Blood Rules: FBI Agent Jade Monroe Live or Die Series, #7

By C.M. Sutter

Minocqua, Wisconsin, is a nature lover's paradise and a tourist hot spot. But when the bodies of two unidentified men are found nailed to trees in the national forest, the town's residents are paralyzed in fear.

 

FBI Agent Jade Monroe and company are sent north to work the case, and shortly after they arrive, a local man tells them an incredible story of being beaten and held captive by an unknown couple. His life was saved by a mystery man who then disappeared into the night. While investigating the man's claim, the police chief and two of his officers are gunned down in cold blood.

 

Is a thrill-killing couple wandering the streets of Minocqua, or did they kill simply because they're exacting some personal justice against the town?

A chase through Wisconsin begins, but the mystery man is one step ahead of the FBI. He and the agents both have an agenda, but who will reach the killers first?

 

 

FBI Agent Jade Monroe Live or Die Series books are listed in chronological order below

#1 Blood in the Bayou
#2 Blood Trail
#3 Blood Reckoning
#4 Blood Legacy
#5 Blood Equity
#6 Blood Stream
#7 Blood Rules

 

Editorial Review

"When two bodies are found nailed to trees in a national forest in Wisconsin, FBI Agent Jade Monroe and her team are assigned to the case. Before they can view the sites with the local police chief, though, he and two officers are ambushed and gunned down. The agents discover some strange connections between the local murders and their case. This thriller has a terrific sense of place and a clever plot, making it one of Sutter's best yet." Angela M., Line Editor, Red Adept Editing

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: C.M. Sutter
• Release date: Jan 17, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215428900

Book preview

Chapter 1

Tuesday, December 27, 10 a.m.

We sat outside the courtroom in Roanoke and waited to testify as material witnesses in the Christine Mills trial. Renz had shot her, the local FBI agents had arrested her, and I was the one who’d been attacked and nearly killed by her. Four months had passed, and it was finally her day in court. She had killed five innocent people, yet I didn’t consider Drew—her estranged husband—completely innocent. He certainly hadn’t deserved to die just because he had wandering eyes, wandering hands, and a wandering nether region.

Chris was a broken woman who had gained a lot of weight and let herself go after the death of the baby she was so hoping to have. According to her statement to Renz and me, she was over the moon at being pregnant, yet Drew was far from happy. The anger, stress, and betrayal she’d felt caused her to strike out not only at him but at his mistresses as well.

Since the death penalty had been abolished in Virginia, life behind bars and without parole would be her final sentence, and I knew she had made peace with that. Regardless, we had to testify that day, so there we were, waiting on the hard wooden bench outside the courtroom doors.

I took my mind off her and placed it squarely on the New Year’s Eve party Amber, Kate, and I had begun planning months ago. I was excited to host it and couldn’t wait until it was underway. Only four days were left.

The family Christmas celebration had been held at my house two days ago and had been going great until Bruce, my stepdad, and Ann, my mother, showed up. Mom didn’t like our meal, and Bruce didn’t enjoy the brand of bourbon we had behind the bar. We ate, they complained about everything over drinks, then after exchanging gifts with them, we sent them on their way. We still had several hours to actually enjoy the evening with our friends, and a half dozen of them stopped by. We drank, watched football, and partied until eleven o’clock. Each of us had to work the next day, and later, with hugs and kisses, we ended Christmas night on a high note. I smiled at the memory and told myself that next Christmas, Amber, Kate, and I would go to Mom’s house for supper.

That way, they’ll have nothing to complain about—I hope.

The courtroom door opened, and the deputy looked out. Agent Jade Monroe?

That’s me. I stood, smoothed my blazer and pants, gave Renz a confident nod, then walked into the courtroom. It was my turn to testify against Christine Mills and hammer one more nail into her proverbial coffin.

Chapter 2

They were a match made in heaven. She was a vivacious twenty-seven-year-old blonde with an hourglass figure most women would die for—and they did.

He was as handsome as she was beautiful and wore his dark wavy hair tucked behind his ears. His mustache was well-groomed, and his muscular body made it more than obvious that he worked out.

