Free Bite Deep by Rebekah Turner

the station. She would never live that down in a community this size. Bowden shifted aside as Sam descended the steps, shotgun cradled in his arms.
    â€˜Best get going then and I’ll show you this cow.’
    They headed towards the orchards, the air sweet with ripe fruit. As they walked, Bowden and Sam talked in low voices about general town business. Lydia followed at a short distance, until they reached a small clearing.
    â€˜This is it,’ Tanner said.
    The rusty metal smell of blood hit her nose like a blow and she forced herself not to gag. The blood was splattered around the small clearing and the clogging stench of iron mixed nauseously with the honey scent of ripe fruit.
    Sam scratched his neck. ‘Thought I heard something the other night, but I’d had a little to drink, which is why I didn’t call till now. One of the cows from Elijah’s farm musta wandered off and something got it here.’ He jerked his head towards the forest in the distance. ‘The cow is just behind those trees.’
    Lydia walked over to a steel drum, seeing cold, burned firewood inside. ‘Do you usually get hikers out this way?’
    Sam grunted. ‘I get kids in these fields sometimes. It’s just on picking season, so they come around, looking for work.’
    Lydia stepped away from the drum, switching off that feeling part of her, and flipped on her analytical brain as she took in her surroundings. She walked around the clearing, noting places where there was more blood. With each step, her heartbeat got a little faster until her pulse thundered. There were splatters everywhere.
    â€˜Hell, Sam.’ Bowden rubbed his brow. ‘You really need to put up some signs. Something that warns people they’re trespassing. I’ll wager some crazy backpackers passing though town did this. You remember the time we had that kid from Amsterdam running through town, stark naked and hopped up on something? Kids nowadays have a pretty sick sense of fun.’
    â€˜Putting up signs aren’t going to stop kids from making mischief,’ Sam grunted.
    Something on the ground caught Lydia’s eye. She crouched down, pulling a pen and plastic bag out of her belt.
    â€˜What you got there, constable?’ Bowden asked, coming over.
    â€˜Not sure,’ she said. Using the pen, she flipped the stiff material over. Blood obscured most of the front, but she could just make out the symbol of a dog skull. She didn’t miss the quick look that passed between Sam and Bowden as she slid the blood-soaked material into a plastic bag. ‘Almost looks like a gang patch. Isn’t there a biker bar just outside of town?’ she asked.
    â€˜You talking about Dusty Roads?’ Bowden asked. ‘Sure, there’s a biker club of some sorts that runs the place.’
    Dusty Roads . The name dredged up a childhood memory in her; it was the place kids in school would whisper about. From the stories you heard, you’d have thought it was Sodom and Gomorrah itself, a seething beehive of sexual depravity and violence. She wondered if now she was all grown up, she’d be disappointed.
    â€˜You don’t want to be messing around with that lot,’ Sam grumbled. ‘Those fellows ain’t nothing but trouble.’
    â€˜I suppose they’ve got a few hotheads in the bunch,’ Bowden said in a cautious voice. ‘But if one of them was involved in this, Ben Jericho will see them right. I’ll go talk to him.’
    â€˜You want me to come with you?’ Lydia asked, standing.
    â€˜Best I go by myself.’
    Sam was nodding. ‘If it was one of Jericho’s boys, he’ll need to make it right with Elijah. I’ll bet that cow was his and he won’t be too pleased when he hears about it.’
    â€˜I’m sure Jericho will smooth things over,’ Bowden said.
    â€˜The carcass is this way.’ Sam started to walk off and Bowden went to