Dark Mind Read online

  The voices approached closer to his hidden underground waterway and zapped him back into reality.

  With slurred speech, one man said. “Nah, just kids playing around. There’s no one here. No one would be stupid enough to hang around.”

  Another man said, “I want to bag me a pig.” He gulped some type of liquid. “I would have settled for a robber.” He laughed.

  “Let’s go.”

  “C’mon, we can catch up with Daniel Lee.”

  The men tromped away in the jungle. Their voices retreated back in the direction they came from, and finally disappeared.

  Rick continued to wait for rescue.

  A heavy rope dangled in front of him.

  He looked up as Jordan leaned down. “Hang on while I use a tree to wrap around and brace myself.”

  The rope tugged securely alerting him all systems were a go. Rick carefully wrapped it around his waist tying in a couple of square knots.

  The rain burst pummeled down and drenched him, causing his hands to be even more slippery.

  Rick turned and started to climb out of the well. His tennis shoes slipped at every other step, while he desperately grabbed for the next handhold. He resembled a wet spider man crabbing his way to the top. Between mishaps and lost footings, Rick reached the surface breathing hard, arms and hands sore.

  “Dude, you okay?” Jordan asked exhausted.

  Rick sat up and with every ounce of strength he had left, twisted and then popped his thumb back into place. Sharp, radiating pain caused his whole body to shudder.

  “Yuck… You’re the man Rick.” Jordan ran his fingers through his wet hair and turned away from the display.

  “No thanks to you.” Rick grumbled.

  “Hey, I didn’t say drop into the lava hole.”

  “You could have guided me or at least waited for me.”

  “I did pull your ass out of the hole, remember? Good thing there were extra ropes on the other platform.”

  Rick stood up and got his directions in order to lead to safety, missing the drunken hunters. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” Jordan replied with a positive tone.

  They began their long hike back to the car.

  The moon completely covered by the fast moving rain clouds hid from view. The trail entered into unknown territories and darkness, ominous and unforgiving, and it was difficult to determine if they were actually on a trail.

  “You sure this is the right…” Jordan’s words were stopped abruptly. “Shit!”

  Rick spun around and prepared to make a stand, but saw Jordan inside a net swinging back and forth ten feet off of the ground. A snare net for wild pigs whisked him right off of his feet.

  Realizing they weren’t in any immediate danger, Rick laughed. Looking at Jordan’s horrified expression as he swayed in the trees made Rick laugh even harder.

  “Funny… take a picture it lasts longer.”

  “I’m sorry… but it’s not something you see everyday.” He stifled his laughter as he looked for the rope release.

  “Hurry up, get me down before those clowns come back and want to roast me at the next luau.”

  Untying the rope, Rick managed to bring Jordan straight down to the ground with a hard thud. He scrambled around a minute before he crawled out of the net.

  Jordan stood up and tried to dust himself off. “Thanks.” His face frowned.

  “You’re very welcome.” Rick smiled and led on.

  * * * * *

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Thursday 0125 Hours

  Wearing thin blue gloves, Emily pulled the flash drive from the last computer in the morgue office, copying information from the two homicides, while Lani created a cover story before he called in reinforcements.

  Emily photographed the bodies to the best of her abilities with her small digital camera.

  “Are you sure that no one followed you here to the island?” Lani asked.

  “No one knows we’re here except one other person who lives in Indiana.” Emily felt annoyed. Lani treated her like a civilian and wanted answers to all of his questions with a snap of his fingers.

  “It’s just…”

  Emily slipped the camera back up into her pocket. “What?” She turned to face him.

  “It seemed like he was here for you.”

  “Based on what?” She pushed some chairs out of her way. “How do we know that guy wasn’t here to kill you, like he almost did? You did tell us that you thought there was corruption going on at your police department.”

  “But, to put a hit on me? What’s the motive?” Lani approached her.

  “There’s one thing you need to understand about me. I don’t give my opinion without all the facts. Understand?”

  Lani took a step back and studied her. “Fair enough.”

  “It would be foolish for the investigation. Do you need me or can I go Sergeant Candena?” Emily looked at him pointedly.

  He reached into his pocket and gave her his truck keys. “Here, go back to your place. I’ll join you later, if that’s okay?”

  Softening a bit as she took the keys, Emily said. “Thank you.” She clutched the key ring in her hand. “What are you going to do?”

  “I’ll figure it out. Don’t worry, I won’t mention you or your crew.”

  Emily nodded and made her way to the exit. Everything looked even worse with the lights on, turned over filing cabinets, broken desk lamps, and papers strewn everywhere.

  Lani caught up with her. “Be sure to get that wound looked at okay? You should have it checked out at the hospital.”

  “I will, thanks.” She left through back entrance.

  Emily drove back to the beach house lost in thought and didn’t notice the tropical landscape in between the slow moving windshield wipers. Many variables emerged in light of recent events and she wasn’t any closer to identifying the serial killer. Questions now surfaced about Lani and his involvement with the police department.

  Was he really on their team or sent to watch them?

