Chapter Two

They were brothers. Around thirty years old and so similar in speech and mannerisms that some people thought they were twins. Not identical twins … fraternal twins. One brother had blond hair, the other sandy brown. They kept their hair short. Cowboy hats adored their heads.

They were clean shaven and dressed in clean clothes. Nice jeans, nice work boots, and sheepskin coats. They looked decent and respectable. It was a small deception that had fooled many people, many times.

Both brothers possessed piercing blue eyes. Both were six foot-one, or so, and lean with wiry muscles. Both were dangerous. More than dangerous. Deadly would be more accurate. A string of bodies lay in their wake.

Home robberies were their crime of choice. Home robberies were easy and did not require a great deal of prep. One had only to find a home. Most homes offered items of immediate value for sale and profit. TVs, computers, credit cards, and cash. The brothers had no problem turning stolen goods into cold, hard cash.

A wide network of people existed who would pay for such items. Tangible items like TVs and electronics were snapped up and sold on the black market. The brothers considered themselves the middlemen. They procured items for greedy sellers and the brothers were paid well for their efforts.

Those involved in credit card theft welcomed the brothers' contributions. Here again, the brothers provided the needed items. The criminals generally used stolen credit cards for their own purchases and then quickly discarded the cards.

The brothers did not care how the stolen goods were used. Their only concern was obtaining the stolen goods and receiving payment. So far, there had never been a problem with payment.

The brothers kept any cash they found. They considered it disposable income. Here today, gone tomorrow. Stolen cash had another very important value. Credit cards generated receipts and a paper trail. Cash did not. The brothers used cash for food and gas, and thus left no trail.

The blond brother, Sean, lifted the gas nozzle and tucked it into the side of the truck. He brushed snowflakes off the sleeve of his sheepskin coat and pushed back the brim of his cowboy hat. He studied the sky a moment then said, "Brother, I believe a storm is on the way."

The sandy brown haired brother, Ethan, surveyed the snowflakes falling heavy around them. "I feel you are correct in your assessment. I do not think it wise to continue our journey tonight."

"The roads will be fraught with dangers," Sean said.

"We should find shelter." Ethan gazed from beneath his hat at the grocery store across the street. His brother's eyes found the grocery store, too.

"Perhaps, we should also find sustenance," Ethan said.

Sean nodded. "I think that an excellent idea. One never knows what one might find in a grocery store."

"That is indeed true." Something resembling a grin appeared on Ethan's face.

# # # #

Vanessa pushed the cart down the first aisle of the grocery store. Christmas music drifted from the PA system and lifted her spirits. She would make a sumptuous meal, something easy but delicious. She needed cubed steak, potatoes, onions, carrots, canned tomatoes, and green beans. The meal would last her and Joe two days. Well, maybe not. Not the way Joe ate. She grinned at the thought.

Household staples soon filled the cart. Coffee, sugar, salt and pepper, and many other necessities. Vanessa never noticed the two brothers, she was too intent on shopping, on stocking up on food. If a big storm hit, she and Joe could be trapped in the cabin for a few days.

The brothers kept her in sight. "Is she alone?" Sean asked as Vanessa turned a corner.

"Hard to say," Ethan replied. "I shall wait by the checkout while you follow our prey. With any luck, she may share some information with the checkout lady."

Sean gave a nod and continued down the aisle. He had no cart and no intention of buying anything.

Ethan found a display of Christmas cards near the checkout register and perused them. He picked out a card and read the inscription inside: 'Have a happy holiday.'

Rather lame, he thought and returned the card to the stand. He felt the checkout lady's eyes on him and turned in her direction.

"Can I help you, sir?" Her eyes were wide and she looked eager to please. Her name was Amy. It said so on her nametag. Her inquiry was met with a cold, hard stare.

Ethan never answered Amy. He merely stared at her and watched as her smile faded and the twinkle in her eyes changed to fear. She had read him correctly. She should be afraid, he thought and the thought brought a smile to his face.

Ethan's smile caused Amy's fear to waver and she tried to smile again, but couldn't. Some primitive instinct told her something was 'off' about this customer. Don't ask her what because she couldn't say. It was just something she felt.

