged a PLB, so somebody is referencing the crime scenes from our previous cases. This is no longer a possible coincidence. Has Huck been notified?"

Monty turned down the country road. "Negative. I decided not to call Huck. He'd head out there immediately, and we have to shield him from this investigation."

"I understand," Laurel said. "Yet he's the best tracker we have in the state."

"I know," Monty said. "But we'll have to do this one without him."

She took a sip of the herbal tea.

"Your mom called last night and said this trip was a whirlwind created by you. What's going on?"

She shrugged. "My mother was already scheduled to travel to Asia, as she does every year, to buy supplies for her tea business. I merely talked her into moving the trip up a couple of weeks."

Monty flipped on the heater, and her toes instantly started to warm. "That's a good idea with everything going on around here. We have someone killing blondes. Plus Abbott might be the murderer, and you know he wants to hunt you."

"I know he's coming for us regardless of whether these are his kills or not," Laurel said. "So, yes, I pushed her out of the country." It was an apt description and she'd take it.

"I don't blame you," Monty said cheerfully.

"Thanks."

They drove to the edge of state forest land, where they met up with a young female officer waiting next to a fully enclosed UTV. "This is the easiest way to get out there," she said, winking at Monty. "Long time, no see."

He chuckled. "Very funny. Agent Snow, please meet Officer Jill Jordan."

Laurel didn't know what they were joking about. She climbed into the back of the UTV. "Nice to meet you."

Officer Jordan drove, while Monty sat next to her.

"You sure you don't want the front?" he asked for the third time, turning around to look at her.

"I'm good, Monty. Thank you." The modern UTVs were lovely, with heated seats and warmth all around her. She stared out at the light dusting of snow on every tree. "How long does the snow usually last in this area?"

Officer Jordan drove quickly. "It's Washington State. Sometimes we lose the snow in the mountains in February, and sometimes it's still here in June." She turned around a series of pine trees to follow a barely visible trail. "As my obasan used to say, ‘Even on snow, three years.'"

Monty turned to Laurel. "I suppose you know what that means."

Laurel nodded. "It's a Japanese saying that even something as fleeting as snow can last for a long time, metaphorically hinting that impacts or consequences can endure longer than expected."

"Very good," Officer Jordan said.

"Oh," Monty muttered. "Like Jason Abbott. He's lasting longer in our lives than we ever expected."

The young officer nodded. "Exactly."

Laurel angled her head to see the officer. "Your grandmother sounds like a wise woman."

"She was," Officer Jordan said. "She always found the beauty in life. That's a rare gift, you know. She was a big believer in ichigo ichie ."

"Ah. One time, one meeting," Laurel murmured. "I agree."

Monty looked over at the officer. "You're Japanese?"

"Yes. My mother is half-Japanese," Officer Jordan said. "I look like my dad's family. They're Scottish." She sighed. "Unfortunately, I didn't inherit the dark red hair." She glanced at Laurel before focusing back on the trail. "Your hair is gorgeous."

"Thank you." It was the proper response, but Laurel had never understood why. She had no control over her chromosomal pairs. Her phone buzzed, and she pulled it free of her pocket, surprised to still be receiving cell service, and unsurprised to see the identity of the caller. "Good morning, Captain."

The sounds of a fire crackled across the line. "I heard we have another body. Are you headed to the scene?" Huck asked.

"I am, with Monty and Officer Jordan in a UTV," Laurel said. "You have been removed from this case."

Huck sighed. "I know, but I heard that the vic was found by Witch Creek. I know that area better than anybody." Aeneas whined through the line. "I should head out there."

"We both know you can't. If you want to be busy this morning, try to track down a judge to sign the warrant for Haylee's apartment, would you? We have been unsuccessful with that." She covered the phone with her hand. "Monty, somebody in your office notified Huck about this case, and you need to put a stop to it. He has to be shielded completely."

Monty turned. "I'll raise a ruckus when I return to the office." He grimaced over his shoulder at Laurel before focusing on the trail again. "Everyone likes and respects him so much, they all want Huck to stay on the case."

"It won't help in the long run," Officer Jordan said. "In fact, once we catch the killer, it'll screw up the entire case against the murderer. You have to know that."

Monty sighed. "I do. May I have the phone?"

Laurel handed her phone up to him.

Monty visibly straightened his shoulders. "Hi, Captain Rivers. If you interfere again, I'll have you put on disciplinary leave."