  A small, scroungy dog jumped out into the road and stood facing the oncoming truck. Noticing the dog in the truck’s headlights, Emily slammed on the brakes. Screeching to a stop a couple of feet from the canine, the dog didn’t flinch. Its white and tan face fixated on the truck’s lights and then watched Emily with subtle curiosity and without fear.

  Emily honked the horn.

  The dog didn’t move at first, but then sat down and placed his chin on his front paws. She thought maybe the lights stunned the dog or he was possibly sick.

  Pulling the truck over to the side of the road, Emily shoved the gearshift into park, and got out of the vehicle. The road remained deserted and quiet at the early morning hours; she doubted that anyone would drive by this late.

  The rain subsided, but Emily could feel the moisture in the air.

  “You lost little guy?” She said and noticed that the dog didn’t have a collar or any identification.

  There was a pathway, which led deep into the jungle. It must have been where the dog came from.

  Emily leaned down slowly and touched the dog on the head. He didn’t seem to be scared or aggressive in any way. She scratched behind his ear. “You out for an evening stroll?”

  A rustling sound made Emily pivot toward the shoulder of the road. From the darkness, an old man appeared. It was the old Hawaiian man Emily ran into at the abandoned sugar plantation.

  Emily didn’t know what else to say. “Is this your dog?”

  The man shook his head adamantly as his clear, almost golden eyes watched her. His eyes looked more like a young man rather than the aged man that stood on the side of the road. “A’ole own ‘ilio… free.” His shorts were well worn, his pale yellow cotton shirt two sizes too big, and he was barefooted.

  “Ilio is dog?” Emily surmised and pointed to the mongrel.

  He laughed and revealed his few teeth with a huge smile. “Dog.”

  “He’s going to get run over if
he sits in the road.” Emily watched the man with curiosity. “Can I drive you somewhere?” She stiffly motioned to the truck.

  He shook his head.

  Emily contemplated what to do, but she guessed that the dog and old man survived this long without any trouble. She turned to walk back to the truck. A strong hand grabbed her arm.

  She gasped in surprise at the brut strength.

  “Emele akahele… careful.”

  “How do you know my name?” She thought she didn’t hear him correctly.

  He smiled, but the grin slowly turned to a scowl. “You hakaka, yes?”

  “I… don’t know what you mean?”

  He leaned closer to her, pulling down slightly, and Emily could feel his breath against her cheek. “Emele beware of luakini and ahi…”

  “But… I don’t…” She was confused by the man and didn’t know what the Hawaiian words meant. She’d have to wait and ask Lani later.

  “Paw..leese…” He released her arm, searching her face for a response, and turned toward the path and into the dense jungle. The dog jumped to his feet and padded after the old man.

  “Wait. Please…” Emily took a few steps to follow him.

  * * * * *

  Rick and Jordan rode in silence.

  Rick ached, every muscle strained and his thumb pulsated with pain, but he was relieved that they had found their way back to the Jeep without any other incident. Slumber called to him. Irritated that he spent a terrible evening with Jordan and they had little to show for their efforts. In his opinion, they weren’t any closer to discovering the identity of the serial killer than they were two days ago. He agreed with Emily. His experience told him that the murderer was someone close to home, close to the island, and someone who was several steps ahead of the investigation.

  He hoped that Emily and Lani had better luck.

  Rick glanced at Jordan slumped in the passenger’s seat, his eyes stared straight down the road, no smile or smart remark, his blonde hair dried in odd clumps, and his clothes were soiled and looked like they needed to be thrown into the garbage.

  Rick raised his eyes to the rearview mirror and saw that he didn’t look much better with dried mud on the side of his face. Taking a deep breath, he pressed down on the accelerator, the engine caught a higher gear, and they sped down the deserted island road.

  Now moonlight cast a pleasant illumination on the trees and flowers along the side of the roadway. The white dividing road lines hypnotized the tired minds of the men as Rick pushed the Jeep even faster. The six-cylinder engine hummed at a higher pitch.

  A black pick up truck parked on the side of the road alerted Rick’s point of view. “Isn’t that Lani’s truck?”

  The headlights and parking brake cast peculiar light patterns on the wet road. It was deserted, no one in sight.

  “Maybe it broke down?” Jordan interjected as he craned his neck to see what was going on.

  “They wouldn’t just leave the lights on.” Rick eased the Jeep up behind the truck, cut the engine, and got out. He scrutinized the surroundings. Something didn’t make sense. He walked to the driver’s door and peered inside, they keys were in the ignition.

  Jordan hollered from a path area. He gestured. “Hey, there’s a hiking path here and fresh footprints.”

  Rick looked up ahead, down the long straightaway of the road, dark, without life. “Let’s take a quick look.”

  Before both men took a couple of steps into the jungle area, Emily jogged down to greet them. “Hi.” She had a surprised, but haunted look on her face. Her t-shirt torn, there were new scratches on the side of her neck and face, and her hair looked matted.

  “What happened?” Rick asked examining her face closely. “You okay?”

  “I’m fine… it’s just I saw this old Hawaiian man and his dog… and when I tried to follow him, he disappeared again.”

  “Again? What are you talking about?” Rick worried that Emily had suffered some type of trauma.

