Turning onto the road that would take me closer to town and the trailhead, I tapped a beat on my steering wheel. A cougar wasn’t exactly easy prey to pin down. And they were heavy. Unless the unsub had lucked out and shot one right on the trail, they’d have to move it. And that took effort.
I made the ten-minute drive in six, anxious to get to the scene and see what we were dealing with. Several other vehicles were in the lot, and I recognized Lawson’s SUV parked off to the side. I pulled in next to it.
Jumping out, I grabbed my pack and headed up the trail. The voices reached me before the sight. But what I saw turned my stomach.
The majestic animal had been torn apart. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep my temper in check.
Lawson strode toward me. “I do not have a good feeling.”
“Who called it in?” I asked.
“Another out-of-town hiker. The mayor is tweaked, and so is the town council. They don’t want anything that could mess with tourist season.”
“Good thing it’s about to be winter,” I mumbled.
Lawson shook his head. “That’s not good enough for them. They want this person found and locked up.”
I did, too. Just not for the reasons our small-town politicians did. Sometimes, I wondered if anything was more important than tourist dollars in their eyes.
“The hiker see anything suspicious?” I asked.
“Nope. She ran like hell the minute she saw it. Nearly had a panic attack.”
I didn’t blame the woman. The scene was grisly, to say the least.
A figure near the fallen animal straightened, and my eyes flared in surprise.
“Roan, good to see you. Wish it was under better circumstances.” Dr. Miller snapped off his gloves, disposing of them in a trash bag.
“I thought it might be helpful to have a vet’s take,” Lawson explained.
Dr. Miller glanced at my brother. “I wish you would’ve called me about the first victim. It would’ve been helpful to see it, as well.”
“Sorry, Damien,” Lawson said. “We weren’t thinking this had the potential to turn into a serial.”
That was true with the deer. Now, it was blind, dumb hope. And hope was a death sentence.
“Can you tell us anything?” I asked.
Dr. Miller nodded. “The cougar was caught in a trap and then shot. The body was mutilated postmortem.”
“Small mercies,” I muttered.
“Trapping’s illegal on state land,” Lawson said, a muscle under his eye fluttering.
“Doesn’t mean people don’t do it,” Dr. Miller said. “I’ve seen several animals who were caught in traps.”
“People are assholes,” I grumbled.
“They certainly can be,” Dr. Miller agreed. “I’m no crime scene expert, but from the photos you’ve shown me of the deer, I’d say it’s likely the same person. The cuts are in the same places. Only these are deeper.”
Lawson scrubbed a hand over his stubbled jaw. “Getting more comfortable with it.”
“That’d be my guess.” Dr. Miller glanced at his watch. “I have to get back for a patient.”
Lawson extended a hand. “Thanks for coming out on such short notice.”
Dr. Miller nodded as he shook the proffered palm. “Happy to do what I can to help. Please let me know if there’s another victim.”
“I will,” Lawson assured him.
Dr. Miller stopped near me. “Question for you.”
I just stared, waiting.
He shifted on his feet. “Do you know if Aspen is single?”
It was as if someone had jabbed a hot poker through my chest. My hands fisted as I fought off the shock of pain. “She’s got a lot going on right now and doesn’t need guys giving her trouble. Leave her alone.”
Each word vibrated with fury, and Dr. Miller’s eyes flared. “Not in a place to date. Got it.”
I glared at him.
“All right, then. I’m gonna head out.” He hightailed it down the trail.
The moment he was out of sight, Lawson barked out a laugh. “Hell, Roan. Pretty sure you just made the vet crap himself.”
I turned my glare on my brother. “You think Aspen needs someone messing with her head right now?”
A little of the humor fled Lawson’s expression. “No, she doesn’t. But she could probably use a partner. Someone who has her back. Someone to share her burdens with.”
That burn in my chest lit again—some dead part of me trying to flare back to life.
“But it seems like you’ve been playing that role pretty well the past few days.”