Murder in the Forest, Chapter 48

Back in town, the agents and senior sheriff's personnel conferred and agreed to search a few more hours, and then to adjourn for the night. Ford thought to send a patrol car to protect the Winters home, telling Melissa's family that there was a remote chance that the man who had her might try to bring her there and intimidate her family, demanding money and supplies.

Eventually, all but a few extra patrols went home, leaving Washington State Patrol units and game wardens covering the areas that extended beyond the sheriff's jurisdiction. The helicopter was called off, but the crew had it refueled and made ready in case anyone found anything that could be checked out from the air, with its sensors to detect body heat and a powerful searchlight.

Hotchner took his crew to eat at the same restaurant that they'd been patronizing, allowing Blacklaws to join them. He and Morgan sat as far apart as possible, but neither said anything discordant during the meal, and Hotchner was relieved. Morgan shot a few mean looks at the tall deputy, but Blacklaws refused to lock eyes with him and the tension passed.

Afterwards, the team went to the motel, with Ashley Seaver going to Blacklaws's home.

Having come in late, Kate Callahan was brought up to date on Ashley's new romance and what they knew about her handsome boyfriend. Kate was assigned to room with Jareau, inasmuch as it was obvious that Ashley wasn't likely to need that space any longer.

When Blacklaws and Seaver reached his place, they enjoyed ice cream and decaf coffee and discussed the case. But they couldn't think of anything that hadn't been discussed before. The information from the Cassidy girl had given them insight into Mason and his dead partner, but not any definite clues about their intentions in case they were discovered and had to flee. Bamka had had supplies in his Pathfinder that suggested that he was prepared to stay in the vehicle and perhaps remain for a time in a predetermined hiding place. Mason would be likely to join him there, and they must have supposed that it was remote enough to avoid discovery, even under a determined search. This was probably where Mason and the girl were now. On the other hand, Bamka might just have been headed for the cabin where Courtney had been rescued, with his supplies intended for the kitchen there. There might not be another hideout, in which case, Mason was probably headed for some city large enough for him to disappear there.

Asked how long the fugitives could last under such conditions, Blacklaws shrugged and said that it depended on where they were going and what they might have already stashed there. "But I suspect that within a week or two at most, food will grow short and they'll have to do something. Of course, if Mason is a skilled outdoorsman, he may be able to trap animals or get fish to supplement their canned goods or freeze-dried food. If he's near a creek or small river, water is no problem, although it'll have to be boiled or otherwise purified. I'm going to confer with a couple of game wardens I know to see if they may have good ideas about where they could be. Those fellows get out in the forest a lot looking for poachers, often well off the beaten paths. If anyone around here knows where to look, it'll be them.

"As for now, good heavens! Look at your blouse!"

Seaver was startled and looked to see if she'd spilled something down her front. The blouse was clean. "Why, what's the matter?" she demanded. "You told me earlier that you liked this blouse."

"Yes, but that was earlier in the day and we were out and about in public. Now, the damned thing is covering up those pretty shoulders and one of the finest pairs of boobs yet grown by any female human. It needs to come off, followed by the rest your raiment. Do you want me to take those clothes off, or can I just sit back and enjoy your stripping for me, as a form of deep dish entertainment?"

Ashley laughed. "I should have known. Men! Ever one-track minds! But you do manage to deliver some remarkable compliments. Do you really feel that I have exceptional ones or is that just sales talk to get me to let you see them?"

"Both. Outstanding ones, and I want to see them. And everything else. My bed here is a big improvement from 'doing' you in the SUV, what? Shall we bash off to bed and see what may happen there before we have to actually sleep? Dawn comes early, and we need to meet your team at eight tomorrow for breakfast and assignments. I want to meet those wardens and get their expertise. Maybe Aaron will let you and/or Reid or Callahan join me while we check with them, and then we'll take another SUV full of deputies and explore their suggestions. As for now, let's clear off the dishes and adjourn to bed. Want one of my admittedly splendid backrubs before we hopefully commence to enjoy one another's delights?"

Seaver agreed and soon found herself nude with Blacklaws's hands proving that his boast of giving splendid backrubs was more than just male confidence. In fact, he was very skilled and she soon felt relaxed and stimulated.

Before long, she was involved in intimate coupling with him and found that he was even more skilled a lover than she'd hoped, the bed and the safer, more relaxed setting being more conducive to what they were doing than had been the case in the vehicle where their first tryst had taken place.

In time, they slept, entwined. Ashley decided that she was indeed very fond of Blacklaws and felt secure and appreciated in his arms. She drowsed off, still held in those strong arms, enjoying the aroma of his cologne. This trip definitely had its perks, she decided, and smiled as she passed into sleep.

XXX

Back in the secluded cave, Mason and his captive beauty watched the evening news. It was about as he had expected: the Cassidy wench was alive and talking to the authorities. And he had predictably been declared a dangerous fugitive. Melissa's parents begged Mason, if he should hear the broadcast, to return their beloved daughter. And some FBI profiler named Hotchner had made a brief speech about how they knew that he, Mason, was in charge of the situation, and pleaded with him to do the right thing and free the girl, who was, in any case, an impediment to him as he fled. The other predictable comments were made, and then the regular talking heads came back onscreen and soon moved on to a story about a private plane crash in Oregon.

