Shephard (Mountain Men of Danger Falls #1)

Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

D enise

“We need to keep this quiet for as long as possible,” Greg said as he crowded into my small office.

This. Three murders in a little over three months. And the killer was escalating. I hadn’t slept a wink because the case was a reminder of the brutal killer who’d gotten away two years before during a time when I’d been off my game.

I felt that way now, the rugged mountain man keeping me unnerved. I hadn’t mentioned Shephard had been with me.

“Tell me something I don’t know. Just keep Cane quiet and we’ll be fine. You should fire him over his breach in policy.” Although with another mysterious body lying in the morgue, it was going to become tougher to keep the silence. With the increase in tourists daily, the woods were now crawling with hikers and nature enthusiasts. I thought about the animal that had been killed, almost not adding that to my report. I didn’t know why, but it felt as if it was an important clue I didn’t want anyone else to have access to.

“We’re too short handed, but I’ve already had a long discussion with him.”

Greg was convinced it would do some good. I knew better. Cane wasn’t just a womanizer. He was an attention freak.

A part of me wished we would have an early snow. What was I saying? I’d spent a better part of the morning with Pepper combing the area. At least the bully of a man had told me about the cigarette butt and piece of cloth, but there were no identifiable fingerprints. I’d pushed members of the lab in Roanoke to provide the answer as soon as possible.

Right now, there was no real evidence other than the weapon. Of course the serial numbers had been filed off, but I doubted it had been done by a true professional. The job was crude. That could add credence to Shephard’s thought the man usually provided security.

I hated to admit it, but if he hadn’t been with me the night before, my ass would be lying in the morgue right now. I’d been rude and intolerable with him, but the last thing I wanted to do was be forced to owe him for my life.

Twice.

“He won’t care. He’s a media hound and likely fucking that reporter.” Yes, I was also in a crude mood.

Greg shook his head. “Cane understands we’re all in a precarious position. You need to continue working with him at this point. Okay?”

I would prefer ripping Cane’s eyeballs out. “Fine.” Greg appeared awfully uncomfortable. “What else?”

“Well, I don’t mind telling you that we’re going to have a visit from the sheriff late today or tomorrow.”

“Why?” Greg didn’t answer right away. I laughed out loud. “I can guess.”

“He’s concerned as to the murders as much as you are.”

Right. The man was concerned about his re-election numbers.

“Now our little world is tops on his list of importance?” I had a bad feeling the FBI would need to get involved. The identity of the victims could certainly determine if the murders were considered their jurisdiction.

“Let’s not be sarcastic at this point. You and I both know with being understaffed, we need all the help we can get.” Greg was already exasperated. I’d yet to go through a full tourist season, but I understood half the time it was exhausting depending on the crowd. My boss looked it at this point.

“Yeah, that’s something we both agree on. If only we had an expert.” I shouldn’t be thinking about Shephard, but he was the kind of man that was tough to get out of my mind.

“You’re as close as we got. Even if you are a prima donna.” At least Greg could still offer a smile at this point.

He left my office and I sat back in my chair, flipping once again to the screen I’d been looking at earlier. I’ll be damned if the Feds were going to take this case. My case. But an expert was needed. What if… Yeah, I was playing with fire, but I sensed my mountain man wasn’t all bad. Although learning almost anything about him or his past, other than the basic crap in the local news, seemed as if it was going to take an act of Congress.

I’d put in a call early morning to a buddy I knew who could track down every scrap of information out there on Shephard. I thought I’d give it a college try, surfing through every site that might hold some information.

What I learned very quickly was that it seemed the man didn’t exist. I could probably get ahold of Shephard’s birth certificate to prove he was Shephard Fox, but other than that, it was as if he’d been erased from the system.

I knew enough about what were affectionally called spooks in the military. They were the men and women who often handled the most dangerous missions. Weaknesses weren’t allowed, which could be the reason for his disappearance from the world. However, he was obviously retired or he wouldn’t have accepted the position of operating the resort. And if my instincts were right, the reason there was no record of him had to do with his life after leaving the Marines.

