Looking grim, Austin pulled out his cell phone. “I’ll call in for helicopter support at Gladie Learning Center, and we’ll call in the next level of rescue volunteers.”
“I’ll go down ahead of you and see how Mom is doing with a refreshment center.” Miranda started to go but turned back and kissed Austin full on the mouth. “See you down there. You stay safe.”
Chapter 37
Tuesday Afternoon, Gladie Learning Center
Miranda scurried down the trail, determined to help with the rescue efforts. I probably need to officially volunteer so that I can be better prepared for emergencies like this. As a cultural-tourist business, I need to have solid connections within the community. But first I need to get my distillery up and running, then I’ll reach out.
It was easy to spot her mother. The canopy emblazoned with the Paint & Shine logo stood front and center in the parking lot. Next to it was another canopy with a Fire & Rescue symbol on each side. The small parking lot was packed with emergency vehicles from neighboring counties along with farmers’ pickup trucks and fancy knobby-tired off-road buggies. There was a flavor of routine about the place that Miranda took as a sign that mountain rescues were ordinary rather than rare.
“Hi, Mom.” Miranda gave her mother a big hug. “Thanks for getting this organized. I am truly impressed with what you’ve done in so little time.”
Dorothy was standing behind a table serving coffee from an enormous stainless-steel coffee urn. A smaller urn was filled with hot chocolate. She was also offering doughnuts and cookies to the volunteers from the large serving trays that had come from Miranda’s kitchen.
Dorothy flashed a shy smile. “I had a lot of help. The church is always ready for these emergencies, so I picked up the big coffee maker to keep the volunteers warm. The Dunkin’ Donuts shop sent out their normal supply, but your canopy is fantastic. Ron helped me get it here and set it up. Do you want yours with just cream?”
“Yes, please. I’m desperate for some caffeine.”
Ron popped up from under the table bringing out another stack of paper cups to set on the table. “Have you found any sign?”
“Yes,” said Miranda. “We think we’ve located where he went over the cliff. He had hammered in a new piton to belay down. I can’t figure out why. It’s illegal to climb within the park.”
“That would be part of the attraction for Ben,” said Kevin Burkart. He was dressed in camouflage hunting gear with a bright orange vest and carrying a rifle case slung over his shoulder. “He’s always been willing to break the rules then apologize later.”
“Are you here to volunteer in the search?” Miranda was surprised to see Kevin here when she knew that their rental of the cabin had ended. “I thought you would be back down in Florida by now.”
“I normally have quite a few business appointments to keep with my financial customers, so I stay at Hemlock Lodge. As soon as I heard that the missing hiker was Ben, I came right out to see if I could help.”
Miranda waved to Austin as he and Andrew entered the tent and she could hear Austin asking for everyone’s attention.
Dorothy pointed over to the Fire & Rescue tent next door. “They’re organizing the search now. Sign up and they’ll put you on a team.” Kevin went into the tent.
“I’m hoping Ben’s using some basic rules of keeping put and trying to make some sort of noise so we can find him.” Miranda had to yell the last few words as the Fire & Rescue helicopter started up its rotor.
“He could also wave a white T-shirt at the helicopter,” said Ron.
“Only if he’s conscious. Any kind of fall in that part of the park could be serious and possibly fatal.” Miranda looked at her watch. “This time of year, the sun goes down pretty early.”
The helicopter took off and sped down the clearing to begin the first of the search patterns that the pilots had been trained to execute. Everyone stood and watched until the sound subsided.
The next car to pull into the crowded parking lot was the Wolfe County sheriff’s patrol vehicle. The sheriff was the first to make a new parking row in the grass. It appeared to be a routine move. Sheriff Richard Larson and Coroner Felicia Larson got out and headed toward the tents.
“Any good news?” Sheriff Larson asked one of the volunteers.
“Not yet. The helicopter just left for its first pass.”
Felicia nodded. “What about the ground search? Who’s leading that?”