  Emily pushed her way by Rick and Jordan and she barely glanced at their tattered appearance.

  Jordan stepped in front of Emily. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. What’s up?”

  “What? Oh, I guess so…” She finally looked at Jordan’s clothes. “What happened to you?”

  “Hey, just catch your breath.” Rick gently took Emily’s arm. He saw the gash on the back of her head. “What happened? Where’s Lani?”

  “I’m fine, just shaken up a little. Someone followed us into the morgue, but they got away and now Lani’s on damage control. He’s going to meet us back at the house later.”

  Jordan looked nervously down the dark road and then up the path. “Let’s get out of here and get back to the house to sort things out.”

  * * * * *

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Thursday 0425 Hours

  The hot water from the shower stung Emily’s scalp and the minor scratches on her face and arms hurt. She carefully lathered the shampoo twice and rinsed her hair until the shower drain ran clear from the blood. The gash didn’t seem to be large, but would be sore for a few days.

  Emily turned off the water and eased her way out of the oversized stall. As she grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her body, she heard voices arguing. She couldn’t quite make out what they were saying, but it escalated.

  She quickly blotted her hair and slipped into a loose fitting bathrobe. The disagreement hadn’t stopped or lessened – it intensified.

  Barefoot, she rushed down the hallway to the living room.

  “You sent us into an ambush out there in the jungle and you put Emily in direct danger at the morgue! I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing.” Rick’s direct, interrogation voice boomed throughout the house.

  Emily knew that it took a serious situation to get Rick riled up.

  “I told you that I don’t know who that guy was.” Lani defended.

  “I’m surprised that no one was killed tonight.”

  Jordan remained quiet, but then put in his two cents. “This just doesn’t ring true for me. The killer is someone local and probably someone you know or the department knows. And, someone with an ax to grind against you and the department.”

  Rick spat out. “I wouldn’t pay any attention to anything this guy has to say. We’re done here.” He walked away from Lani and saw Emily standing at the entrance, he hesitated for a moment.

  “What’s going on?” She asked.

  “This is just bullshit. I need some sleep.” Rick walked past her and continued down the hall to the bedroom.

  “I think we all need some sleep.” Emily stated.

  “There are too many cooks trying to stir the pot.” Jordan added.

  “Maybe he’s right.” Lani suggested. He stood awkwardly as he towered over everyone, still dressed in the clothes he had on from the morgue, now torn and dusty. His arms and face had scabs from the broken glass.

  A door slammed from the other room rattling a few framed prints on the walls.

  Emily wavered for a moment trying to decide if she should let Rick cool down or support him right now. “Look, one thing you have to know about Rick, he’s not used to conducting investigations like this and it makes him nuts. It’s been difficult for him working these types of covert cases with me.”

  “Understandable.”

  “He does have a point.” Emily suggested.

  “Meaning?”

  Emily made sure that she didn’t sound accusatory. “It does seem like we all walked right into a trap.”

  Jordan added. “Right after we visited Daniel Lee’s zip line biz, those guys showed up with guns like they were ready for us or at least thinking that someone was going to show up.”

  Emily and Jordan looked at Lani expecting to hear a logical answer.

  He stayed quiet.

  “Look, it’s been a weird night all the way around. Maybe…” Emily tried to say.

  “I know that you guys have no reason to trust me, but I’m on your side. H
ell… I think what you’re doing is awesome and you get results, and I really need your expertise. KPD is never going to get any budget money for a profiler and if the FBI takes over, that’s it.”

  Jordan approached Emily and he gave a look that she understood. She said, “I’ve worked a few things out after all the craziness tonight. I’m sure that Jordan has some insight as well. You have some time to listen?”

  “You bet.” Lani followed Emily and Jordan into the den. “Sleep can wait.”

  Emily had rearranged some photos and lists of suspects. She found that her best work performance was when she had time to contemplate the problem and physically touch and move evidence around visually – new insights popped.

  Emily printed out the photos from the memory sticks of both victims from the crime scene and morgue with a close up on the wounds inflicted. The photos were graphically displayed, but made an investigative impression.

  Carolyn Sax, victim #1 violently knifed to death, stabbed more than fifty-seven times, and displayed near a homemade totem.

  Amanda Zeller, victim #2, carved open with her organs removed, including her own eyes, carefully put back together leaving a totem from her organs with her own eyeballs on top.

  Both women bore a similar appearance to one another by height, weight, and build with comparable brown hair and brown eyes.

  “Okay.” Emily began. “I can see why your detectives felt that these two crimes are not related because one was stabbed and the other gutted.” Emily moved up to the photographs and ran her finger over specific areas. “All of the cutting wounds were done by the same person, by way of angle, speed, technique, right-handed positioning, and with the identical knife – not a similar one.” She pointed to extreme close-ups of the knife areas.

  “How can all those frantic stabbing wounds be the same as the carefully cut stomach?”

  Emily explained. “The depth of the wounds on Carolyn are deep, the thrust and strength had to be intense, but clearly organized and under control. Now, with Amanda the cuts are quick, no hesitation, but very precise like a surgeon. There wasn’t a need for deep penetration for this type of procedure.”