I could be jumping to conclusions, but he was obviously skilled in several areas, his training some of the best I’d ever seen and so far, he’d done little to highlight that fact. However, the night before had thrown him. That was easy to see how much he was off his game. Time away or a tragedy he couldn’t get over? I knew that damn well myself. It hadn’t helped we’d rescued a civilian party goer. However, he’d been rattled to a point by being forced to save me.

Should I feel bad about that?

I drummed my fingers on the desk, glancing at Pepper. “Who is he, sweet girl? I know you trust him, but he’s not who he presents himself to be.”

She huffed in response. I rubbed my eyes and the moment I closed them, his rugged face slithered in.

He was way too gorgeous and talented for his own good. The night before had been…

Oh, shit. I couldn’t go there. I just couldn’t. My leg ached, my arm was scratched to shit, and every muscle was screaming for a long massage. And three unidentified men were dead. What was I doing? Fantasizing about a man who’d driven me crazy since we’d met. That didn’t bode well for my psyche.

It was time to do rounds, which meant cruising the normal tourist traps to ensure everyone was safe. With the incident with the drop-off, the surrounding area where the new victim had been found had been closed off. Thankfully, the small rockslide was a good excuse to be able to do so. They happened, although not that often. At least we didn’t have reporters camping outside our door.

I grabbed my keys, motioning to Pepper and exiting the building. The day was sunny enough that the tourists would be out in flocks.

Driving the tourist areas was part of my job. It was important and one I took seriously, unlike what I’d seen with Cane. Right now, doing so would increase my eyes and ears on the acreage of land without interfering with all the fun.

The night before played heavily in my mind, as did the fact the sheriff was coming to town. I knew we were in over our heads. Keeping the visitors safe and away from wild animals while not falling off a cliff was our job. But the murders were terrifying me and I hated to admit it. Even with everything I’d experienced in my life and career, I had a very bad feeling about this.

Why create a dumping ground here unless the bodies were meant to be found? Maybe that was the point. I’d expanded the search outside our jurisdiction, putting in a call to park rangers and other trusted people not only in the entire state of Virginia but West Virginia and Kentucky as well. It was entirely possible the victims weren’t from around here.

So far, they’d had nothing similar. The entire situation was frustrating and my mind continued to believe there was some odd connection I hadn’t made yet. To a person or to the town?

There were dozens of off roads that bisected with the Blue Ridge Parkway. From there, the perpetrator could have stopped at any number of scenic points, dropping the bodies over the side of a cliff. The victims wouldn’t be found for some time, if at all.

No, the purposeful drop-off points near or on the resort’s property were meant as a direct warning. Maybe my imagination was getting the better of me, but the tips I’d accused Cane of allowing to slip likely pleased the killer. That’s what he or she was looking for.

Notoriety.

Fifteen minutes of fame while keeping his or her enemies off guard.

Well, it was a working theory anyway, but one that had already been scoffed at by Greg. Yes, I knew we had our hands full, but eventually, it was entirely possible a tourist would be caught in the trap.

Just like you might have been.

Yes, the nagging voice was there and had been since the incident the night before. I still found it unfathomable a paid assassin or even a trained employee considered security for a bad guy had fucked up so badly.

Or had he?

Jesus.

I needed a decent night of sleep at this point.

My Jeep was fully gassed, Pepper’s travel water positioned in the cooler along with mine, and all my usual hiking, camping, and survival items were safely tucked away in my bag. I’d also placed a fresh magazine of ammunition in a hiding place I’d created. I didn’t want any wayward tourists to grab something that could hurt them.

I altered my route, trying to keep the drive as fresh as possible. At least with the seasons, the usual everyday trip was beautiful.

I was about to enter what I considered the most dangerous area given the very sketchy cell phone reception when my phone rang. After pulling over into a small overlook parking lot, I answered quickly.

“Parker.”

“Detective Parker,” a familiar and very gravelly voice said.

