Free A Shadow Fell by Patrick Dakin Page A

“Okay,” I said, not sure how this was meaningful.
                  “Let’s have another look at the burn site,” Con said.
                  When we were back among the charred timbers Con slowly groused around in the ashes, then knelt down, studying with intensity.
                  “ Very interesting,” he finally commented.
                  “What do you see?”
                  “ There was recent cooking went on here. This site was used to hide the fact.”
                  “Why do you suppose anyone would do that?” I asked.
                  “Exactly,” Con said as he stood up. “Let’s have something ta eat. Then I wanna have a good look around.”
     
                  Despite the more intense scrutiny Con later gave to the area, n othing of any consequence was revealed. But what we had already uncovered was worth some thought: some one had camped here within the previous couple of weeks but had pitched a tent in a hidden location, and then had gone to some effort to hide the fact. Whoever it was had used the charred remains of the original cabin as a cooking site, once again, it appeared, to hide the fact of his presence.
                  W hy, we wondered, would anyone do that?
                  The only conclusion that made any sense to me was that it was Henderson . H e wanted the fact that he had been here to remain unknown so that he could return when ever the mood struck him.
                  “Whoever it is,” Con reported, “he’s been damned methodical about covering his tracks. I don’t see anybody doing this unless they’re on the run.”
                  “No hope of tracking him f rom here?” I asked.
                  Con ruminated for awhile before responding. “Not very likely,” he finally said. “There’s been a fair bit a rain up here in the past few days. Makes it harder. And this guy definitely don’t wanna be tailed. Dogs might be able ta track him. That’d be the best hope.”
                  I looked at Winston. “Too bad he’s not a tracker.”
                  Con smiled wistfully. “He’s got the nose for it, just not the training to use it I’m afraid.”
                  “I guess we might as well head back tomorrow then,” I said.
                  Con nodded in agreement. “Don’t think there’s anything more we’re gonna learn here ,” he said quietly. He seemed disappointed he had not been able to decipher more meaningful information from the site.
                 
                  As we retraced our way back down the mountain Con asked: “You gonna tell the Feds what we found?”
                  “No,” I answered.
                  “You still thinking you wanna deal with this guy yourself?”
                  “ Yeah,” I answered. In fact this trip had magnified my desire for vengeance. I could almost smell Henderson’s foul presence in the air. Although Con had steered clear of attaching a n identity to the visitor we had discovered I harbored no doubts at all. I kn e w it was him .
                  “You mind telling me exactly what it is you’ re gonna do if you get your hands on him.”
                  “I’m not sure I should be telling you this, Con. It makes you an accessory after the fact you know.”
                  “You don’t have to worry about that, Jack. I’m cool with it.”
                  I had no reason to doubt the veracity of his statement. “ I’m going to kill him ,” I said. “ And he’s going to die as hard as I can make it . ”
                  Con looked a little sad at my intensity and determination. “I hope it ends up being what you really want,” he said.
                  “You