I made my way over to the desk and sighed as I opened the textbook on the different forms of psychological behavior issues. Taking a sip of my coffee, I pulled out my trusty highlighter and got to work. I’d only read the first line when I felt eyes on me and lifted my head to peer around the top half of my desk at Tina. She had her back to me with her nose buried in a book. Turning my head, I looked out the window. All was black except for the glow of the lamp light, but I swallowed hard at the feeling gnawing at my gut.

I couldn’t stand it any longer and stood quickly to close the drapes. I had no idea what was going on with me tonight, but I’d officially freaked myself out.

Chapter 11

MARGARET

I pulled up to the multiple flashing lights and the bright yellow tape that was already set up. No doubt the stupid local cops would’ve destroyed what little evidence was around the bodies.

I turned to Hanson as we stepped out of the black car. “You don’t get more remote than this.”

“I’d say,” Hanson answered.

I took a moment to look around, and there was very little to distinguish this as a trail. The trees were tall and dense, and the only access to where the bodies were dumped was the well-hidden dirt road they’d driven down to get here. No one would have been able to find it unless someone was pointing and waving with a flare at the entrance. In this case, a police car had been stationed at the tree-lined opening and only allowed emergency vehicles to pass. Even the coroner’s van had gotten stuck trying to get in, so once they were done with the scene, the bodies would have to be walked out on gurneys.

Being unnerved wasn’t something that happened to me easily. I’d seen a lot of terrible things over the last twenty-nine years, but for some reason, this case felt different. It felt personal, and the fact that I couldn’t find a single solid clue made it feel like the killer was mocking us.

The entire area was blindingly bright with floodlights, and I was positive we would get a call that an alien ship had landed in the woods before they were done. Slipping under the yellow tape, I shook my head at the million footprints surrounding the scene. The bodies had been covered, the white material glowing brightly under all the lights. As Hanson and myself got closer, the Sheriff spotted us and made his way over.

“Sherriff Watts,” he said and held out his hand to shake mine.