River of Bones

footsteps were too heavy for a child, and the person lingered along the wall, spying on Darren. Quietly, he shifted his body along the wall and pushed the curtain back. Nothing but green grass stretched back to the trees.
A shadow rushed across cabin two. He swung in front of the window and spotted a male figure. The stranger plunged into the forest and raced down the hill, cutting between the trails. Darren grabbed his keys and ran after the man. He’d only glimpsed the fleeing figure and couldn’t say if the man was young or middle age. Whoever the man was, he ran like the wind. The figure was a hundred yards ahead of the ranger and pulling away as Darren pushed through a knot of branches.
The forest flew past in a blur. His chest tightened as he sucked air into his lungs. Halfway to the lake trail, he stopped and leaned over with his hands on his knees, chest heaving. Stopping amid the gloomy forest, he listened for footsteps. He’d lost the man.
Was this the thief who pilfered two-hundred dollars from Paul Phipps’s wife?
Or had he glimpsed the Lucifer Falls killer?

CHAPTER EIGHT
Tuesday, August 10th
12:30 p.m.
 
Thomas peeled the wrapper open and stared at the soggy sandwich. Meat and onions spilled out between the bread, and there was more dressing on the wrapper than on the sandwich. He groaned. This was the last time he’d buy lunch from the new sandwich shop in the village center. He took one bite, chewed, and twisted his mouth. The rest of lunch ended up in the trash.
Wiping his hands clean, he poured over his case notes and located Sheriff Gray’s number. He hadn’t spoken to his mentor since the abrupt retirement two weeks ago, after Gray derided himself for suspecting Father Josiah Fowler in the angel of mercy killings.
“Sheriff Shepherd,” Gray said with a grin in his voice. Thomas smiled. Gray hadn’t sounded this chipper in years. “How’s my office treating you?”
“Terrific. I trust you’re enjoying retirement.”
“I’m loving every minute. Last week, I walked along the river for three hours, and I haven’t set my alarm since my last day at the department.”
“We’d love to see you again.”
“Bah, you don’t want me puttering around the office, offering suggestions and making a nuisance of myself.”
“Just a heads up. A group of us get together for dinner every week. Right now, it’s me and Darren Holt running the show. I can’t convince Aguilar to come. She’s been weird since…well, you know.”
“Since you became sheriff.”
“Right.”
“Let me tell you about Deputy Aguilar. She’ll roast the hell out of her fellow deputies. But she respects authority, and you’re the new sheriff in town, so to speak. Give her time to grow comfortable with the changes.”
Gray’s words rang true. Maybe Thomas was pressing Aguilar. He couldn’t force his deputy to let her guard down and act as if nothing had changed.
“I’ll keep that in mind. The gang would love to have you over for dinner. It’s no big deal, just a small gathering and barbecue on the grill.”
“Now you’re talking. Give me the time and place, and I’ll be there.”
“How about tomorrow at five-thirty? You know where my uncle’s old place is.”
Thomas had purchased his Uncle Truman’s old A-Frame after he moved from Los Angeles to Wolf Lake.
“I’ll be there, and I’ll bring the porterhouse.”
“That’s unnecessary. You’re our guest.”
“No, I insist. Now, why don’t you tell me the real reason you called?”
Thomas snickered.
“Is it that obvious?”
“I worked in that department longer than you’ve been alive, Thomas. I’m pretty good at reading people.”
“You’ve probably read about the bones by now.”
“Yes.”
“I’m worried we found Skye Feron.”
Gray turned silent for a second.
“I was afraid of that. Are you sure it’s her?”
“It’s a female in her late teens or early twenties. We brought a forensic anthropologist in to excavate the bones and help Virgil make a determination. Until she spends more time studying the bones, we won’t be able to say with certainty it’s Skye. What do you remember about the investigation?”
“Everything,” Gray said, the tenor of his voice sinking. “Sometimes it feels like the investigation happened yesterday. You weren’t around during those years, Thomas. The case tore the village apart. We’d lost one of our own, and a popular girl at that. Skye Feron ran varsity track for Wolf Lake High, she sang in the church choir, and she volunteered at the humane shelter.”
“Sounds a little too perfect.”
“Everyone hides a skeleton in the closet. Sorry, poor choice of words. From what I recall, Skye hung out with two cheerleaders—Paige Sutton and Justine Adkins. I interviewed them after Skye disappeared. Skye was supposed to meet Paige and Justine the night she vanished.”
“Did she have a boyfriend?”
“A boy named Benny Pritchard. We checked him out. Benny was in Bangor with his parents that week. He’s clean.”
“Did Skye cancel the meeting or act like something was wrong?”
“Not according to the girls. But I didn’t trust the two friends, especially Paige Sutton. They were hiding something, and I never figured out what, despite grilling them in front of their parents. All Justine did was cry, and Paige went stoic, as if nothing was wrong. Paige acted like Skye would show her face in a few days. That never happened.”
“What makes you believe Justine and Paige were holding back on you?”
“They were evasive. Wouldn’t meet my eye when I questioned them. Whatever happened, it had to do with school. I’m positive of that.”
“Did they make an enemy, someone who’d hurt Skye?”
“That was my guess. But why protect someone who posed danger to them?”
“Could be a broken friendship.”
Gray grunted.
“Cliques have been around forever. But I’ve never seen a clique lead to murder. My advice? Start with the friends. Paige Sutton is still in Wolf Lake. I’m not sure what became of Justine Adkins. By now, the girls must have heard about the bones. That might be enough to get them talking. Thomas, how’s your father doing?”
Thomas dropped his eyes as if Gray was lecturing him from across