As if to punctuate her thoughts, the rain increased from steady patter to faster staccato. And this was still only the front edge of the squall. She followed Xavier through the trees to the body she’d have to search. Her gag reflex had been triggered, but she held it down.

He covered her as she stood over the body. She snapped a picture with her cell phone before turning him over. If TV and books had taught her anything, it was that she was messing with forensic evidence, but she didn’t have the luxury of worrying about that now. Rain would wash evidence away even if she did nothing, and if there was even a miniscule chance this person was alive, that overrode evidence preservation.

She grabbed a thick shoulder to turn him, and the body slid from its perch on the meter box and slumped to the ground. She gasped and jumped back, unable to control her reaction as she took in the man’s face. She snapped another picture. The camera lit the gruesome scene in a bright white light.

“Holy shit,” Xavier said.

Her hands shook as she checked the photo on her phone. “They must’ve used an axe to cut his throat. Just like they cut the power line to the cameras. His head is attached, but barely.”

No point in checking a severed carotid for a pulse. He was dead.

Xavier shined a red flashlight over the face and gaping neck wound. “Do you know him?”

“Yes.” She stared at the familiar blank eyes and bloody chin. Rain splattered down, mixing with blood and washing it away in thin channels that cut lines in the packed soil. “Jeb McCutcheon. He owns one of the inholding cabins.”

“He was in the lodge that night. With George.”

“Yes.”

“He a friend?” Xavier asked, concern in his voice.

“Not like George. More of an associate. He often tried to use environmental and historic preservation laws to stop government action and development in the park, so he contacted my office frequently.” He’d been an irritant at times, but also a decent man. He’d been true to his convictions, and she respected that.

“He opposed the training,” Xavier said. “But in the end, he took the payment and signed the contract agreeing to vacate this week.”

“I assume you changed the lock on the inholding access gate?” she asked. Inholding landowners had a separate gate with their own keys.

“The lock was changed two days ago, per our contract. Plus, we checked the cabins on the lake and all were vacant, as agreed. Which one is Jeb’s?”