Read Online Ghost Killer by Robin D. Owens - Free Book Online Page B

raised. “It isn’t here right now?”
    “No.”
    “Damn good. I don’t want you confronting it until we know more.”
    “Thanks.”
    At that moment a police siren screamed for several seconds, then cut off. Zach’s head
     had jerked up, his nostrils flared. “Another unit has joined a previous one.” He turned
     away from the east entrance to the Bachelor Historic Tour, angled his chin. “It’s
     up the other road. Not too far. What’s up there?”
    Clare shook her head. “The other end of the loop. Some famous mines.”
    “Let’s go.” He waved toward the car door, but didn’t take her arm. Keeping his gun
     hand free.
    “Are you sure—”
    Without glancing at her, he said, “I’m sure that if there’s been a death that the
     damned Counting Crows Rhyme predicted, I want to know about it. I want that relief.
     God help me, I hope it’s already happened.”
    “Oh. Yes.” Clare swallowed and got back in the car.
    They hadn’t gone more than a half mile before Zach stopped where two silver full-sized
     trucks blocked the road. Definitely a death scene. He could feel it in the strained
     atmosphere even inside his cab.
    A sheriff’s deputy glanced at them and began to walk toward them. Zach swung out of
     the truck and matched the deputy in gait and attitude. The man relaxed, then frowned
     a little at Zach’s cane.
    “The road is closed,” the younger man said.
    “I can see that. Just curious.” He scanned the area, couldn’t see much, but the setup
     had him shaking his head. “Looks like you have your work cut out for you.”
    The guy grunted. Zach handed him his card—one of his cards from his former life, hoping
     that it would prompt the man to talk. “I retired a month ago.”
    “Zach Slade from Montana, eh?”
    “Yes.” He offered his hand.
    “I’m Johnny Linscomb.” He shook Zach’s hand.
    “What’s up?” Zach asked.
    Linscomb removed his hat and ran his hand over his buzz cut. “Terrible accident.”
    “Accident?”
    “Yeah. Falling rock. Happens. Plenty sharp.” He looked at the cliff and Zach followed
     his gaze, then around the road. Yes, many shards of rock splinters.
    “Helluva thing.” The deputy shook his head. “Hit one of the guys in the head . . .
     spike to the brain. The other died of a fragment straight through the carotid artery,
     God. Freak accident. Really weird. What are the odds?”
    Clare might know them, but Zach sure didn’t. He shook his head along with Deputy Linscomb.
     “Most I’ve ever seen rockfall kill is when a boulder hits a car.”
    “Weird.” The deputy liked the word.
    Strange, unexplained deaths while an evil ghost was on the loose? Zach didn’t believe
     in this coincidence. “When did it happen?” he asked. He had to know if the damn Counting
     Crows Rhyme still had good radar.
    “Not too long ago, an hour, maybe. They were found quickly. We aren’t that slow around
     here.”
    “So,” Zach leaned a little on his cane, trying to frame the words he wanted to say.
     Something had triggered the evil ghost; could this incident be tied in with all the
     other weird woo-woo? Negativity seemed to be the snag. “Are they upstanding members
     of the community who’ll be missed?”
    The deputy looked startled. “Funny you should say that. They’re from out of state
     and were poachers.”
    “Poachers?”
    “Yeah, they had a small game hunting license, for bobcat—or rather the owner of the
     group license did. He’s not here. We called him and he’s on his way. Apparently these
     two left on their own, said they were going to view the mining museum or something.
     Not hunting season yet.” The man’s lips thinned. “They got a lynx, a protected Canada
     lynx.” He spit out the words. “Not a bobcat.”
    Zach blinked. “Lynxes have long ear tufts and bigger paws than bobcats.”
    Linscomb slanted him a look. “That’s right. You know that.
I
know that. Did these dim bulbs? Dunno. But they weren’t on the