“Not any longer. How’s the big bear of a man?” Baron Garnett had been my first partner when I’d joined the Charlotte Police Department as a detective. He’d awakened my na?ve self to the real evil buried beneath the pretty city streets and behind the slickened, polished glass of the high-rise commercial buildings.

He’d also become a good friend, there when I’d needed a shoulder to cry on and a guy to protect me from the one person I’d trusted the most. He’d also saved my life and I had his. Including from a vicious killer dead set on making me his next victim.

And I did so adore calling him by his nickname of Bear. He looked like one, all six foot seven of his two hundred and seventy pounds. Try fitting him into a normal vehicle.

“Not too bad. Kinda miss having you around here. No one to pick on,” Baron said and laughed. He was a fun-loving guy, but it didn’t pay to cross him. He could rip out a monster’s throat without hesitating.

“I miss the old days myself, but it is beautiful here.” This was about all the chitchat we would do.

“And satisfying work?” He knew how I craved danger, had called me a danger junkie more than once.

“On and off.” He knew the real reason I’d accepted the park ranger position out of the blue. Others in my squad had truly believed I’d lost a screw, burning out like so many detectives knee deep in the gritty world of crime did. That was far from the truth, yet he’d kept my secret and would to his dying day.

“Yeah, I hear you. You ain’t missing anything here unless you like a big helping of politics.” Which Baron couldn’t stand. “Look, you know I know some people.”

“That’s why I called you. You know everyone with any importance on this entire planet.” He was a typical man. He loved when I stroked his ego. While we’d never engaged in hanky-panky, both having too much respect for the other, I’d learned that some men could be trusted.

At least to a point.

“Yeah, well, I was pretty much stonewalled on this particular inquiry. I had a couple buddies just tell me to walk away. Now, why the fuck would they do that about some goddamn resort owner?”

I knew when he wasn’t sharing all the information. “What do you want, season tickets to the Charlotte Checkers games?” He adored hockey, having grown up in Wisconsin. But he was a lousy player. I’d seen that in action too.

“Already got ‘em. Okay, I called in a favor, but it was like pulling teeth and I’m going to issue my own warning. I think whoever Shephard Fox is, he’s dangerous.”

“Is he not Shephard Fox?”

“Yeah, he was born with that name. His father is Dexter Fox, his mother is Sally, and he has two brothers, Jagger and Hunter. For the most part, they grew up in Montana. But they moved there when Shephard was six and he’s the oldest by a few years. Until then, there’s nothing on the family. I mean nothing.”

“O-kay. They were running from something?” I was still letting my imagination fly.

“Maybe. But I even contacted someone in WITSEC because my spidey senses were piqued. Nothing.”

Witness Protection. Breaking that veil for any family could be dangerous. “Okay, let’s just concentrate on Shephard. What about his background?”

“There’s evidence of him joining the Marines. I was even able to find out he won the Medal of Honor.”

“Well, then he’s a good guy.”

“Except the records indicate he’s dead. Died in battle in Afghanistan.”

The news didn’t necessarily hit me hard. Of course I knew with the violence and bloodshed in third world countries, dog tags could be accidentally switched at any time. However, the fact he was walking, talking, and a part of his family here meant that couldn’t be the case. Unless it was straightened out and the records didn’t reflect that.

“Black Ops? Something even more clandestine in operations?”

“You know better than to push into that sector. Not only would you be shut down, but you’ll be watched from here on out. And not in a good way.”

“That’s an old wives’ tale,” I told him.

“Bullshit. Maybe this dude was working for the government. Maybe he fabricated his early demise only to find resurrection to work with a foreign government. I don’t know and you need to walk away. My gut tells me he’s dangerous.”

At least I knew his tattoo told no lies.

What I also could tell was that my friend was spooked. And I’d never seen him spooked, even when facing a crack addict wielding a machete. He’d managed to disarm the man without a single drop of blood being shed.

“I can handle myself, Bear. You know it.”

“Yeah? I know that, but you’re out of practice.”

“Speak for yourself!”

He laughed, but I sensed his concern. “I just don’t want you hurt. You’re a good kid.”

