Shadow of Death, page 23
It was Dr. Richard Carver, the medical examiner who had worked with them on the “white horseman” case.
“Dr. Carver,” Hunter said.
“Wow!” he murmured, looking at Amy. “Okay, I won’t stare. You’re doing some kind of undercover?”
“Something like that,” Amy murmured.
“So, Dr. Carver—” Hunter began.
“Rich, please, we’re not at the morgue,” he said, indicating the seat by Amy and asking, “May I?”
“Of course!” Amy said. “Were you just cruising diners or were you looking for us?”
“I like this place, and yes, I was looking for you,” Carver said.
The man had gained respect in his field and helped to solve many a case every year. He wasn’t quite forty yet, but his work was valued, and he often went on loan to different counties throughout the state and across the country.
A young waitress came by and offered him coffee and asked if he was dining as well. Carver said coffee would be great and if they had their home-baked apple pie that night, he’d love a piece.
“You’ve been handling Special Agent Gleason’s remains?” Hunter asked.
“You mean bits and pieces and parts, right?” Carver said dryly. He nodded. “And they’ve gone on now to the lab in Orlando. Maybe... Well, it would be nice to give his wife a bit more to bury. But in way, that relates to the reason I’m here. Maybe nothing, maybe something.”
“I’m always interested in maybes,” Hunter said.
“You’re still working all this together?” Rich asked, looking at Amy.
She nodded. “And it seems we’re back to the beginning here.”
Rich shrugged and shook his head. “From what I’ve heard, you two keep finding the people behind it all.”
“Let’s hope we keep finding them all,” Hunter said. “We’ve had some luck on this with cult members who have seen a new light. And we have suspects. But...the power of a cult leader is truly something. We just lost another possible witness to suicide. And his partner—who raced away—has been found, too. Well, half of him has been found.”
“Yes, I know. Aidan insisted I come in on it. He thinks there’s something wrong with the picture. All right, let’s face it—people go into the Everglades and they disappear. Some are known to have disappeared, and then others...well, they may have disappeared in the Everglades, or they just didn’t tell anybody where they were going. So I inspected the remains discovered today—one of the men who attempted to kidnap a woman and shot her boyfriend.
“And?” Amy asked.
“Aidan is right. The body definitely met with an alligator. Remember how alligators bite—bottom jaw there, top jaw doing the snapping. Well, there’s more to that part of the body, but I believe the man was dead before he was even partially snacked upon by an alligator.” He hesitated. “I think he might have been decapitated and the gator did what the killer was hoping—chomped down and took a large part of the body. We have no idea what specific creature might have done it. And we don’t run around indiscriminately chopping up our wildlife to find which one may have a man’s torso in it, but... I thought you should know.”
“We’re grateful for your input, anything you can give us is always tremendously helpful,” Amy assured him.
Rich smiled and thanked their waitress as she delivered his coffee.
When she was gone, he said, “Well, here’s another thing. I’ve received other body parts in the last month that were discovered in the stomachs of nuisance alligators.” He glanced at over Hunter, knowing he wasn’t from the area. He shrugged. “When a creature does become a menace to human life, it’s first relocated, but sometimes...well. Hmm. Did you ever see the movie Lake Placid? Well, a little old lady was feeding alligators and they wound up with a taste for human flesh. Thing is, they aren’t cute little ducks or birds you might feed in a park. And they become a menace to human beings if they become accustomed to a food source. Of course, getting an alligator to eat a victim is certainly one way to get rid of the body of evidence. Throughout the years, occasionally, a body part has been found in an alligator—or a crocodile, which is more aggressive, but with minuscule numbers in comparison to the alligator.”
Amy looked at him, frowning. “Rich, are you trying to say someone has fed body parts to alligators many times?”
“I don’t know about many. But I’d say several. We haven’t found any matching body parts. And they aren’t matching any known missing persons’ reports. I don’t know what is happening—but they were human beings. And I’m afraid—”
“Afraid this has to do with the horsemen case,” Hunter finished.
Rich nodded gravely.
“Excuse me!”
Amy looked up to see that Ida Peterson had come back to the table.
“May I?” she asked.
“Of course,” Amy said. Hunter moved over and Ida slid in next to him.
She frowned at Rich Carver and said, “I believe you have been here before, perhaps with Detective Mulberry or John Shultz—or even these guys,” she said lightly.
Rich smiled. “I have been here. Not sure when but anyone in law enforcement or forensics has heard that this is the best place possible to eat in this area! Kudos!”
Ida laughed softly. “The only place, probably, but thank you.” She grew serious. “People are being murdered again, right?” she asked them.
“I’m afraid so, Ida,” Hunter told her. “We know what happened in the past, but have you seen new people hanging around, anyone acting suspiciously?”
“Not so much anything specific,” Ida said. She frowned, looking at Amy, still confused she couldn’t place her.
“Please, Mrs. Peterson, speak freely. She is one of us,” Hunter said, his voice low, as if Ida Peterson herself was being invited into a secret realm.
“Well, of course, we’re well aware body parts have been found—some of them in areas near us, just north of here.”
