Hunter by Adrianne Lemke Page B

up against.
                I
set up a tent in one of the camping areas near the creek, but a ways downstream
from where I left the body. I would be close enough to tell when the body was
found, but probably far enough away to not attract attention. All afternoon and
overnight I acted like a normal camper, hiking the trails and sitting by my
little campfire, knowing all along that my time was running short. I had to be
back at work on Tuesday, so the body had to be found sometime today.
                The
trail where I left him was one of the more popular trails, but apparently not
many people had taken advantage of it in the last couple days. After sitting in
the tent waiting for about two more hours, I decided to make my lunch. The
interruption came while I was eating: screaming and pounding footsteps through
the ground as the body was discovered, followed shortly by the wailing of
police sirens approaching the scene.
                My
face stretched into a smile. Good. Soon I’d be able to put faces to the
officers pursuing me.
                After
all, it would seem more suspicious if I didn’t go to check out what was going
on, than to sit here listening to it without curiosity. I’d be one face in a
crowd of hikers and campers, and no one would know I was there.
                When
I reached the scene, it was already closed and taped off. There weren’t a lot
of people around, but enough to give me some cover. Several officers were on
the scene, keeping people far enough back that they couldn’t see details on the
body by the creek.
                Details,
like the knife I left with him. The cut that went deep into his throat. The
small cut on his right hand from handling his knife incorrectly. The smears of
blood across his face and chest from the wound on his neck and the—probably
unnecessary—fatal wound to his chest. Random smears and tears in his clothing
from being dragged from one location to another. All things I knew about, but
couldn’t see from this vantage point.
                Nor
could I see the important players in the game. There were only first responders
so far, but they’d done an admirable job containing the scene for the
detectives who were sure to follow. They were already talking to the man and
woman standing inside the tape; probably the people who found the body. Both
seemed upset, but were holding it together for the time being. They were young,
clinging to each other like they couldn’t even consider losing one another.
Engaged. Or newlywed. It was hard to tell which without seeing the woman’s
finger.
                Another
police vehicle approached and a young man stepped out, badge clearly visible on
the clip attached to his belt, gun just as visible, strapped to his hip. The
first responders approached him. Clearly he was the detective on the case. I
frowned. He was young; probably newly promoted to detective. Only a handful of
cases under his belt, but he held himself with confidence as he surveyed the
scene.
                A
slightly older woman exited the vehicle next to him. The senior partner. She
was in her forties, but in excellent shape. She held herself with just as much
confidence as did her younger partner and both approached the body by the
creek, peering at him carefully before conversing for a moment and approaching
the young couple.
                These
were my hunters. These two detectives would scour the evidence, and try to
guess at my motives and find me before I could find another victim.
                Too
bad for them. I already found one.

THIRTEEN
    Jason

 
 
                Yesterday
the trails were busy, but with the workweek starting today, they were nearly
deserted. The few hikers I came across were unaware of my passing. Most were
almost a mile away by the time I felt them. I could still feel echoes from the
runner I noticed on Saturday, but