“Kid? You’re two years older.”

“And I feel every month of it too.”

We both laughed and I knew he anticipated me asking about my ex. Bear had been the only pipeline for information. I refused to, even if my skin was itching to do so. The fucker didn’t deserve the time of day. “I do appreciate everything you found, Bear. If anything else pops up, give me a call. I should get back to work. It’s tourist season out here.”

“When isn’t it tourist season, girl? I’d love to see the place. Who knows. Maybe I’ll retire out there in a couple years.”

“You’re going to work until you’re eighty in that joint. You know it.”

Just hearing his voice made me crave my old job and the beautiful home I’d created. Until a big, fat fire had consumed nearly everything I’d owned.

Out of revenge.

Not proven of course. Nope. That’s what political clout and an influential family did for a son of a bitch.

“You know me far too well.” His laugh was more stilted than before. “How’s your dad?”

Dad had moved to Virginia when he’d divorced my mother when I was only five. Since then, he’d been an absentee dad, acting as if he didn’t have any responsibilities for his daughter. Part of that had been the time he’d spent in prison. A further indication he was an asshole. I’d learned to hate him, refusing to see him the very few times he’d asked to visit with me.

No one could ever say I’d mellowed as a human being, my hard edge forged by the tough times my mother and I went through as well as the ugly relationship I’d found myself embroiled in.

But when I’d learned my dad was dying of pancreatic cancer, something inside of me had wanted to take the time to tell him off before he died. Something had changed the first time I’d walked into his aging home, dishes piled everywhere, trash sitting on the front porch from weeks before. Maybe there was a little bit of a caring human being inside of me after all.

I’d gone to see him several times since moving here. Maybe his terminal illness had affected my choice of where I’d decided to land after the destruction of my illustrious career.

Or as the reporters and other horrible people had said, where I’d fled to with my tail between my legs. “He’s doing as well as can be expected. The doctors gave him six months, but he keeps on ticking.”

“Stubborn like you.”

“I guess so.”

The awkward silence between us was abnormal. We used to be able to talk about everything and anything. And I did mean everything. He treated me like a buddy with a dick between my legs. Our conversations had bordered on raunchy.

“What is it? Another warning?” He always had words of wisdom for me.

His hesitation was followed by a deep sigh. “I don’t know if you want to hear this.”

“What is it? Just spill it.” I was already antsy, the feeling of being watched starting a couple of minutes after I’d parked. I stared out the windshield, but the angle of the sun was too bright.

“Jameson divorced his wife. It happened really fast.”

“Well, good for him. Maybe his wife figured out he’s a womanizer.” I’d been the stupid one. I’d met him on the one and only vacation I’d given to myself after an eight-year stretch. I’d met him in the cabana, the conversation becoming lively. We’d enjoyed spending time together, which had included a passionate affair. I hadn’t known that’s what it had actually been at first.

Call me gullible. Call me an idiot. He’d lived in Virginia, not too far away from my work, but both our jobs had been important.

I’d had no clue he also had a wife and child. I’d surfed the internet, learning he was a wealthy entrepreneur. But there’d been zero mention of a family. He’d even mentioned one of us moving to be closer to the other, hinting twice at marriage. But something changed and he became a different man.

One month later and I had reporters on my doorstep and appearing at my job.

That was already after I’d broken it off with him, even if he hadn’t wanted to take no for an answer.

“He’s marrying his assistant. She’s half his age. She’s also pregnant with his child.”

Did a small ache remain since the stupid girl inside of me had thought he was the one? Yes. But the scars from his abuse were a damn good reminder that he’d been nothing but a user. “I know why you’re telling me, just another attempt to remind me to move on, but I assure you it’s not necessary.”

“If you say so. You forget I know you extremely well also.”

He’d been the one to keep me from using my service revolver on the asshole. “Stop worrying. I love it here and the people are great.”

“Now, I know there’s something wrong.”

“Just this case I’m working on. Nothing more.”

