Declan
I had visited a small number of reserves throughout my life but none had been like this. The fencing and security was unlike anything I had seen for a small community of people. I watched Malachi with curiosity as he pressed the intercom and spoke into the mic before the gate opened allowing us through.
The area around us was surrounded by lush forest and with the window rolled down you could hear the river from a short distance. I thought Malachi's area was pure but I had never seen anything like this before either.
"If their goal is to preserve nature isn't the fencing stopping nature from entering," I pointed out as we drove down the gravel road to the universe knew where.
"The fencing is to keep humans out but there are gaps that animals allow in. They have security surveillance to make sure of that. We used to have a problem of logging in the area and some of the oldest trees in our community can be found here. Therefore it was a big problem. The Zephaniah family have been keeping this part of the forest and others throughout America and Canada sacred. It's their life mission.
"So how do the animals get in?"
"Heat signatures." That explained the amount of gear on the fence.
It baffled my mind the amount of money this small community of people probably threw into their land preservation. That weakened my profiling a little.
There wouldn't be a definite cause to why any one of them would be a member to kill the townspeople unless they were deeply troubled. Yet by the way none of the murders looked or felt like the same person it ruled out the thought that it could also be a serial killer.
I made mental notes of all my thoughts for when I got back to the house. Malachi happily hummed a song to himself as he drove through the channel of roads clearly knowing his way around.
My mind came to a falter when I saw the giant mansion that spanned out in front of us. Made completely from logs and cobble stone with more windows than I could count. A large fountain in front and a clean cemented driveway. From the distance I could see a small cluster of houses with cars and activity that showed that actual people lived here.
"Is this Zion's house?" I gaped as we drove closer.
"It's the family's house. The main descendants live together. The rest is for the community," he explained.
"And no one is allowed in?"
"Yes."
"They have their own rules and beliefs?"
"Yes."
"Sounds like a cult or commune. Is the state aware of this?" I frowned already wondering if I should report this.
"It's nothing like that," he laughed, "it's a glorified HOA and it's privately owned too. If you follow the same nature preservation principles as them you're welcome by invite only to live amongst them."
I still made a mental note to check it out before I deemed it worthy of reporting or not.
Malachi parked by an open area and I was relieved to see Jason leaning against his private truck smoking a cigarette. He was dressed the same as when he left the office, matching me therefore I didn't feel too overdressed.
When I climbed out of the truck, my shoes nearly caused me to slip but I was lucky to hold myself up.
"I told you those shoes won't do you any justice here, Shiny," he snickered as he pushed himself off the truck to stand up straight. My new nickname throughout the station was 'Shiny' and I almost considered getting myself a pair of hiking boots just to keep them quiet.
"Don't start," I sighed, "is the glorified Zion here?"
He shook his head, "apparently he had to leave town for an emergency. They're not sure when he will be back."
"Just my luck," I looked up to the mansion and sighed. As soon as detectives came around the chief disappeared. What a coincidence. "Let's get this over with."
Throughout the meet Malachi was engaged with multiple members that he barely stayed with Jason and I as we engaged with the members. None of the immediate Zephaniah siblings were present but I had met extended cousins, aunts and uncles as well as nieces and nephews. There were so many members that my head felt dizzy knowing no way would I ever be able to remember all the names, if it was my own family.
Each tracker was keen to tell us what they had seen, strange evidence they had found throughout the forest and some even had pictures. By the time dinner was over, I had more evidence than I could beg for but at the same time nothing actually led me to what I was searching for.
The community was welcoming and warm. Yet there were far too many members for me to even try to deduce each one's personality. Once again I felt perplexed. Not an ounce of confidence on where all this evidence pointed too.
"It was fun, wasn't it?" Malachi laughed from the passenger seat as I drove us back to the house. He had had one too many glasses of wine and I didn't trust him to be behind the wheel.
"It was," I simply answered with a sigh as he rambled on about who said what or whose child had grown so much.
My mind was swirling with thoughts and just like before I didn't notice something running across the road until it was already in front of me. A loud thud came from the front of the truck as I harshly pressed down on the brakes.
"Shit," I hissed as I quickly climbed out of the truck, Malachi behind me as he struggled with his seatbelt. When I got to the front I feared I had hit a bear at first by the large body and black as night fur however when it let out a howl in pain I realized it was a wolf! Probably the biggest I had ever seen.