Between the two of them, they had murdered four people that year alone, and it was only February.

Their system never failed. She lured men outside from within the nicotine-stained walls of a backwoods bar. In a trancelike state, the foolish man would accompany her to the van with her promise of a romp in the back. As soon as the doors parted and she climbed in, they followed her to their eventual death. That night, she would be their drug of choice, and they would be her prey. Marty, her husband and fellow killer, took care of the dirty work. Diana was just the lure.

Other times, it was Marty’s turn. He would string a lady along, compliment her looks whether she was old, young, heavy, or thin, buy her a drink or two, and slip a roofie into it when Diana caused a distraction. Their methods worked every time. Diana had the pleasure of killing the ladies, usually with a knife, then they tossed the woman out of the van along a deserted road. Marty was more hands-on. He enjoyed the fight, and if the male victims couldn’t keep up, they eventually died.

The bloodthirsty killers had met in college and taken to each other immediately. They didn’t have a backstory of childhood abuse, and their past included no hunger or poverty. They had witnessed no crimes as youngsters. Both had been raised by well-educated, loving parents who spoiled their children far more than they should have. Marty and Diana were the products of privilege and soon grew bored with the life of leisure. There were no consequences for wrongdoing, and no career path would ever give them the satisfaction they craved. They needed the adrenaline rush, the risk, and the reward of calling the shots and being in control of somebody else’s life.

They had crossed into Wisconsin from Upper Michigan with thoughts of continuing south. Diana suggested looking for an out-of-the-way bar to troll instead.

Sure, but we need to pick a hole-in-the-wall town off the beaten path. Find something that is either unincorporated or under five thousand residents. Or…

Or what? Diana reached across the console and ran her fingers through Marty’s hair.

Or we can take a break for a few more days before we dig in. We’ll find a cabin to rent, relax in front of a fire, maybe even spot some wildlife.

She licked her lips as she gave him a once-over. I’m already looking at all the wildlife I need.

He winked at her and grinned.

Diana pouted as she pleaded. But I’m getting antsy.

How about a couple of days, then we’ll move on? I need a little time to stretch my legs, get out of this van, and sleep in a comfortable bed.

I guess, but not for too long. Maybe we can find a cabin that is closed up for the winter, break in, and squat there for a few days.

Marty nodded. Sure. That’d be fun. We’ll have an adventure, but make sure it isn’t too far from a town. We’ll need to have food while we’re hunkered down.

Diana perked up. Or we can shoot animals and cook them.

Maybe, but our ammo should be saved for better use. You never know when we’ll need it. Marty pulled off to the shoulder of the highway. For now, let’s find a town that has a grocery store and a couple of bars, then we’ll search for an out-of-the-way cabin before it gets dark.

Diana rubbed her hands together. Okay, it looks like Highway 51 goes through a lot of small towns. The national forest takes up a huge amount of land, and there’s also an Indian reservation in the middle of it.

We’ll skirt around those spots. The area sounds remote, and I imagine it’s especially so in the winter. I bet there aren’t a lot of people who use their vacation cabins way up here during the Wisconsin cold season.

Diana smiled. I’m already getting excited. Who knows what the next few days may bring.

Chapter 3

Darkness would fall before long, and he needed to hang the second body. The weekend—the time to go home and rest—was a few days away. Just like anyone else, Robert John LaPlante took weekends off. Home was hours south, and that trip was scheduled to begin Friday evening. By then, the clear, dry roads would make the four-and-a-half-hour drive a little easier. That was, if the heavy snow that was forecasted over the next twenty-four hours didn’t arrive.

He knew the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest like the back of his hand and had grown up on the Lac du Flambeau reservation. Tension within the family had caused him to move out as a young adult and head south, where there was an abundance of jobs. Several years later, with the money he’d saved, Robert bought a vacation cabin just outside Minocqua. Snugged deep in the woods, it was several miles from the reservation and minutes off State Highway 70 and the national forest. He had missed the north woods and needed his retreat whenever possible.