Laurel leaned closer to hear.

Monty sighed. "Thank you for understanding, and yes, that was really difficult to say. Is Aeneas enjoying those new dog treats I found in Snohomish last week?"

Laurel settled back against her seat as Monty and Huck engaged in small talk until Monty lost service. He handed back the phone. "He's okay."

"Good." Laurel leaned against the side of the UTV and closed her eyes, surprised by how tired she remained even after sleeping for several hours. She may have dozed off until they reached an area with a couple of obvious camping spots. She stepped out, and the wind chill slapped her wide awake. "This isn't where we found Abbott's Witch Creek victim."

"No," Monty said. "We're about . . . I don't know. What would you say, Jills? Maybe half a mile north of that scene?"

"So, he chooses the same body of water but not the exact same location," Laurel said. "I wonder if that's by design. Is the ice heavier here? We need to check that out, Officer Jordan. Please take pictures of the ice in this location and then the ice where Jason Abbott's first victim was found, all right?"

"No problem, Agent Snow," Officer Jordan said. "This baby will drive anywhere. I'm happy to do that."

They required additional backup for this case. "Thank you."

Dawn was just lightening the sky and the forest around Laurel as she followed Monty between the trees toward Witch Creek. Icicles hung from the surrounding branches, and fresh snow covered the trail they followed. Many sets of boots showed near the tree line, no doubt as officers tried to preserve the trail, but Laurel couldn't discern any prints.

This killer seemed both methodical and lucky with the weather.

Monty looked back at her. "Do you think that the killer has changed his MO? I mean, initially there were three days between kills, and now seven days?"

Laurel's boots sank into the snow near a tamarack shivering in the wind. "No. I think he's careful and has to wait for the easiest time to take a victim. Based on what we know so far about Delta Rivers, she was a victim of opportunity, so we have to surmise the same for all of them right now—until we track her movements better to see if she somehow was stalked." There were too many unanswered questions about Huck's mother.

The wind cracked between the trees in bursts, pushing Laurel forward. Silence drummed around them as if the forest held its breath, allowing the wind to triumph.

She shivered, shoving her gloved hands into her pockets and ducking her head. Tucking her chin inside her jacket, she stepped in Monty's footprints, unsure why they stayed off the main trail. There were no prints. Period.

Finally, they emerged onto a crusted-over beach area complete with two worn and weathered picnic tables near the tree line. Ice covered them both.

Fish and Wildlife officers had already set up several spotlights as well as a tent over the body. From the look of the scene, the state crime lab techs had been at work for at least thirty minutes.

The creek stretched wide at this point with the other side showing a drop-off between the trees and the creek. Ice spread across the water, which bubbled in protest against it in several areas, not quite breaking through.

Laurel neared the body. She could barely make out blond hair beneath a bubble of ice that encased the victim's head and stretched down her entire length. She wore a long, gray trench coat with bright red boots. Awareness began to tick down Laurel's body, and she shivered, making sure her coat was zipped up to the very top. She should've remembered to wear a scarf. Stepping to the side, she studied the creek.

She angled closer, noting that the hole this time held sharper edges, like the first crime scene, so perhaps an ice spud pole had been used again. "We need pictures of the ice close up and far away, and I'd love to get a molding of those indents if it's possible."

"I'll try," the nearest tech said. "Officer Tso has taken photographs of the entire area. The ice has already melted quite a bit, but I'll do my best."

She nodded. "Thanks, Jeremy." She'd met him at a previous crime scene. He appeared to be in his early thirties with light blond hair and a serious countenance. Beneath the white hood of his suit, he wore a white knit hat.

"You bet, Agent Snow." Jeremy sat back. "We can turn her over now. I think we have her as secured as we can." They'd scraped all around the body. Had the killer poured water over her to obtain this amount of ice? That seemed most probable.

Laurel and Monty stepped closer. As the techs gently began to roll the body over, the ice cracked.

"Make sure you sample everything around her," Monty said.

Jeremy looked up with a "no kidding" expression on his face. Laurel had caught that with no difficulty. Either he was being very obvious or she was becoming more proficient at reading facial expressions.

"Here we go." Jeremy gently smoothed his ice shovel to the side.

Laurel bent down, and then her breath caught as she recognized the victim beneath the icy veneer. "That's Haylee Johnson."