Baron exhaled. “You need to remember you’re no longer a detective.”

Yeah, that had been basically stripped away from me as well as my dignity. How could I forget? “As I said, stop worrying. Let’s talk in a week or so.”

That meant more than a month.

“I’ll let you know if anything else comes up.”

“You’re a good friend,” I told him.

“Nope. I’m an asshole. It’s currently the sergeant’s favorite term to describe me.”

“A man of few words.”

As soon as I made the comment, I thought of Shephard. Being unable to get the sexy hunk off my mind was starting to become troublesome.

“Be good and safe, Denny.” He’d almost never called me by my real first name, preferring Denny instead. It was just another reminder of what I’d lost.

“You too, big Bear.”

I held the phone to my head after ending the call. A flash of light coming from outside the windshield caught my attention. After staring out the window and seeing nothing, I opened my driver’s door, standing on the ledge and looking down the overpass. The sunlight could have been reflecting off anything including a bottle cap, but my gut told me otherwise.

After thumping back into the seat, something else caught my eyes. I glared into the backseat and groaned. A wallet. Let me guess. After crawling halfway over the console, I grabbed it. Two seconds later, another hiss formed. There was no doubt even with the grainy picture that the lost tourist from the night before had left his wallet in my backseat.

Damn it.

That would mean I’d need to do the right thing and return it to the hotel at a minimum. At least I could leave it at the front desk and leave. But that would require a trip to the resort. Great. What if I ran into the real grump of the small town?

Then you’ll be excited, your panties damper than they are now.

I rolled my eyes. Maybe true, but I wasn’t going to tolerate my inner voice teasing me.

After tossing it onto the passenger seat, I reached into the side compartment, searching for my small binoculars. They often came in handy when searching for lost hikers. My skin was crawling, although it was entirely possible that was because of being forced to remember the months I’d endured constant abuse.

I shrugged the anger aside as I climbed out, moving to the guardrail. I peered down first with my naked eyes, seeing nothing but bright green foliage. Off in the distance were the scars from the previous season’s fire, but there was no sign of human life. It wasn’t an area used for camping or hiking, the rocky terrain providing too many unsuspecting dangers.

With the binoculars in hand, I did a sweep of the area for as far as I could see. It was impossible to detect anything out of the ordinary. Within seconds, I was frustrated. But a single flash coming from my right periphery caught my attention again. I concentrated on the area, blinking twice to refresh my eyes before peering into the lens.

I was also forced to adjust the magnification. Maybe I was trying to invent evidence. Whatever I thought I’d seen hadn’t been malevolent.

My phone rang as it always seemed to do when I didn’t want a damn call. However, since I was on call all hours of the day and night, I was required to check. It was Greg’s number, which usually meant the situation wasn’t a good one.

“Yes, boss?” I asked, trying to look out at the dense foliage at the same time.

“The sheriff arrived and he’s on a limited schedule. You need to get back here.”

“What about making the rounds?”

“No can do. Not right now.”

There was an urgency to his voice. “Let me guess. The sheriff isn’t alone?”

“No, he’s not. And you can’t go off halfcocked. I need you to promise me you’ll stay calm.” Greg was almost whispering. Jesus.

I’d had run-ins with the FBI more than once in my career. I wasn’t a team player when it came to them sliding in and taking over a case. I knew the reasons why it was required, but I’d never cared. They took all the credit.

Sadly, in this case, my instinct told me I was in over my head. The entire department was. We were park rangers, not crime fighters. That didn’t mean I wasn’t pissed.

“Scout’s honor,” I told him.

“I know for certain you were never a scout. Just get your ass here and keep your mouth shut.”

“Why, yes, sir.”

My boss was grumpier than usual. I shoved the phone into my jeans pocket before taking one last look through the binoculars. What the hell? Was that a person standing on the small ridge? If so, how in God’s name had he or she gotten there? The person was too far away to be able to tell.

But I was certain there was someone standing on the ridge with a weapon in his hand.

I pulled the black frames away, rubbing my eyes before looking again.

The figure had vanished.