Robert lowered the ramp of the trailer attached to his truck parked alongside the rarely driven gravel road. He backed out the all-terrain vehicle that he used whenever he needed to go a distance into the woods. There was no other way of getting around in the million-and-a-half-acre national forest, especially in deep snow. He used game trails as he traveled far into the woods. It was the smartest thing to do since the tracks of deer, bear, and wolves always covered the four-wheeler’s tire marks and his footprints. The pistol secured in the holster on his hip usually kept his nerves in check. Dangerous animals were plentiful, especially as night grew near.

He heaved the tarp-covered carcass onto the sled that he’d attached to the back of the four-wheeler, placed his bag of tools next to the body, and set out. Normally, Robert drove at least five miles into the forest. Most hunters, hikers, campers, and cross-country skiers didn’t venture much past marked trails, and that evening was no different. He was alone, especially as darkness closed in, and that was the way he liked it. No interruptions or surprise run-ins with strangers while he completed his work.

The forest had been Robert’s backyard while he was growing up, and he knew it well. It was the place where his love of nature but also his demons came out. The dense forest provided balance in his life, one he needed badly. No one who spent the summer in the area knew anything about him, and no one in his current life farther south had a clue about what he did when he was in northern Wisconsin. He was a recluse and intended to remain one.

With the headlights guiding his path, he traveled deep into the woods. Now and then, he caught the glow of a wild animal’s eyes when the headlights hit them just right, but he continued on, and the animal always scurried away.

Robert noticed a spot just off the game trail that would work. Twenty feet away stood a large tree with enough room around it to pull the sled in close. He pointed the ATV toward the tree to illuminate it, clicked the switch on his headlamp, then climbed off and untied the rope that secured the sled. The snow crunched under his boots as he dragged the sled to the tree. He had a fifteen-minute setup to do before he could complete his job. From his bag of tools, he pulled out a nylon strap and tossed it over a ten-foot-high limb then secured it to the manual hand winch. After that, he unrolled the body from the canvas tarp, dragged it to the tree, and secured the strap under the man’s armpits. Robert hoisted up the man until he was in an upright position and against the tree’s wide trunk.

Standing back, he assessed the scene as he rubbed his chin. Maybe a little higher so his feet aren’t touching the ground. Another few cranks and the man inched upward. Yeah, that’s better.

Robert got to work. He spread out the dead man’s arms and, using his power drill, secured the man’s shoulders, hands, and feet to the tree trunk. He stood back again and rubbed his chin as he checked his work.

Yep, that should do it.

Having hung the second man in two weeks on the west side of the enormous forest, Robert confirmed that his vision for that portion of the woods was complete. In time, other rule breakers would find themselves dead on the east side of the forest. He secured the sled to the ATV, turned it around, and followed his earlier tracks. He planned to return to the truck and trailer, head into town, grab a beer and a meal, then spend the next two nights at the cabin and study the park maps for a new location to target. On Friday, unless that predicted weather dropped even more snow than expected, he would find the perfect spot in a different area of the forest.

A loud pop and hiss all but brought the ATV to a complete halt. Robert couldn’t maneuver the machine in the deep snow any longer. He climbed off and knelt at the front right tire. After scooping out handfuls of snow, he saw that the tire was completely flat. He’d hit something, likely a stick, that had punctured it.

Robert balled his fist. Damn it!

He calculated the distance to the truck and how he might manage to pull out the ATV. As many miles back as he was, that would be impossible. He would have to remove the tire, place it on the sled, and walk it to the truck. Tomorrow, he would drive to Minocqua and have the tire plugged. He needed to order a spare so as not to be caught in that predicament again.

Meanwhile, all he had to guide him back was his headlamp. Nighttime had arrived, and the forest was cloaked in darkness. If that wasn’t bad enough, it had begun snowing. The trail he had depended on was vanishing beneath the snow at his feet, and the swirling wind had nearly erased every trace of it. As Robert did a three-sixty and looked for anything recognizable, he knew he was losing his way.

I have no idea where I am. Everything looks the same—thick trees, a white landscape, and my path has disappeared.

