Murder in the Forest, Chapter 32
After Hotchner and the others left for Elk Pass, the teams at the forest scene divided. The biologist (van Reenan) and a game warden joined a deputy with a camera and took a boat across the river, pursuing the Bigfoot report. They radioed that it was well that they'd brought waders, as the land was indeed swampy in the reeds where the animal left the river, coming ashore. Tracks left at one point led them to follow a trail, which was often indistinct. But the size and shape of these tracks and other sign, like broken twigs and grass that was still depressed from the passage of a heavy animal kept them on the path.
The Washington state team wanted to wait for a dog pack to arrive before seeking the bear, let alone a Bigfoot.
Blacklaws announced that he wanted to take a look at the death scene, in case the bear might have returned, seeking the corpse. In any event, it had been there in the first place, so must sometimes frequent that part of the forest. Seaver wanted to come, as did Jareau.
"JJ, you don't have to do this," offered Seaver. "Peter and I can go, and you can stay with the other deputies and the Game & Fish people will probably leave a guy with you and the cars. I know you have a dread of bears. Why stress yourself by going where we think we'll find one, and a proven killer, at that?"
Jareau shuddered a little, but declared that she needed to face her fear and conquer it, or she'd never live it down. "Some people would tease me and I'd feel that I'd sold myself short. I need to prove to myself and to everyone else that I have the courage for this. I'm going. Don't worry. I'll be quiet and pay attention.
"I have the 10mm carbine that Hotch left for me, and I think I know where to shoot a bear. And this is the only place where anything is happening. Nothing's shaking in town, unless they overhear some really damning conversation on those phone records. I didn't join the Bureau to just sit and look at photos of bad things. I want to help make a difference. "
Blacklaws smiled and nodded. "Good show, JJ. I admire your courage. I'll go over shot placement on bears with you. You can't just fire at the whole animal. I'll tell you where the quickly lethal zones are. That depends on how the bear is turned. I'll make a few quick sketches and let you be sure where to shoot, if need be. And I think you deserve a reward for coming, given your bear phobia. So, when we leave here, I'm taking you and Ashley for a steak dinner in town. We'll all be hungry by then, I'm sure, and I have no objections at all to being seen in public with two outstanding blondes."
The women laughed, but Jareau had reservations. "I'll take you up on that if I won't be in the way when you and Ashley want to get personal. But isn't it a little sexist to offer to treat just the women agents?"
Blacklaws laughed. "I hope so. You do have appearance advantages over men, at least to a 'straight' man like me. I'm not awfully PC, anyway, and I like girls. Are you going to report me to some Federal PC watchdog agency or a TV network? "
Jareau smiled back. "No. But I want you to respect me as an agent, not just gawk at me as a blonde. As for Ashley, be careful what you do with her. You don't want to be charged with misuse of government property. Sorry, Ashley: I couldn't resist."
Seaver rolled her eyes and said, "Peter hasn't misused me. In fact, he used me very skillfully. You're just jealous. The 'government property' pussy is very happy with the local usage. He proved that old saying is true for girls, the one about a hard man being good to find."
Jareau was shocked and stood briefly speechless. Then, she looked at Blacklaws, who was blushing and trying not to laugh. Finally, both women burst out laughing and he joined them.
"Ladies, I think it's time we went bear hunting. We're attracting stares." And Blacklaws picked up a day pack and his rifle and led them down the dirt path toward the death scene.
When out of sight of the others, he paused and drew sketches of bears in the dirt with a twig, showing Jareau and Seaver where to aim. Ashley had already had much the same lecture the previous day, and felt confident of stopping the bear if it charged. But that would require quick aiming and careful shot placement. Would her nerves hold? What if the bear was roaring at her? That would be truly scary!
She checked that the Leupold telescopic sight on her Howa 7mm-08 was turned down to 2X, the lowest power setting and the one that provided the widest field of view in the eyepiece. If the bear was sighted, it would be at fairly close range in these trees and she needed as wide a view as possible. The low magnification would be more than enough for the range involved. Jareau's H-K 10mm carbine had iron sights, well able to cope without optical aid under the conditions. Blacklaws set his 'scope sight at 3X, its lowest power. Actually, he usually left it at 3X, a good setting for the circumstances in which he used the .375 Magnum rifle.
They moved off down the trail, trying to keep binoculars, canteens, and other items from clinking together and alerting the bear. Jareau's heart was pounding, but she was determined to have this adventure.