“We have two separate teams that will be searching the ravine. Each team is coming from opposite sides to cover the ground as quickly as possible. If we get lucky, the helicopter will spot him and direct the rescue teams right to the spot.”
Sheriff Larson fiddled with the zipper on his jacket. “The most successful rescues are usually when the victim is found within the first few hours after getting into trouble. How long has it been?”
The volunteer replied, “We think he fell about two hours ago. We’re still within the time frame for a quick and successful rescue.”
The two teams started up the trail. Ron joined the first team led by Andrew. Miranda and Kevin joined the second team led by Austin. It seemed to Miranda as if the trail were increasing in steepness each time she tackled it. Other trails seemed to get easier, but not this one.
They were about fifteen minutes up the trail when Austin received a transmission from the helicopter that they hadn’t seen a single sign of Ben. They were going to refuel and make one more pass before darkness fell.
“That’s not good,” Austin said to his team. “Our best chance was finding him at the bottom of the ravine where we found the piton.”
“Where will they search next?” Miranda asked.
“They’ll start on the downhill side of the ravine. It’s the natural path for lost hikers.”
“But Ben isn’t exactly a beginner,” said Miranda. “Why wouldn’t he respond to the sound of the helicopter? He knows what to do. I don’t understand unless he’s out cold.”
Austin quickened the already rapid pace. “Let’s get down to where he might be coming out. I have a bad feeling about this.”
Miranda focused on speeding her pace to trot next to Austin. “I’m getting a bad feeling, too. He knows the best way to get rescued. He’s an expert climber. He must be unconscious or dead.”
Austin glanced. “But what is going on that experienced sportsmen are ending up in trouble?”
“What if he doesn’t want to be found? It’s possible that Ben has faked the fall and he’s in hiding? That would answer everything.”
Austin nodded. “We need to hurry.”
Chapter 38
Tuesday Evening, the Farmhouse
They had driven home from the Gladie Learning Center after darkness had fallen. The search had to be abandoned until first light.
Miranda had asked Austin to stop by the farmhouse for a cold supper. Ron also came in from the barn to join them around the dining table. They shared a simple meal of cold sliced ham with biscuits and apple butter.
Their disappointment was deeply felt. So was their frustration at not being able to locate Ben safe and sound with nothing but a few scratches and hunger to remind him to never climb alone.
“What’s the plan for tomorrow?” Miranda passed the plate of biscuits to Austin. “How early can we resume the search?”
Austin took two biscuits and passed the plate down to Dorothy. “We’re set to continue the search at daybreak, but we will meet at the Gladie Learning Center at seven to flesh out our first round of searches.”
“You don’t sound confident that he’ll be found,” said Ron as he took three more biscuits.
Austin scanned around the table and finally his gaze rested on Miranda. “Miranda and I have concluded that Ben is either seriously wounded—perhaps dead—or he doesn’t want to be found. In other words, he’s clever enough to have faked the fall and he’s in hiding.”
Dorothy served herself a thick slice of ham and put the last one on Ron’s plate. She fr
owned. “He has always been a bit of a maverick, but why hide? Who is he hiding from?”
Miranda was spooning out more apple butter and pointed the spoon at Austin. “I wonder if he thinks he’s in danger?”
“From who?” asked Ron. “Why would he need to hide?”
“Because he killed Howard?” Miranda raised her eyebrows. “That would be a reason to stage his death.”
“He would need to hide from us if we found proof that he killed Howard,” said Austin.
Miranda glanced at her mother. Dorothy seemed calm but hadn’t touched the food on her plate. Miranda thought this discussion of her nephew as if they were arguing over an episode of NCIS must be upsetting. Finally, Miranda took a deep breath and spoke her mind. “He would need to disappear if he knew who killed Howard. Especially if the killer discovered that Ben knew.”
Austin eyed the empty ham platter with regret, then helped himself to the last two biscuits. “I think that’s a likely situation, but who would he be hiding from?”
