“I think we found his way in.”

Jason stared beyond the gate at the woods along the service road

“Yeah, and that makes me afraid for what we might find with the dogs. Who knows how long this lock has been cut.”

Chapter  6

Jason was at the station early on Monday. He met the lieutenant and got permission to call in the cadaver dogs. It took several phone calls to get the search set up but by 11:00 AM the area had been cordoned off and the dogs, with their handlers, were ready to begin searching.

Before the searchers were allowed in, the forensic team had taken tire tread castings from two spots. They were consistent with a truck but would only be useful if they had one to compare to.

Jason called the search teams in and gathered them together around a map of the area. He pointed as he spoke.

“First of all, as usual, thank you for your quick response to our call. The area we’re searching is not overly large, so everyone take their time following the dogs. We don’t want anything disturbed if the dogs do have a hit. This road here is the service road for the golf course. It was used mainly during construction and is rarely travelled any more. We’ll begin at the road edge and move inwards towards the trees. If someone has an alert, everyone freeze where they are. We’ll signal for the search to continue when we have secured the area that the dog hit on.”

Jason looked at Vanessa.

“You want to add anything?”

“Yes. Pay special attention around the base of trees. If the dog is at all curious, let him travel completely around the tree. We believe that any alerts will likely come in those areas. Also, keep your eyes open for a wine glass.”

One of the searchers raised his hand.

“Did you say wine glass?”

“I did. We believe that it may be found at any scene that the dogs find and we don’t want it broken, if possible.”

Jason looked around at the group.

“Detective Layne and myself will be by the radio. You all have the frequency. Any questions?”

There was no response so Jason assigned starting points to each team and they lined up along the service road at 100 yard intervals.

The teams began to work the area. It was no more than ten minutes when one of the dogs alerted with 6 sharp barks. He pointed at the location while his handler kept him from moving. The dog had alerted near the base of a large tree.

****

Jason and Vanessa were sitting in her car at the entrance gate when the radio crackled life.

“We’ve got a dog alerting on a location.”

Jason picked up the handheld radio.

“Where?”

He was already up and moving.

“About three hundred yards in. It’s search dog two, the one that started at 100 hundred yards up the road from the entrance.”

“We’re on our way.”

Vanessa caught up with him.

“Got something?”

“Dog number two has alerted.”

When they got to where the dog was, they began to step very carefully. Everyone else had been backed away and a uniformed officer was stretching yellow tape around the scene. Vanessa saw it first.

“Is that a wine glass?”

Laying in the undergrowth was a wine glass with a stain on it. Jason stopped and got on the handheld.

“Get me forensics. I need them at my location.”

He listened while his order was conveyed and then put the radio on his hip. He leaned over and looked at the bark on the tree. A dark stain and a hole. Under the leaves, you could make out a vague outline of a body

“Animals have probably scattered some of the bones. We’ll let forensics take it from here.”

Jason waited for the crime tape to be stretched completely around the alert location before he gave the signal for the search to resume.

****

Back at Vanessa’s car, they stayed by the radio until the dogs had searched the entire grid. The first alert turned out to be the only hit. Jason called the search off and thanked the handlers.

They walked over to the taped off area where forensics was finishing up. Leonard Davis had been on site all day and nodded at the two detectives when they walked up.

“Female, probably. That’s about all. I’ll know more at autopsy but she’s been here long enough to destroy most of the useful evidence.”

Vanessa picked up the baggie with the wine glass in it.

“Looks like the others. Did you find the casing or bullet?”

“Found the bullet in the tree, looks to be 9 millimeter like the others but either we missed the casing or it’s gone.”

Jason had his pad out.

“You got a guess how long she’s been here?”

“I don’t like to guess, but if I had to, I’d say around three months.

“Thanks, Doc.”

They walked back to the car. Before leaving, Jason left instructions for a new lock to be put on the gate after forensics was done. No sense making it easy for a killer to get in and out.

They left for the station, Vanessa driving and she’d fallen quiet, again.

“You’re awfully quiet. You doing okay?”

She gave him a half smile.

“The morning sickness is still hanging around. Makes for a long day.”

“I’m sure. Everything going good with the baby?”

“Yeah. Rob and I got to hear the heartbeat at the last appointment.”

“Awesome. I bet Rob was stoked. Did you find out what it is?”

“No. Too soon for an ultrasound.”

“How long you plan on working?”

“I guess as long as I can stand the desk, once they put me on one.”

“You gonna come back at the end of maternity leave or stay home with the baby for a while?”

She smiled and gave him a wink.

“Gonna miss me?”

“Of course. You’re my partner.” He pretended to be stating a fact, but he knew she saw through it. Like most partners, they had become close.

“I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. It’ll be hard to leave the baby but finances may force me to come back as soon as possible.”

They pulled into the station and parked. Jason didn’t get out but looked at her.

“When are you going to tell the lieutenant?”

“I don’t know.”

“I suggest you do it before you begin to show!”

He laughed but he was only half joking. Jason knew she would wait until the last minute. He also knew he wouldn’t let her endanger the baby. He would tell the lieutenant himself if she was stubborn about it.

“I’ll tell him soon. Rob wants me on a desk now but he knows better. I’ve already warned him not to let it slip to the lieutenant. Come to think of it, that goes for you, as well.”

Jason got out and pretended not to hear her. He walked towards the station and could hear Vanessa locking the car behind him. She hurried to catch up.

“Did you hear me? That goes for you, too.”

Jason kept walking.

“What does?”

“No letting the cat out of the bag.”

“Who, me?” He was grinning to himself but Vanessa, trailing behind, couldn’t tell. “Don’t you mean the bun out of the oven?”

“Jason! I’m serious!”

“I can see that.”

“Promise me.”

He turned to face her and his smile had disappeared, his face serious.

“I’ll keep your secret as long as it poses no threat to you or the baby. If I feel you or your baby are in danger, all bets are off.”

She stood there glaring at him and he could tell she wanted to argue.

After a minute or so, she smiled and quietly said “Thank you.”