“Yes, I’m afraid the news is true,” Hunter said. “So, have you seen or heard anything suspicious?”
“Again, maybe not, maybe this is just silly. But you’ve heard about the Lost City, of course?”
“The Lost City of the Everglades,” Amy said. She smiled. “We’ve talked about it lately. It was a hideout for rebels in the Civil War who stole Union gold, some claim, and were killed, they believe, by Northern forces or Native Americans. It was reported there was a moonshine still for Al Capone there. It is supposed to be haunted. Archeologists have found bones, relics, etcetera over several acres, but it’s not on any maps, and is almost impossible to find.”
Ida nodded. “Right—that Lost City.”
“Are people in the Lost City?” Hunter asked.
“No, that’s just it. Not that I’ve found the Lost City, but I know the general area where it’s supposed to be. South of here, and far, far west. But there was a group of young people in here the other day, three couples, and they thought they had been in it, just up the road off 27. They said they were walking around, taking pictures, when one of the boys found bones, or so he said. He believed they had found an old burial ground. Then they heard sounds, strange sounds, like ghostly chanting. Well, apparently, they were all making fun of one of the girls because she heard whispering in the trees—she had an overwhelming sensation of danger and made them all leave.”
Amy glanced at Hunter.
That young girl had probably had the best sense she’d had in her life; they might have become victims as Sandra and Regan had been when they met up with their attackers.
“Lots of people believe the Lost City is haunted. There were relics found there that might well date back to the Tequesta, and they’ve found Seminole relics and the remains of small groups living out there. But it isn’t on any maps, and only old Gladesmen like my Frank and members of our local tribes know how to find it. But that’s not it. The thing is, whatever happened out there made them all think they’d been in the Lost City and it was haunted and scary. So...”
“We’ll look into it,” Hunter promised her. “Thank you. And please—”
“Oh, Special Agent Hunter, of course! We know we have you out there, and Frank and I would call you immediately if we knew anything at all!” Ida promised. “You’re always in with the cops and agents. Are you with the FBI or the FDLE?” she asked Rich Carver.
Rich Carver grinned. “No, I’m the—”
“He’s a doctor!” Amy said.
“Nice!” Ida murmured. “All right, let me allow you to finish up your meal in peace.”
She rose and left them. “What?” Rich asked Amy. “Were you afraid she might scream and run if she knows what I do?”
Amy smiled. “I think you’re going to get larger pieces of apple pie if she just thinks you’re a doctor.”
“Hey, my profession is noble!”
“And so appreciated, respected, and needed,” Amy assured him. “I just... I just think you’ll get better and bigger apple pie slices.” She smiled at him sweetly.
Carver studied her. “Wow. She really doesn’t know you, and if I didn’t know you... The look is really something. Entirely different. I take it you don’t want anyone who might be involved in this to know you?”
“Right,” Amy said.
They paused their conversation as Ida swung back to place a healthy serving of apple pie, looking more like a quarter of the baked good than a regular slice, on the table before moving on to another customer. Amy gave Rich a knowing look.
“You’re going to entice them to snatch you, aren’t you, Amy?” Carver asked. He looked at her and then stared at Hunter.
“Don’t worry—she’ll never be alone. Aidan is partnered with her, and I and others will be within shouting distance at all times. But they are trying to seize female victims. Mickey and my boss, Garza, have been over everything and getting an agent in there may be our only way of finding whatever hideout they’re using right now. And the thing is, they lost two men and failed to find their sacrifice. Maybe they need a girl by a certain time. Things could move fast,” Hunter said.
“Good luck, Amy. Good luck,” Rich said. “More than luck. Be careful, extremely careful. I don’t want it to be...”
“You don’t want it to be my body that winds up on your table,” Amy said. “I know and thank you. But they don’t kill their victims right away. They hold them to be used in a ceremony. They tell their followers the victims they intend to kill are sacrifices; and by killing the victims, they’re also saving their immortal souls. And because of the amount of sin the victims have in them, they won’t be chosen when the Apocalypse happens. Only the chosen are taken. In other words, the heads of this cult convince their followers they are doing God’s work to kill—and thus cleanse the sins of others.”
Rich looked over at Hunter. “And people believe this?”
“When they begin to doubt, they wind up getting bitten by an alligator,” Hunter said dryly. “People, by nature, look for companionship. When they find themselves misunderstood or not finding what they need from others in life and wind up lonely and disenfranchised, they make easy targets. It helps if you have a talent, but drones are always useful. Anyway, sometimes, someone falters at the right time—which we began to learn in Colorado. I was hoping to have a link yesterday—but both links are dead. You’ve seen one. I’m sure the body of the second man will find its way to you. We think we know who we’re looking for, but they have something here. And whatever it is, they’re well hidden.”
“I take it they know and would recognize Amy and thus the new style?” Rich asked.
Amy nodded.
“Please, please...”
“We will be careful. But if they are just looking to sweep up any young woman who appears to be vulnerable, and we put her out as bait...it may be our chance,” Hunter said.
