The Night Killer

Liam.
    “Yes. I’d have brought more Tums,” he said.
    “I’ve got plenty. I can share,” said Liam.
    “You can stand over by that tree,” said Diane to Liam. “Don’t get in the crime scene.” She turned to Mike. “And what’s your excuse?”
    “There’ve been so many strange things going on, I thought you could use someone to watch your backs,” said Mike.
    “Fine. Watch our backs from a distance—over there with Liam,” she said. She hesitated a moment and turned to Liam. “What were their names?”
    “Larken MacAlister and Bruce Gregory,” he said.
    Diane turned back around and followed Frank to the edge of the creek. It wasn’t a large creek, perhaps five feet across at its widest point. It was very beautiful, almost the stereotypical mountain stream. Only the stain of blood on the rocks along the creek’s bank and covering one side of a small tree trunk marred its picturesque feel. Even with the rains, the blood was still there. It obviously had dried before the rains fell. Another clue.
    She noticed a shiny metal dish the size of a large skillet wedged between rocks in the creek.
    “Looks like they were panning for gold,” said Mike, pointing to the dish.
    Diane looked over at him.
    “That’s a pan for panning gold,” he said. “See, I’m helpful.”
    She frowned at him.
    Get equipment was one of the items on the dead couple’s list, thought Diane. She wondered if this was part of the equipment. Diane remembered Liam saying that the two copied geologic maps at the library. Liam thought they were looking for abandoned mines.
    “Perhaps they were panning at different creeks close to mines,” said Diane, “hoping the density of their finds would point them to the right mine.”
    “Possible,” answered Mike. “But you never know what’s going on underground. The stream being close to a cave or mine doesn’t necessarily mean it’s carrying material from there.”
    “But they might very well have thought that was a plan,” said Frank.
    “Well, I guess I’ve seen all I need to see,” said Mathews. “I’m going to leave it with you.”
    “Can you find your way back?” asked Frank.
    “There’s nothing wrong with my sense of direction,” said Mathews. He headed back the way they had come, retracing their steps.
    “Send up a flare if you get lost,” said Frank.
    “Up yours, Frank,” he said, before disappearing into the undergrowth. “Doesn’t anybody ever mow up here?” they heard him say.
    Frank smiled at Diane. “Gil’s not much of a woodsman.” He looked around at the scene. “What can I do to help?”
    “Neva and I are going to take photographs first. Then you can help Neva with some measurements. I’m going to collect blood samples. And we need to search the area to see if there’s anything else to be found. A murder weapon would be nice.” But Diane had a feeling that it was taken, to be used again on the Barres and the Watsons. “Neva, will you have a look at the pan and see if there are any prints on it?”
    Neva nodded and they began the meticulous work of collecting evidence. After photographing the area, with close-ups of the blood and the pan, Diane took blood samples from the tree and the rocks and she looked for fibers that might have rubbed off from clothing onto the trees or underbrush. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Mike was a little restless. But Liam seemed perfectly calm. Different training, she supposed.
    “Hey, Doc,” said Mike, “why don’t I walk the creek and look for anything that may have washed downstream?”
    “I can go with him,” said Liam. “We each can take a side of the creek.”
    Diane stood up from her stooped position and looked at them. “When this goes to court, we have to be above reproach in our collection of evidence,” she said.
    “I’m a detective and I’ve given evidence in court before,” said Liam. “And Mike here . . .” He turned to Mike. “What are you exactly?”
    “Geologist,” said Mike.
    “See,” said Liam. “Geologist, rocks, cave, mines, gold.” He gestured with his arm over the area. “It fits. I think you’re covered.”
    “Okay. Watch where you put your feet. If you find anything, call one of us. Don’t pick it up,” she said. “Take those small orange flags out of the pack and mark anything of note.”
    “Gotcha, Doc,” said Mike. “It’s not like I haven’t helped before.”
    Diane watched for a moment as the two of them walked along the bank. She