“These reporters are driving me nuts,” she said as she glanced at them, making sure they truly were far enough away. “We need to open this trail back up as quickly as possible,” she added.

“That’s our goal too,” Warren replied before proceeding to introduce her to Tara.

“Nice to meet you,” Tara said as she held out her hand.

“Yeah, you too,” she responded as they shook hands. The sheriff then quickly reached for the walkie-talkie on her belt and spoke into it. “I’m with Agent Warren and Agent Mills. I’m bringing them in now.”

“What else do we know about the victims so far?” Warren asked.

Sheriff Brady looked back briefly at the reporters and lowered her voice as she spoke.

“Early twenties, from New York, making their way up to Maine. They’ve been hiking for about a week.” She paused. “The crime scene’s about three miles in.” She gestured to some four-wheelers sitting nearby on the trail. “We’ll ride these.”

***

Tara accelerated her four-wheeler as she forced it up a small hill on the trail. At first, riding the vehicle was a bit difficult, but with some quick instruction from Warren who had ridden them before, she learned how to get it moving. Now, after two and a half miles, to ride almost felt natural.

The trail was heavily shaded by the tall trees above them, but at times the sun would peek through and Tara could feel it beat down on her back, causing her to sweat. Just when she wondered if they were almost there, she saw three four-wheelers parked and unattended on the trail in front of them. Sheriff Brady slowed down up ahead and Warren and Tara did the same.

“We have to walk now,” Brady yelled to them over the hum of the motors.

She pointed off the trail where other officers moved amongst the trees, far off in the distance.

They parked their four-wheelers next to the others and then made their way deeper into the woods. As they got closer, the trees opened up, revealing a perfect place to set up camp. The other officers picked up their heads, and one of them walked over.

The sheriff introduced him as Officer Dane and soon he motioned with his hand for them to follow him as they moved toward a group of forensic analysts scanning the ground. When close, it was apparent what they were all looking at as Tara watched one analyst place a bloody leaf into an evidence bag. She looked down toward the ground where they blanketed the forest floor.

“This was what we first spotted,” Officer Dane said. “Where he got one of the victims.”

He then walked a bit deeper into the woods, a few feet away, until he pointed down again to a streak of blood. “We think he got the other one here,” he added as he traced the air with his finger, gesturing to the trail of blood in front of them.