“Right. The only chance to stop this,” Rich said. He stood, frowned for a minute, looking at his cup and plate, and reached into his pocket.
Hunter laughed softly. “We got this,” he assured Rich.
“You need me, you call me,” Rich said.
“Oh, trust me, we will,” Hunter told him.
He gave them a wave and left them. Amy looked over at Hunter.
“I’m proud of you,” she told him.
“Oh?”
“You’ve accepted I should do this, and it’s right. You understand I know how to play it all—and while I couldn’t find the Lost City for you, I do know the environment better than most. I’m so glad you’re...with me on it.”
“With you? Count on it. Do I accept it? Not really. However, I can’t argue the professional logic and need for what you want to do, but...”
“I know you will be right there. Hunter, something else is going on down here. I don’t know how or when the last horse will arrive, but everything we do stop will save lives.”
“We’ve lost a few along the way, too. Here’s what I don’t understand. We had a guy in the hospital. He was terrified about the concept of dying from his snakebites. Then, while still in the hospital when doctors are planning to induce a coma to save his life, he stabs himself in the heart with a needle. He couldn’t have known his co-kidnapper or friend was dead. So...”
“I can only believe it’s like you said before. Fear. Fear of what will happen to you if you don’t take care of it yourself will be far worse than anything imaginable.” She paused and grimaced. “Like being offered up in pieces to an alligator.”
Hunter nodded. “But the thing is, he knew that. Even down here, he knew that. So, Hayden, Don, or the illustrious Mr. Barrington himself. Two of them could be here. Andy has been checking in on Barrington, and he’s been going into his office. Still...”
“Still, he could be calling the shots—the person running this, we know, is acquiring charismatic leaders. Then the leaders turn their followers into murderers. And the head stays clean and neat.”
“We have to get someone alive who will talk,” Hunter said. He reached across the table suddenly, taking her hand. “For now, let’s get back to the hotel. I’m thinking we should talk to the religious leaders in this area, as we did when it all started, and which did get us moving. But I’m also thinking—”
“That we need to head back out tomorrow and try to lure them in?” Amy asked. “I want you to be careful, too! Regan was shot trying to defend his beloved Sandra.”
“Ah, but they won’t even see me at first. You’ll be with Aidan, and they can take Aidan, too, or he’ll just moan while they take you away. He knows not to offer any resistance. Then again, you could give Aidan a speech on the history of Florida and the Everglades—or maybe he should give you, his beautiful girlfriend, a speech while you walk along hand in hand.”
She smiled. “We’ll give each other speeches and see how it goes. Thankfully, if nothing happens at all, we both like history!”
“Let’s head out. I’m fascinated to spend the rest of what’s left of the evening with this new dark-haired beauty who has walked into my life.”
“Ha-ha. Maybe we could get a disguise on you, too.”
“Oh? You need something new already?”
She shrugged teasingly. “No, mustaches are too...hairy. Irritating. Beards are the same. And bald men are attractive, but... No, keep your hair while you’ve got it!”
Hunter headed to the counter and paid the bill. She saw Ida Peterson was speaking to him earnestly.
She waved and headed to the door and Hunter joined her.
“Is everything all right? Did she think of something else?”
Hunter grinned. “No, nothing else. Everything is fine—she was worried about you.”
“Me?”
“Well, of course. I used to work with that auburn-haired agent, and Ida was sure there was something special between us, and here I am today...with you.”
“That’s wonderful!”
“What? That she thinks I’m a louse?”
Amy laughed. “No, it’s wonderful my disguise works!”
In the car, Amy watched the road as they moved along Route 27 to merge onto I-75.
There was so much land that was rich with waterways, marshes, hammocks, many different towering trees, saw grass, and so much more.
They passed areas where housing developments had become communities—stretching out into the Everglades.
The I-75 took them onto the I-595 and soon they were back at the hotel. Amy put through a call to Aidan, discussing their movement for the morning.
Hunter, Sean, Ryan, and other teams would move into the area of the Everglades, find cover in the expanse of thick grasses and trees and wait.
She and Aidan would come by airboat, stroll along and talk.
And see what happened.
When she finished her phone conversation, she looked at Hunter who was talking to someone on his own cell. She sat at the foot of the bed and waited. Eventually he hung up the phone and took a seat beside her.
“Rabbi Goldstein. And I had a brief conversation with Father Brennan. Amazing what good friends that group manages to be, trying to look for the similarities instead of all the differences in what they do. Kind of kills me—it’s a small area where all this is taking place and should be a great one. Sorry, that’s neither here nor there as the saying goes. But, anyway, they haven’t had newcomers attend any of their services, but both told me there are members of their flocks who have talked about strange things happening. Father Brennan told me one of the sugar growers in his flock asked to come to confession—which he never does—because he was convinced he heard the song of banshees coming from the trees. Rabbi Goldstein said one of his son’s friends told him he thought there were strange people running in the saw grass, but he didn’t investigate because he was frightened. He thought he’d heard shots.” He paused and looked at her. “I am going to be near you every second, but any of us can fall to a bullet.”
