Untraceable

SNEAK PEEK: Uncontrollable - Prologue

Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened.

~

Hello…

The words flash on my computer screen in time to the seconds ticking away on Mom’s old clock. Blink. Blink. Blink.

I stare at the word as if I’ve never seen it. Stupid spammers. When will they realize it never works. We are not fooled. No, I don’t need a date, nor do I want to send you any money for your imaginary hardships.

Ignoring the message, I close the window and finish reading the news article on the Red Wolf Recovery Program.

Another endangered red wolf found dead on conservation land.

Agent Sweeney of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was quoted as saying; “At this time, we think it is natural causes or possibly some kind of accident. I assure you, if I find out this is intentional, I will hunt down whoever is responsible for these acts against nature and against wolves.”

I sit back and sigh, still staring at the article on the screen. All in all, four wolves dead. Two found by me and two discovered by the other team. All in different locations.

It appears to be natural causes, yet Agent Sweeney is starting to think otherwise. Even though there’s no proof, maybe he’s right. After all, being a USFWS agent has blessed him with good instincts. Which means someone might be doing this on purpose. But who and why?

Al’s sneering face flickers in my mind like an old movie. Violent scenes sporadically play out in my head. Al attacking me. His knife glimmering in the dim light. That awful moment he shattered my family forever. My chest tightens and I quickly shake my head to shatter the haunting images before they consume me all over again.

I try to refocus and type in the rest of my observation notes from my field research. I’m so excited; my fingers skip over the keys when I type, leaving behind a trail of typos. Agent Sweeny is going to crap when he sees my latest project entry.

Because this time, the wolf – or rufus canus – I spotted was alive! And he was beautiful.

I scan through my scribble scrabble to ensure I’ve logged in all the necessary stats on what I observed:

Healthy male, about seventy pounds, approximately twenty-six inches at the shoulder and four feet long, from nose to tail. Presumed to be the alpha male.

I note his unique markings:

Four white paws and white circles around both of his eyes (kinda like a mask).

In the “Extra Findings” section, I jot down the name I awarded him: Bandit.

Not many people would find that part very interesting and it’s hardly scientific, but it’s a way for me to remember the wolf in case I ever see him again. Should I be so lucky?

Just then, another message pops up on my screen.

I know who you are…

I shake my head. Stupid online pervs. It’s the one thing I hate most about using computers. The lurkers and cyber bullies. At least when there are creeps trolling around my woods, their tracks easily give them away. So I see them and they don’t even know I’m there. Online, freaks can hide anywhere. Behind pixels. In social networks. And never be found.

Almost completely untraceable.

I quickly type back, jerk, and punch the ENTER key with my index finger – just to make a point – before closing out of the window again.