Murder in the Forest, Chapter 33
The trail into the woods along the narrow path soon immersed Blacklaws and the women in a world apart from that which the agents usually knew. Several times, he paused to point out or whisper about items seen, and they detoured at one point to see what was rustling in the shadows about 75 yards off the trail. This turned out to be a pair of raccoons who began squabbling over some food of unknown origin, but it was too small a meal to provoke interest on the part of the hunters. No human body there...
They passed the rocks where they'd seen the rattlesnake and kept a careful eye out for it.
And finally, they found the death scene and carefully studied the tracks and the dried blood that made the grass sticky and troubling.
Strolling around, Blacklaws soon found additional bear tracks proving that the killer had indeed returned and rummaged around. It had sharpened its claws on a tree, standing, marking its territory.
Jareau stared uneasily at the tracks, especially those from the Bigfoot.
"I thought those things were pure myth," she admitted. "But these just can't be phony. I see now why Chris was so sure they'd be almost impossible to fake. The detail in some is just amazing! Peter, how long has it been since the bear came back? Can you tell from its tracks?"
"I can make a shrewd guess," he answered. He bent to the tracks and studied several, noting where some rims had fallen in, the dirt dried at the edges of others. Those in shade were fresher looking than those in the sun. He looked to see if the grass that had been walked on had fully erected again and other factors.
"It was here during the night, but probably not for long after dawn. The freshest tracks seem to lead toward a stream a couple of hundred yards from here that feeds that small lake where the victim was planning to fish. In the absence of any better clues, I suggest that we stalk forward and see if we sight fresher tracks or other sign that the bear went that way. The dogs should be here soon, but we might get lucky first. Be sure that you have a cartridge in the chamber and the safety applied on your weapon. If we see that bear, he'll either come for us fast or depart fast. Either way, we'll need to swing up our guns and shoot for a vital area. Be sure that you're shooting at a bear, not at a deer or anything else that might jump out and run. Don't panic if you see the bear or anything else that scares you. And don't fire wildly at a noise. Just not done, not by responsible, prudent hunters. There may be other people out looking for that bear or just traipsing in the woods. Right, here we go. If you need to chamber a cartridge, do it now. The sound may alert the bear later."
Jareau and Seaver looked at one another and Seaver said, "Peter, we are both trained, veteran FBI agents who have shot it out with really bad people. I think we can manage a bear. Our weapons are ready. Just find us the bear, Mr. Macho."
"Oops, sorry, ladies. Didn't mean to step on any feminist corns. But there aren't a lot of men whom I'd want along on a venture like this, either. I wish to gosh that Chris was here. I hope he finds that damned Bigfoot. But if I didn't basically trust you to be cool and brave, you wouldn't be here. Please forgive me if I seemed too paternal. Probably comes from having a grandfather who really was a Great White Hunter. Well, shall we?" And he led the way cautiously toward the stream.
About 150 yards back into the trees, they found a rotting log that had been ripped open, with bear tracks in abundance. Blacklaws whispered, "Bear. He was after grubs. May still be close. And hungry."
They reached the stream without incident and patrolled the banks for a distance, watching for bear sign. They found none, and Jareau asked to sit on a big rock overhanging a wide pool where she saw small cutthroat trout darting about in the gin-clear water. She rejoiced at seeing a frog in the reeds at the edge of the pool.
"This looks so peaceful, Peter," she murmured. "I see why this forest appeals to you. It's sort of restoring to the soul."
"That it is," he agreed.
He and Ashley went on for a bit, warning Jareau not to get far behind. They paused behind a large tree and some ferns and seeing nothing awry, set their rifles aside and began making out. Ashley suppressed a giggle and groaned softly as Peter ran the backs of his fingers over her breasts, feeling the nipples rise in response as his touch reached through the fabric of her shirt and bra.
Suddenly, Peter stiffened and withdrew from his embrace, reaching for the .375 Magnum Winchester. Ashley realized that he had heard something and lifted her rifle, too. What had disturbed Blacklaws? She heard nothing at first, and then a leaf rustled some 50 yards away, on the path leading back to Jareau at the stream.
The couple pussyfooted along, wary of any noise and prepared to shout a warning to Jareau. Was she still at that rock by the water?
In fact, she had just left the big rock where she had looked at the trout and was following the trail to her friends. She heard a leaf crushed quietly and spun to see a large black bear within 50 yards and approaching her. Its approach had been almost silent and she realized with a start that the animal had been stalking her!
On realizing that he had been seen, the bear uttered a gruff "whuff!" and came straight for the blonde agent. The stuff of her nightmares was suddenly present and real and dreadful. Jareau screamed and raised her Heckler und Koch carbine, trying to find the fast moving bruin in the sights. The bear roared and her knees felt like they were about to collapse. Hoping for the best, she pulled the trigger and sent a trio of bullets toward the furry menace that was now so close. She had had no idea how fast a charging bear would come and felt terror on a previously unknown level.
"Peter!" she screamed and fired again.