Vanessa approached the checkout and Amy's attention was diverted. She didn't want to look at the creepy guy anymore. At first, she'd thought him kind of handsome. A tall stud of a cowboy. They didn't get many of those around here in the wilds of upstate New York.

Now though, she did not think of his looks. Now, all she thought of were his cold, dead eyes. Hopefully, he'd leave the store and not buy anything. Amy did not want to interact with him.

Amy looked up at Vanessa and gave her a warm smile. "Find everything you need?"

Vanessa laughed. Her cart was quite full. "I hope so." She hitched a thumb at the snow swirling beyond the windows. "I hear a storm is on the way. If it hits hard I won't be able to make it back into town again."

"Looks like you'll be pretty well stocked." Amy passed several cans of soup over the scanner. "I haven't seen you around. You here visiting relatives?"

Vanessa grinned. Pine Crest was a small town. Any unfamiliar face caused eyebrows to raise and questions to be asked.

"Actually," Vanessa said, "I used to come here when I was younger. My aunt owns a cabin on Bear Mountain. She rents it out now. I'll be staying there for a few days."

"Bear Mountain?" Amy's eyes widened. "Those roads ice up fast in weather like this. You have chains for your tires?"

"Um, no."

"Then you better get up that mountain quick before the snow gets any worse."

"I plan on it." Vanessa stole a glance at the window again. The snow was coming down harder. A thin blanket of white had started to form on sidewalks and the parking lot.

Amy put the last grocery bag in Vanessa's cart then turned and ripped the receipt from the cash register. She handed it to Vanessa. "Here you go. Have a wonderful stay in Pine Crest. If you need anything, we're open seven days a week from eight a.m. to nine p.m."

Vanessa took the receipt. "Thanks, that's good to know."

Vanessa pushed her loaded cart out of the store.

Amy looked at the Christmas card stand. The creepy cowboy was gone. Hopefully, he was just passing through town. But with the way it was snowing, he might be forced to stay. Amy shuddered at the thought.

# # # #

Vanessa got the groceries into the car and then ducked into the driver's seat and pulled out her cell phone. Time to call Joe.

Sean sat at the wheel of their truck. It was a fairly new truck. Nice and long with a camper top. All the brothers' possessions, and some items that were not their possessions, were stowed in the bed of the truck. The truck was their means of transportation and, on occasion, a place to sleep.

Neither brother relished the idea of sleeping in the truck, but when circumstances demanded, they had done it. In the summer, sleeping in the bed of the truck could be somewhat enjoyable. Pleasant even. Sitting on the tailgate watching the stars align in the night sky wasn't a bad way to spend an evening. However, a cold, snowy night, such as appeared to be on the horizon, was no time to sleep in the truck.

The brothers rarely used hotels. Most had cameras and of course, there was the paperwork. One had to register, give a name, provide an address. All things the brothers did not wish to provide. That dreaded paper trail. It led law enforcement straight to their quarry. The brothers avoided hotels at all costs. Sleeping in the homes of their victims was their preferred course of action.

Sean had one hand resting atop the steering wheel. The fingers of the other hand stroked his chin. He had shaved that morning in the home of their latest victim, yet he felt the stubble already starting. He would like to shave tonight and enjoy a long, hot shower.

"She is pleasing to look at," Sean said.

"Agreed," said Ethan.

"And you are sure she is alone? No husband? No boyfriend?" Sean turned his icy blue eyes toward his brother.

Ethan lifted his cowboy hat, ran a hand through his hair, and resettled the hat on his head. "She made no mention of such in the store. Her aunt owns a cabin on the mountain and she is staying there for a few days."

"Alone?" Sean pondered the idea.

Ethan peered at his brother's profile. "Might I ask, does it matter? We have never encountered a situation we could not handle."

"You speak the truth, brother. Surely, you do. I am merely curious as to why a lovely young lady would choose to spend a few days alone in a mountain cabin."

"It is an interesting question," Ethan said with a nod. "Perhaps, we can entice the young lady to clarify her reasons once we make her acquaintance."

"Yes, I think we can." Sean smiled at his brother. "I would like very much to hear her reasons, wouldn't you?"

"Indeed I would, brother. Indeed I would."