Dorothy forked her slice of ham and put it on Austin’s plate. She also gave him a look that said, Don’t mess with me. “Why doesn’t he just go to the sheriff and tell him so that the killer is caught and everyone is safe?”
Ron huffed. “I wouldn’t tell the sheriff anything.”
Miranda piped up, “The sheriff wouldn’t pay attention to you anyway. But it’s true that he’s been hot and cold with the investigation since we discovered the bones. Not at all his normal behavior.”
Austin grinned his thanks to Dorothy. “Of course you wouldn’t, Ron. You two have history. But Ben is a criminal defense lawyer.”
“But that doesn’t mean that he’s as innocent as a lamb either. I mean, who really completely trusts a lawyer?”
Miranda rubbed the back of her neck to loosen the knot that seemed determined to become permanent. “There must be some reason for this elaborate ruse. There are three possible outcomes.” She ticked them off on her fingers. “One, he’s injured or dead. Two, he’s plotted this as his escape because he murdered Howard. Three, he knows Howard’s killer and this will ramp up focus on the investigation so the killer can be caught.”
Dorothy handed over her biscuit to Ron, then stood up. “This is too confusing. I feel like we’re all just running around in circles, and it’s given me a terrible headache. I’m sorry, I’m going up to bed.” She left the table and headed up the stairs. “Good night. Lord a mercy, I pray that things are clearer in the morning.”
“Where’s Sandy?” Miranda scanned the room. “Sandy! Where are you?”
She heard a distant yipping that sounded as if it was coming from the back of the farmhouse. When the three of them made it out the back, Sandy’s yip had turned into a growl. He was standing in the pool of illumination shed by the motion-sensitive light attached to the back porch. His front paws were as close to the edge of the circle as possible. He looked up at Miranda and growled like a big dog.
“Sandy, what’s the matter?” Miranda picked him up, and she turned to Ron and Austin. “He’s never done this before. Barked and yipped? Certainly, but not growling. Can you see anything?”
“I’ll go get the big flashlight,” said Austin.
Since she lived so far from town, Miranda kept a flashlight in every room. Power outages were as common as fog down this little dirt road. She didn’t have a high priority in the repair list with the electrical company. That might change once the distillery business caught on and she became a high-volume customer.
Austin returned with the high-beam spotlight. Before he could turn it on, Sandy lifted his head back and howled as if he were being murdered. That was followed by the distinctive sound of a chain saw starting up.
Ron yelled, “Hey! That’s my favorite saw. I’d know the sound of that baby anywhere. Someone took it from my tools.” He bolted out towards the sound. “Stop! Thief!”
Austin switched on the high-intensity lamp and illuminated Ron’s back as he sped up the hill toward Miranda’s neighbors, Roy and Elsie Kash. In seconds, the sound of the chain saw was replaced by the piercing crack of splitting timber. That was followed by a loud ground-thundering thump and a shriek of whipping wires that ripped away Miranda’s circuit breaker panel that was mounted on the back outside wall of the house.
All power went out in the house and the barn. An intense fountain of sparks spouted from the transformer that was on the ground crushed under the utility pole. Next, they heard the engine of an all-terrain vehicle take off down the hill away from the farmhouse toward a small ravine.
Austin took off after Ron, closely followed by Miranda, carrying a yelping and howling Sandy. Austin and Miranda easily overtook Ron. She yelled, “Go back and check on my mom. She’s alone and is probably terrified. Stay with her.”
Ron looked angry but terribly relieved.
Using the flashlight, Austin was able to spot the point in the dense brush where the vandal disappeared.
When they reached the escape opening, they ran along a cleared path, but the sound of the escaping vehicle became faint and then died away altogether. They just couldn’t outrun it, and Austin’s ATV was too far away, still in his outbuilding.
They were panting like ruined racehorses, and Miranda was the first to speak. “We . . . need to . . . call . . . the sheriff.” She plopped down in the pathway still holding Sandy, but also rubbing her side. “That kind of vandalism was a deliberate warning. Who would do that?”
