Danna frowned at that. “She was mated to one of the Breeds in the group. He was killed as well.”
“No one survived?” Cabal questioned her again.
Danna smiled sadly. “If anyone survived that night, I would have known about it. My father searched those mountains for months looking for some sign of where they’d been taken. Finally, Illandra’s body was returned to the lab she was created in. We did get word of that. Most of the males were returned as well. From what we later learned, those that never showed up again, there was nothing left of them to return. The group that captured them had sold them to an independent scientist who used most of the body parts for various experiments.”
“Were there any rumors as to who that scientist was?” Cabal asked her.
Danna laughed at that. The sound was hollow and bitter. “Not until recently. There are rumors it was Brandenmore.” She shook her head at that. “He and Engalls kept an elaborate cabin in the mountains, but we had no idea it was being used for anything like that until he was arrested last year by your people. I heard there was a research facility beneath the cabin?”
There had been. Cassa had seen the pictures of the underground lab, and it had horrified her. Not that there had been any proof that Breeds had been tortured there; they had been smarter than that. But the extent of the equipment found there, and its uses, horrified the imagination.
“Danna, have you heard any rumors of vengeance strikes by a Breed against the group of men who attacked the pride that night?” Cabal asked the sheriff then.
Cassa watched the sheriff’s gaze flicker between the photo and Cabal before she frowned back at him. “You think Banks was part of that group? And that he was a killer?” she asked curiously.
She was sharp, Cassa gave her credit for that.
“I know there were rumors that he was a part of the Dozen, but I didn’t take them seriously.” There was an edge of a laugh in her voice. “You didn’t know David Banks then. He was a bully, yes, but he puked at the sight of blood. I don’t think it’s possible.”
Cassa disagreed with her. David Banks would have no more fainted at the sight of blood than Cabal would have. The man had been hard-core evil, despite the compassionate facade he often used.
“We’ve definitely tied him into the Dozen,” Cabal assured her.
Danna’s frown deepened. “You’ve found his body?”
“Not yet, but we will.” Cabal shifted his shoulders as he blew out a hard breath. He pulled the photo back toward him as he lifted the envelope.
“What else do you have there?” Danna leaned forward as the edge of several other photos peeked free at the top of the envelope.
Cabal looked up as though in surprise. Cassa knew better. Breeds were rarely surprised by anything or anyone, especially Cabal.
It was interesting to watch these two together. Beneath her calm facade, Danna was obviously irritated that information was being held back. It was also clear that she was well aware that something was going on in her county. It would be impossible to miss with Banks’s disappearance and the sudden influx of Breeds running around.
Cabal pulled several more photos free of the envelope as Cassa watched Danna’s face. The other woman paled at the sight of the first bloody picture. The features were indistinguishable, but there was no doubt that the victim had been horribly mauled.
It was a photo Cassa had seen herself. It had been in the file that had included the crime scene photos of Dr. Ryan Damron. Where he had been murdered Cassa didn’t know, but she had a feeling it was in the same mountains where H. R. Alonzo had died as well.
“My God,” Danna whispered as she raised shocked eyes to meet Cabal’s. “Who is it?”
“Dr. Ryan Damron,” Cabal said quietly. “Did you know him?”
He pulled free another of the pictures, in which the sheriff could see the body and the ground around the doctor. There was an eyeball by his left shoulder. His tongue had been sliced off and laid on his mauled chest.
“Ryan Damron.” Danna inhaled deeply. “I knew of him. He visited with Brandenmore and Engalls during the summers fairly often. Especially during hunting season.”
Cabal slid the pictures back into the envelope.
“You think he’s tied to David Banks,” she guessed. “Were they both killed by the same person?”
Cabal shook his head at the question as though he were uncertain. “The only tie we have is the fact that the good doctor was missing for several months before we found his body. The kill was fresh. The Bureau received information where the body could be found, and nothing more.”
“And Banks’s body hasn’t shown up either.” Placing her hand on her hip, the sheriff turned away before pacing to the other side of the room.
“I knew Banks,” she sighed. “I didn’t like him much, but I knew him. Damron I was only acquainted with.” She turned back to them, her dark green eyes flickering back to the envelope that held the pictures. “They were both tied to Brandenmore and Engalls though, I do know that.”
“Damron, Banks, Brandenmore and Engalls were all hunting buddies,” Cabal stated. “Do you remember anyone else that hunted with them, or visited with them here often?”
Danna lifted her hand and tapped at her lips with her index finger as she frowned thoughtfully for long moments.
“There were several others,” she finally said. “A police officer, Aaron Washington. A quiet guy, kind of plain. An attorney out of D.C., Elam March, he came in maybe once a year and made a nuisance of himself. There was a sheriff from out west somewhere I think, Jason Douglas. And that damned H. R. Alonzo. He was a pest even then.” She shook her head. “There were others, but I’d have to ask Myron about them. He was more social than I was, even then. He’d know more about Brandenmore’s buddies than I.”
Myron. Cassa felt her stomach sink at Danna’s words. After his reaction yesterday morning to her questions, she was beginning to get a bad feeling that he was more involved in this than she wanted to believe.
“Thanks for your time, Danna.” Cabal rose to his feet as Cassa followed more slowly. “If you think of anything else, let me know.”
“Cabal, what the hell is going on here?” Concern lined the sheriff’s face now. “What was Banks involved in? A Breed wouldn’t wait this long to kill over a murder that took place over twenty years ago.”
“I’m not sure, Danna.” Cabal’s gaze was somber as he watched the sheriff, and Cassa thought perhaps she detected a shadow of regret in his voice. Did he suspect, as she did, that Myron could be involved in the killings?
She didn’t want to believe it, but she’d learned to be suspicious, and she’d learned that even those closest to you could betray you in the worst ways. She and Myron were friends, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t be seeking revenge for a mate that had been murdered and possibly tortured to death.
Danna’s jaw clenched as she gave an abrupt nod, obviously sensing that Cabal wasn’t going to tell her anything more.
“Let me know if I can help you any further then,” she told him. “I’ll keep looking for information on Banks as well. His disappearance is still an open case. There were a lot of people around here that liked him though, so be careful how you ask your questions.”
“Thanks for the advice, Sheriff.” Cabal nodded once again before turning and heading for the door.
“Thanks for the coffee, Sheriff,” Cassa said quietly.
“You’re welcome, Ms. Hawkins.” The sheriff’s voice was stiff now, concern lining her expression as Cassa turned away from her and followed Cabal out of the house.
As she stepped into the chilly air and felt his warmth next to her, she had to restrain a shiver of sudden need.
She wanted to keep her mind on this investigation; she wanted to find the killer whose acts might destroy the Breeds and learn why he’d committed such destruction on the bodies of his enemies. What was driving him, and who was he? A Breed or someone intent on destroying the Breeds?