Free LustUndone by Desiree Holt Page A

rubbed her forehead. “Or it
could be a creature that hunts for isolated prey so there’s no chance of
detection,” she insisted. “One that doesn’t fit anything you’re familiar with.”
    “You’re giving whatever you think that creature is a lot of
brain credit.” He was obviously trying to hang on to his theory.
    “Maybe it has more than we think.” Night Seekers was
beginning to think more and more that the devil beast had reasoning powers far
beyond those of normal creatures. “Bobby, you can’t rule out anything at this
point. Think back to when my nephews were killed.” She swallowed back the
sudden surge of nausea. “And the two others around the same time. You never
found any trace of a human being. Not one. Those killings were never solved.
And now we have another one just like those.”
    “So you’re saying that this—whatever it is—is back again?
That maybe it’s even been around here all this time?”
    “I’m saying that you can’t just toss the possibility aside
because it doesn’t compute in your brain. Logan and I are here because Night
Seekers has been dealing with a lot of killings just like this. Why not at
least accept the possibility our theory night be right?”
    Before Bobby could say anything else they heard the whining
sound of a snowmobile and everyone turned. A man wrapped in a fur-lined parka,
waterproof winter pants and heavy boots climbed off a massive Sno-Cat
snowmobile and trudged up to where they stood. He pulled up the ski mask he
wore beneath his hood and held out a hand to Bobby.
    “Detective Lacroix,” he acknowledged.
    Bobby nodded at him. “Thanks for coming.” He introduced
everyone around, then turned back to the much older man. “If you could walk us
through it again I’d really appreciate it. I hope this will be the last time.”
    “Me, too.” The man shook his head. “Not a sight that’s
easily wiped from your mind.” He climbed up onto the porch. “Okay. Darrell and
I see each other almost daily when the weather’s nice but he closes up in the
winter. He’s pretty isolated out here so I have him call me every day, let me
know if he needs anything. Sometimes I come over on the Cat and we play cards.
Have a couple of drinks. You know.”
    He paused and took a long breath.
    “I hadn’t heard from him in three days. When he didn’t
answer the phone I got worried and came on over. The snow had stopped by then
but it was pretty deep and I had a little trouble getting in even with the Cat.
But holy hell. There he was, on the porch. Guts ripped out, big puncture wounds
in the neck. Shotgun frozen in his hand. And I’ll tell you, a look of fright on
his face like I’ve never seen before. And Darrell wasn’t afraid of anyone or
anything.”
    “I know I asked you this before,” Bobby said, “but do you
think a bear could have done this? Could he have heard the animal outside and
come to shoot it?”
    Maquire snorted. “And I’ll tell you again. A bear would have
ripped him to shreds, not left him like this. Besides, don’t you wonder what
happened to all his blood?”
    “My point exactly,” Sophia put in. “Besides, what on earth
would persuade any human being to drive to a closed fish camp in the middle of
a raging blizzard?” She shook her head. “No, this isn’t the work of anything
human.” She looked at Bobby. “No matter what you say.”
    “So then, some animal besides a bear. There’s a lot of other
options.”
    Logan touched her elbow. “Let’s get Mr. Maquire to walk us
around the place and point out any other opportunities for someone to get here.
Skis, whatever, and make a chart.”
    “Yes, okay, but you know it isn’t—”
    “We can go over this ourselves later. With Rebecca, if you
want. Meanwhile, let’s just get the lay of the land so we have a starting
point.”
    “You’re right.” She sighed and turned to Paul Maquire. “If
you can walk us around here and answer some questions we’d appreciate it. I
know