They trotted back to the house to find Ron sitting on the low stoop at the back door. Dorothy was sitting beside him trying to get him to drink some water. He refused because he was still puffing and gasping like a steam engine. “Why?” was all he could say. He wasn’t in as good a shape as Austin and Miranda, who hiked in the hills nearly every day.
Austin’s breath was almost normal. “I think this was a deliberate act to interfere with Miranda’s investigation.”
Ron finally recovered his breath. “It coulda been the barn on fire with me sleeping off a drunk. I’d be a goner for sure.” He shot an alarmed look at Dorothy. “Of course, I’m not drinking like that anymore.”
Dorothy patted his shoulder and forced the glass of water into his hand.
Miranda sat down next to her mother, still holding the wiggling Sandy tight. He wanted to chase the four-wheeler. “I agree. Somehow, we’re getting close.” She looked back toward the dark in which the house and barn should have been lit up like a cozy cottage painting. “This is certainly quite a distraction.” She sighed in frustration and realized she was close to tears. A pit of fear was in her chest, along with an oppressing feeling of defeat. “Someone could have been killed.”
“No one was near those wires,” said Austin.
Miranda shot back, “But we don’t know if this vandal looked around to see that. That transformer could have sparked onto the roof. It could have set the farmhouse on fire.”
Austin lowered his voice to a softer whisper. “But none of that happened.”
A silence fell among them all. The relief of their escape felt welcome.
Miranda cleared her throat. “You’re right.” She lifted her head and pressed her lips into a thin line. “I was hours away from starting my first batch of moonshine. This will put me behind. Again.”
Austin put his arm around her and pulled her into a side hug. “Let’s concentrate on what we still have. Not that it might have been so much worse.” He waved the beam of the flashlight back toward the farmhouse. “It truly looks like interference was the intention, not injury.”
“Thanks, Austin. That makes me feel so much better.”
Miranda leaned her head onto Austin’s shoulder, then Sandy licked them both in the face.
Chapter 39
Tuesday Evening, the Farmhouse
Miranda’s property looked like an emergency-vehicle auction yard with bucket trucks, repair vans, and ambulances parked in every little corner of her yard. The fire department was here making sure the transformer fire was out. It ha
d burned a black ring in the sparse grass, but the firemen had drenched the area to kill any residual embers.
The electrical department arrived to assess the damage so they could determine what kind of replacement parts were needed. They had brought a new utility pole with them and laid it next to the hacked-off stub of the original.
Sheriff Larson had arrived and walked over to Austin’s place to fetch his ATV. They were going to patrol the dirt path to look for any evidence of the vandal, but mostly to make sure he wasn’t hanging around to cause more trouble.
Miranda left a message with the distillery equipment supplier to cancel tomorrow’s final inspection. They wanted to reschedule right away since the last payment on the equipment was due when that was finished. She didn’t know what time to tell them she would be ready, so she promised to call back when the electricity was back on. That was the best she could do.
Her mom had come downstairs right after the transformer exploded. After the excitement of the chase, she had set to work immediately. She lit the coal-oil lanterns and brewed up a large pot of percolated coffee on the gas stove. She had arranged a tray of paper cups filled with coffee. Sugar, cream, paper napkins, and a heaping plate of cookies were also on the tray. She wandered around in the yard serving up everyone, completely comfortable in her flowered nightgown with its matching floor-length robe and pink slippers.
“Mom, you need to go back to bed. Everyone has had more than one cup of your coffee, and the electrician has scarfed down at least a dozen of your cookies.”
“Don’t be silly. I wouldn’t think of it until everyone is gone. You know I couldn’t sleep a wink with all these folks traipsing everywhere. Besides, we don’t have power yet.”
Miranda shook her head from side to side. “It’s going to be a long time before we get power.” She gave her mom a big hug. “Thanks for setting out the emergency lamps in the downstairs. You can take the one in the kitchen up with you.”
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