Page 19 of The Whispering Girls
“And we’ve got each other’s backs.”
“Always.”
“See you soon,” he said.
Katie took a few moments before getting up. She was so fortunate to have Gav as her partner and it had made her transition seamless to the Pine Valley Sheriff’s Department and heading up the cold-case unit.
Cisco ended his afternoon nap and came over to Katie, nudging her.
“Yep,” she said.
She changed into appropriate running attire with extra layers to keep her warm. She was eager to check out the trails behind the Echo Forest Lodge. The chain of events and murder board listings kept churning through her mind, and she wanted to clear her head so she could get a jump start on the investigation.
TEN
Wednesday 1410 hours
Katie decided to have a look around outside her new accommodation. It was an unusual place for a lodge and she wondered if it was profitable, although it was a great place to get away and relax while enjoying the outdoors. She noticed that Jack’s mobile vet truck was gone, so she could casually look around without raising any questions. She didn’t notice any obvious outdoor cameras.
Cisco paused every so often to smell the patio furniture and along the garden fencing. The furniture was stacked and organized against the building, but Katie could imagine how the area would be pretty when the pots had flowers growing, and the table and chairs were placed about. The patio was wooden decking and seemed new. She wondered how Jack was able to get carpenters and construction workers in a place so small. He must’ve brought in workers from surrounding towns.
Cisco whined and wagged his tail as if to tell Katie he was ready to go for their run.
“Okay…” she said to the big dog. She took a few deep breaths and did some slow stretching before starting down the trail.
There were two trail entries that were obvious and had been well-used. Katie decided to take the left one. Cisco stayed within six to eight feet of her at his own pace, but he was never too far away. The path was wide enough for two people to walk, but the wooded areas on either side were dense and tall. Katie kept her usual moderate pace, weaving along the trail. She felt as if she were in a maze because she couldn’t see anything but forest. It wasn’t something she was used to, and it felt borderline claustrophobic. She supposed for some people it was part of the appeal: to feel absolutely immersed in the trees.
Katie began to relax, trying to put behind her the bursting pipes incident and thoughts of the homicide case. She knew that garnering and preserving her mental strength was imperative. It seemed ironic to her that she was practicing relaxation, not for her vacation, but for a homicide investigation.
As she kept to the path around the twists and turns of the trail, she came to a larger clearing with two benches. She stopped, but kept gently jogging in place. It was a nice spot for people to rest or to sit and enjoy the area. The trail was well thought-out.
One bench had a memorial plaque with the nameCarol Ann Benedict. There were no dates, words, or family included. It was as if she were an angel in the forest. Katie wondered who she was and all her instincts pushed that she was someone important.
The clouds partially cleared, revealing some sunshine; even though it wasn’t particularly warm, it made the walking trail seem more inviting. Katie continued jogging but realized Cisco wasn’t beside her. She turned around and saw the black dog had stopped and submerged himself into the wooded area.
“Cisco,” she said. He was most likely sniffing some great smells of forest creatures. “Cisco.” Katie joggedup to the dog and saw that he was definitely interested in something that wasn’t a part of the landscape.
“Hier.” She told him to come so that she could see what it was. “Platz.”
Cisco immediately sat still, with his unwavering attention on her.
Katie bent down and could see something tan, like a piece of fabric. She reached into her pocket and retrieved a clean tissue. Leaning farther, she gently moved the material and saw it was a type of heavier and almost industrial textile. Turning it over, there were three small areas that appeared to be blood. Her first thought was that someone had had a bloody nose or a minor injury then tossed the item, but closer inspection of the fabric suggested it was a type of burlap.
Katie stood up, contemplating if she was overanalyzing it or if it could possibly be evidence from the crime scene. She took a quick photo of it and the area where it was found before retrieving the piece of burlap. She decided to roll it up and put it into the tissue. She then tucked the rolled-up wad into one of her zippered pockets.
She paused and studied the area. Her run had been in a zigzag direction with a couple of switchbacks, so she wasn’t sure the course she was taking. Retrieving her cell phone, she had a weak signal but it told her she was now facing east. She pulled up a map application that showed where she was and was surprised she was heading to the same area as the cabin.
“Fuss, Cisco,” she said, calling him to heel as she continued her run along the path, partly to see where it would come out. Even though there was no reason to feel uncomfortable, something didn’t sit right with her about everything she had just seen. Most of the time she chalked up this feeling to being a cop and almost everything seeming suspicious. Or maybe it was because of the sounds and noises in this vastly dense forest.
Katie pushed herself harder, pumping her arms, and usinglonger strides. Her runs were mostly for keeping her anxiety in check and wearing down the symptoms, which usually gave her clarity, but sometimes when she went for a run during an investigation it was as if she pushed herself forward to find the clues and the killer by brute strength and endurance.
When Katie reached her limit on her high-energy push, she slowed and then stopped, still walking in place.
Cisco breathed heavily with his tongue hanging out as he too walked around, allowing his pulse to level.
Katie didn’t want to go too far from the lodge, since she didn’t bring water for her or Cisco. But something caught her attention ahead.
The trail ended at a narrow road that looked more like a utility road, which were common in these types of small towns. She and Cisco stepped out onto the narrow road. It hadn’t been kept up. Low-lying branches and overgrown brush pushed its way onto the track.
