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"This area is the base for a group we've been keeping on our radar. And yes, we have investigated a case of assault, when a hiker was physically warned away from the area. It's just outside of the Fairshore jurisdiction, so it was handled by Chestnut Hill."
"Who was responsible?" May asked.
"It's a splinter group that recently split off from the local militia, Brothers in Blood."
With her eyebrows raising, May realized that she knew that name. She'd investigated the Brothers in Blood during a recent case. Their headquarters had been like a fortress. They had been violent and had operated outside of society's laws. Now, there was a splinter group? That could be linked to this, she realized.
"They call themselves 'New Blood,' I believe," Jack said.
"New Blood?” May said. Was that what was happening here? Was ‘new blood’ being sought by this territorial group that already had a record of violence?
“Exactly.” Sheriff Jack nodded. “The name might say it all."
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
As May rushed out of the police department, she saw Owen had just arrived and was climbing out of his car. She caught her breath as she saw him. She felt mad all over again. Anger surged inside her.
He’d actually thought she was cheating?
And he’d come to leave a note?
For a moment, May felt curious about what that note might have said. And then she rethought. She didn’t care what was in that note. She cared that he had shown so little trust in her that he’d crept around outside her house, trying to hear who she was talking to. She felt absolutely irate as the memories returned.
Eavesdropping was not acceptable. And then he’d hinted she was a bad communicator!
She was just not ready to think about this at all. And maybe nor was he, because he was staring at her now, looking grim and wary as if he wasn’t sure what reaction his presence was going to unleash.
"We have to go out to Laramie Road." She heard how sharp her voice was. Get a grip, May told herself. You’re upset, but you do need to work together with him. Fighting while you work is going to cause bigger problems than a lack of trust.
His eyebrows rose. "Laramie Road? What's out there?"
Taking a deep breath, May tried to speak more calmly. "There's a splinter group of a new militia branch that has just based themselves there, and it's near the area that Chloe was taken. They've been warning hikers off and are very territorial."
Without further questions, Owen hustled to May's car and got in beside her.
The atmosphere between them still felt tense and uneasy. They drove without speaking for a little while, and then, as ifseeking to dispel the awkward silence, Owen said, "Did Chloe give any other information?"
May shook her head. "Not much. It seems there are a few women there. I have the names—first names only, but we might be able to match them up with cases. Based on the way he takes them, it's likely a number of the cases will be suspected murder. And two of the women are from outside the county, she said."
"Why so far away?" Owen asked, sounding puzzled.
"I don't know. It's really strange. Perhaps he was looking for certain attributes, certain qualities that would fit a picture he had in his mind? Especially since he seemed to think that some kind of apocalypse was on the way."
"He was responsible for humanity's survival?" Owen guessed, his tone darkly cynical. "While injuring and abducting women? I'm guessing that he is the only man in this setup?"
May sighed. "Highly likely. As you say, totally delusional and a scary personality."
At last, thanks to the bigger threat of the killer, the issues between them had taken a back seat, and May felt more at ease. She felt thankful that there were other things to focus on and discuss.
"I'm not sure what this militia will be like," she said. “They’re a splinter group.”
“You think they’re more violent than the original group?” Owen asked.
“Yes, they might be,” May said.
Last time they'd gotten lucky—in terms of violence, at least. The last time they'd knocked at the front door of a local militia unit, it hadn't ended in an actual shootout. But the key word here was lucky. May knew they needed to be prepared for anything. Arriving on a militia’s doorstop was never going to result in a warm welcome for police. And it could result in actual conflict.
"If it’s them, do you think it's the entire unit, or one rogue individual keeping these women?" Owen asked.