Mason shut off the television, explaining to Melissa that he wanted to conserve batteries. "Most programs today aren't worth watching, anyway." he declared.

After settling into the shelter for the night, he had freed her of the neck tether and instead locked the chain around her waist and to the floor ring. He'd then uncuffed her and let her exercise her arms for awhile before cuffing her hands in front. She still wore the black panties and the black pushup bra, both tastefully lace trimmed. Mason promised to get out more clothes tomorrow and assess what he had for her to wear. "But it'll all be brief lingerie unless a cold front blows in," he promised. "I enjoy looking at you, baby, and the joy I take in that has a lot to do with you still being alive. So remember to show me what you have and be happy that you're so hot."

Melissa shrugged." Master, thank you for the compliment, but if I wasn't so hot, would you have kidnapped me in the first place? I'd be home with my family if I hadn't caught your eye, right? So, being hot is kind of a mixed blessing, right?"

He laughed. "You make a good point, Melissa. But I do have you and you'd better be happy that I decided to take the risk of bringing you on my little survival quest. Maybe if we get away and write a book, some TV producer will make a reality series based on our adventures. Who would you like to play your role? Mine?"

They kicked that topic around as Mason lit a camp stove and cooked dinner, freeze-dried trail foods that Melissa admitted were pretty good.

"Tomorrow, we'll rely more on canned goods for awhile, because they're heavy to carry if we have to strike out on foot. And I plan to catch some fish in that river that runs a few hundred yards from here. It'll have a variety of trout and maybe salmon in it and they're good eating. And I have a crossbow and a sling, to kill small mammals quietly. I'm a good hunter. When we were boys back in Michigan, Mike Bamka and I used to kill rabbits and cats and whatnot for fun. We didn't take the meat. It was just to watch them suffer and feel the power. But now, we'll eat what I slay. It'll help to eke out our supplies. I want to spend at least two weeks here before we go anywhere. The cops will be alert for that long before they relax their guard, thinking that we're well out of the area."

By nine PM, the moment that she had been dreading came. Mason put on some rock music and made her dance to it as he lay back and enjoyed her efforts. Then, she had to strip gracefully and let him have her in the camp bed that he'd erected for her use. There was another for him, both with air mattresses. Melissa performed somewhat mechanically, if obediently, until Mason whacked her bottom with his hand and told her to move with more enthusiasm. She did, and when they were done, he let her wash with a wet towel and before they slept, he removed the waist chain and secured her with chain hobbles with a chain locked to the links between the ankle bracelets. That chain, in turn, was locked to the wall ring. She could thus turn as she slept and her wrists were left free. She was overjoyed at that freedom and thanked her captor.

He nodded and kissed her goodnight. "Just don't mess up, pretty doll, and you'll be fine here. All you have to do is be obedient, submissive, and entertaining. I think we'll even get to have some stimulating conversations as we get to know one another better. You belong to me now, and I take care of my property. Keep me happy, and you won't find your lot in life to be too horrible, considering. Got that?"

"Yes, Master," she replied. "And thanks for trying to get me off tonight instead of just using me for your satisfaction. You're actually a pretty good lover when you want to be. I could get used to being owned by you. A lot of women throughout history haven't had as good a deal as I do with you, right? You'll be glad that you kept me. I swear that. Just don't punish me unless I deserve it, please, and I'll go all out to keep you the happiest dude in the state, if not the country. Hey: what if something comes in the cave tonight? Can you block the entrance or something? I'm scared. There are bears and cougars and coyotes and stuff like that out there. What if something comes in and finds us both asleep?"

He looked thoughtfully at her and said," Good thinking, princess. I'll go cut a thick bush just big enough to block the entrance and set something behind it to warn us if it gets pushed aside."

And he did that, leaving them as secure as was possible.

"If we see any bear sign that suggests that one is hanging around, we'll sleep in the car for a couple of nights," he promised. "Feel better now?"

She nodded." Thank you, Master. And thanks again for keeping me. I know it makes things riskier for you. I won't disappoint you. Can I have a hug while you're up?"

She looked shyly at him and he grew tumescent again, thinking of her lying nude under a light blanket. He gave her the hug and she squeezed back. He wondered if she was coming around, maybe feeling some affection, or at least coming to rely on him as countless generations of bond women had done with their captors in centuries past. Maybe he could play her and see if she fit the Stockholm Syndrome effect of coming to identify with him, to form a couple instead of being just his prisoner. Maybe... He could dream, being ever careful. Melissa was clever and he'd need to watch for deception. He'd come to realize that she was much more intelligent than expected and had a wry wit when she wasn't too frightened to display it. Yes, he could have done far worse in selecting a girl to enslave. It was actually kind of nice to have her here and to hear the quiet rhythm of her breathing as she slipped into sleep. He felt better about what had happened. He was going to do his best to salvage what he could from the situation. And so far, Melissa looked like really good salvage.