So, local law enforcement isnt eager.
Thats probably an understatement, he replied. Youre assigned in a consulting capacity, and theyre holding the latest scene for your arrival. Its in the city park. Your contact is Sheriff Cole Caldwell. He gave a curt nod of his head toward the door, his official dismissal.
Minutes later, Amberly was back in her car and headed to the small town of Mystic Lake. All she knew about the little town was that it was built at the edge of a small lake and that its Main Street had a reputation for quaint antique shops, crafty boutiques and intriguing eateries, which drew tourists during the summer months.
As she drove, she reached into the center section of her car console and withdrew a length of red licorice from a package she kept stashed there. Shed quit smoking on the day shed found out she was pregnant with Max, changing that addiction to one for red licorice.
Sheriff Cole Caldwell. She chewed thoughtfully. She could just imagine what she would be up against, some good old boy who ran the place with an iron fist and wore a fat belt buckle to hold in his immense beer belly.
In her experience, small-town sheriffs hated two thingsanyone questioning their authority and FBI agents. She glanced at her watch. It was already almost five. She might as well give John a call and tell him it was going to be an overnighter with Max.
She had no idea what she was walking into, but if it was serial kills with ritualistic overtones, then she had a feeling there were going to be a lot of overnighters with John for Max in the near future.
She took the highway exit that would lead to the town north of Kansas City. One of the things she loved about this city was the fact that within a fifteen-minute drive, you could be out of the concrete jungle and into rolling pastures and shady woodlands.
There were times she thought about moving out here, someplace outside the city limits, where Max could have room to maybe have a horse, but she couldnt discount the convenience of having John living a mere three blocks from the small house where she and Max now lived.
As she turned onto Main Street of Mystic Lake she wondered where, exactly, the city park might be. As she looked up and down each side street she passed, she steeled herself for joining a party where she was, in effect, an uninvited and unwanted guest.
The willow
tree bends but rarely breaks in the force of a gale. It was Granny Nightsongs voice that whispered through her head. Amberly smiled, the warmth of her memory tempered by grief.
Granny Nightsong had been a curious blend of Cherokee and flat-out crazy. Although shed passed some of the traditions of her heritage to Amberly, Granny was also prone to making up legends and old, wise sayings to fit the circumstance. When Granny had taught Amberly the Stomp Dance of their people, Amberly had recognized more than a little bit of jitterbug in it.
Granny Nightsong fled from her mind as she looked down a side street and spied what appeared to be the city park. As she turned and headed in that direction, she knew she was right. Yellow crime-scene tape was strung from one tree to another, and several official cars were parked in the graveled lot.
She pulled up next to them and got out of her car, immediately halted by a stern-faced young deputy. Crime scene working, nobody is allowed in this area, he said.
She flashed her badge and continued forward. As she got closer to the scene, her mind processed several things at one timethe victim, a pretty, blond-haired young woman, lay beneath the overhanging branches of a tree, and in the tree limb above her head was a bright red-and-yellow dream catcherand Sheriff Cole Caldwell was a tall, dark-haired hottie without a belly bulge in sight as he leaned closer to the dream catcher for a better look.
He suddenly snapped his head around as if hed somehow sensed her approach. She had one instant of noticing strong, handsome features before they twisted with anger and the blue of his eyes went icy cold as he straightened to his full height.
Lady, cant you see this is a crime scene? Deputy Walkins, escort this woman away from here. His voice was deep, authoritative, as if he was accustomed to people jumping immediately to obey his orders.
Amberly held up a hand to stop the deputy, who moved toward her with a sense of purpose. She showed her identification and flashed the sheriff a bright smile. Dont worry, I might look like a Native American, but actually Im the Cavalry sent to save the day.
It was at that moment that she realized Sheriff Cole Caldwell had absolutely no sense of humor.
I DIDNT CALL FOR FBI assistance, Cole said. Cole hadnt been fond of the FBI since theyd botched a kidnapping job eight years ago that had resulted in the murder of his wife. It was our mayor who called. And that call had held up the entire process while they all stood around and waited for Ms. Im-Going-To-Fix-Your-Work-FBI-Agent to arrive.
Yeah, I wasnt exactly expecting the welcome wagon to be drawn up for me, she replied dryly. Agent Amberly Nightsong, she said and held out a hand to him.