After realizing he was unsure of the direction he was going, Robert moved the tire aside, wrapped himself in the tarp, and lay on the sled. He would spend the night there and hope to find his way out in the morning.

Chapter 4

Marty had turned onto what looked to be a promising lane that could lead to closed-up vacation cabins. He’d gotten only several hundred feet before the van was good and stuck in the snow. They had nothing to help pull or dig themselves out of the rut Marty had caused by spinning the tires, and now they were in too deep.

Well, now what? Diana squinted as the snow pelted her face. It’s cold out here, Marty.

He shined the only tool they had—a flashlight—at the buried tire. I know, I know. We’ll have to walk.

Diana looked around. What? To where?

Hopefully to a cabin where we can build a fire, warm up, and worry about the van in the morning. I’m sure if we find a place to hunker down, we’ll also find a shovel or something to use to dig that tire out of the snow.

Okay, so should we take our stuff with us?

Not too much. Jam whatever you can into your backpack for tonight. That’s all that matters for now. We have no idea how long we’ll be walking. Zip up that coat, put on your gloves, and raise your hood. It’s got to be under twenty degrees out here.

Diana did as instructed, then they set out on foot. Trudging through the snow made them think they’d walked farther than they had.

How many miles have we gone so far? Diana asked ten minutes later.

Marty huffed. Seriously, babe? We’ve walked less than the length of a football field. The deep snow is fooling you. Walking through this shit is tough, so it seems like we’ve been walking forever, but we haven’t.

What happened to the fun we were having?

Don’t worry. By tomorrow, things will look a lot brighter.

Another ten minutes passed as Marty shined the flashlight ahead to guide their way. The beam of light reflected off something, and they stopped in their tracks.

What was that?

Marty pointed the light at the same spot, and it happened again. The beam bounced off what looked to be a glass windowpane.

He chuckled. I think we found a cabin, hon.

Thank God. Now let’s get inside before I freeze to death.

They approached the building cautiously. Marty waved the flashlight back and forth to make sure there weren’t signs of recent visitors before he tried getting in. There wasn’t a vehicle or tracks in the yard, and they didn’t see evidence of freshly shoveled snow leading to the door either.

I think we’re good to go inside, Diana.

So was that a road we were walking on or a long driveway? I don’t see any other cabins back here.

Marty shrugged. I think it was a long driveway. Probably no mailbox because it’s a summer vacation cabin.

Which is good for us, so shove that door open.

Hang on. Marty pointed the light at the door and saw a padlock attached to a hasp. There’s a padlock on it.

So? Kick it hard and break the hasp. It’s not rocket science.

After backing up several feet, Marty rushed the door and gave it a hard inward kick. The hasp broke off the frame and dangled with the lock still intact.

There. Diana pushed her way inside. That wasn’t so hard.

They wandered around the cabin, which looked fully stocked. Marty laughed as he opened and closed the kitchen cabinets.

Look, babe. There’s plenty of packaged food and a lot of booze in the cupboards.

Nice score. Maybe we should work right from here for a week or so. We can toss the bodies anywhere in the forest, and they’ll probably be eaten long before they’re ever found.

Not the worst idea. I’ll gather some wood and build a fire. After that, we’ll discuss our plans over a couple of drinks.

Hours later and after a half-dozen drinks each, the couple decided to hunker down at the cabin for a few days. Tomorrow, they would dig out the van and, in the daylight, check their immediate surroundings to see just how much privacy they had. If no other cabins were within view, they could settle in and enjoy the freebies.

Damn it all. If the van wasn’t stuck, we could have picked up someone tonight, Diana said. The fun could have lasted for hours.

I know, but how about tomorrow night? After we dig out the van, we’ll drive to the nearest town, check out the watering holes, and bring someone home with us after dark.

Diana laughed. This is home all right. At least until we run out of booze and suckers to bring back here.

Chapter 5

Wednesday was just another day. Yesterday, we had testified in Christine’s trial in Virginia and were back in Milwaukee by seven p.m.

Now,