Shabina ran her finger over the trees and grasses in the sketch. Stella had been very accurate in her portrayal of the colors. She’d taken her time filling them in after the second night. The camera had widened to show her more of the terrain, but little of the actual victim. She could see more of his legs and the camouflage pants he wore, that was it. She’d concentrated on drawing the trees and brush she saw and the grasses that were everywhere.
“I doubt he’d give me any more information if I talked to him, especially if Sean, Bale or Edward were involved in any way.”
Shabina sighed. “They are a strange group. Sean is difficult to figure out. He won’t stop coming to the restaurant. I let him come and told myself no matter what he said to me or how mean he was about the food, I’d be nice and eventually he’d stop, but it only seemed to make things worse. I have no idea what he gets out of being so abusive.”
“I always thought Sean had a thing for you, but that kind of behavior isn’t going to win any points with you.”
Shabina shook her head. “I think I mentioned he did ask me out once, but I was busy on the night he wanted to go to dinner. I hesitated, because I was tempted. I hadn’t dated anyone and I had told myself that it was time. I was truly going to ask for a rain check but then he got angry with me when I said I couldn’t go that night. I don’t do very well when anyone yells at me. I think I just froze for a minute. I couldn’t believe he would get so upset when I told him I was busy that night.”
“And that’s when his harassment started?”
Shabina nodded. “He began coming in and sending food back and making loud comments. At first I was nice about it, but he only got worse. I don’t know what his problem with me is, but sometimes I’m afraid of him. I don’t know if it’s because of my past, or if I have good reason to be.”
“Have you spoken to the police?”
Shabina nodded. “Bale and Sean were both born here. They have ties to people in the department. That makes it a little tough. I’m not saying no one listened, because a couple of cops did. Craig Hollister, one of the detectives, is very aware of the situation. He’s talked to me about it a few times.” She glanced at Stella. “Don’t look at me like that. I don’t have a crush on him like everyone thinks.”
“Then why are you blushing?”
“Because all of you give me those eyes whenever his name comes up and I can’t help it. He did tell me to be careful and not to be alone with Sean. But Sean works for Fish and Wildlife and I’m in the forest a lot. Since you told me Jason gave you that warning, I’ve been a bit of a wreck. I actually considered asking my father to send a security team, but I knew if I did I would be regressing. I can’t do that. I’ve fought hard to get to this point of independence. I refuse to let Sean mess me up.”
“The season is over and I’m off for a little while. I’d be happy to go with you, Shabina,” Stella volunteered. “Between the dogs and my guns, I doubt Sean can do us much harm.”
Shabina smiled at her. “You’re a good friend, Stella. Thank you.” She looked again at the drawings, assembling them in order. “The trees here are ghostly white. There’s about a hundred acres of dead or dying trees around the area near Horseshoe Lake due to toxic gas. The roots are unable to take in oxygen. There are signs up warning people to be careful in that area because the gas is dangerous to us as well, especially belowground, in pits or poorly ventilated areas.”
Stella nodded. “I was fairly certain from the first couple of nightmares the intended victim is hiking in the D7 zone, where the gas from the magma leak occurred. D7 is very popular with hunters for various reasons, at least that’s what Sam tells me.”
Shabina laid the first two sketches representing the first two nightmares down in a line.
Stella pressed her hand to her forehead and then rubbed her temples. She felt like she’d had a headache from the first moment she had tried to figure this one out. She already knew it was an impossible situation. “That is a huge area.”
“Once you hike in about six miles, you’re into forest. Horseshoe Lake is there. It is a huge area, and you’re right, Stella, they could be anywhere, but if your hunter has one of these tree stands and he’s packing it in, is he going to go that far? I don’t know how heavy they are, but it doesn’t seem too rational to think they’re that lightweight. He has to have something to climb the tree with, right? Like sticks or a ladder? He has to pack that in as well. His rifle. We’re talking a lot of gear here.”