by J C Fuller
“We’ll talk about it later, Caleb.” Lane didn’t spare him a hard glare, “Deputy, I want you to run down to the fire station and then check the docks. Don’t dawdle and stop at Hattie’s. I want you to scrounge up as many volunteers as you can for a search party. Then all of you meet me at the park’s ranger station in forty minutes.” Expecting her orders to be followed without question, Lane picked up her desk phone and dialed the District Thirteen Coast Guard as her deputy hit the door running.
Quickly confirming with the coast guard there were no dead bodies found floating in the ocean recently, she requested their SAFE vessels take a cruise around the island to double check. She then snatched up her cell phone and punched in a code. This sent a text to each of the volunteers of the small island’s search & rescue, instructing them to meet at the park. She placed another call, but there was no answer. She tried again and deduced they were out of the office. Lastly, she punched in a well-known number, waiting for the line to pick up.
“Hi!”
“Hi. You busy?”
“Not at the moment and certainly, never too busy for you, Sheriff.”
Lane smiled briefly at the flirtatious tone. “Can you meet me at the park ranger’s office in forty minutes? I’ve got a missing person to find and I need all the able bodies I can get.”
“See you in forty,” Jerry Holmes, the town veterinarian and Amy’s father, answered with all seriousness and hung up the phone. Lane grabbed her patrol truck keys and headed for the door.
Chapter 4
“We need to fix the gate on Naches trail,” Kody said, sailing into the park ranger’s office. “Stupid thing won’t swing all the way open. I thought about ramming it with the truck...”
“Don’t you do anything to MY truck!” Philip looked up from his book, giving the young park ranger a warning scowl. “I haven’t even had the dang rig for a year yet!” He pulled his readers down to the tip of his nose leveling Kody with a stony stare, “Not another scratch, Kody. I mean it!”
Kody smiled shamelessly and put his hands up in the air. “I said, I thought about it. Didn’t actually do it. Trust me, I know better.”
“Damn straight, kid.” Philip gave a curt nod before returning to his book. “Everything else look okay?” He licked the tip of his index finger before idly turning the next page.
“Yeah, I guess.” Kody’s voice had lost its enthusiasm. “With Labor Day weekend being over, the park is far too quiet again.” The young ranger couldn’t help but sound a little disappointed. Being outgoing and active, he enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the crowds.
“Not quite, quiet enough for me. When you going back to college?” Philip peered over the top of the paperback, making sure to hide his smile behind it.
Kody frowned, plopping down behind his desk and tossing his feet up with a loud clunk, despite knowing Philip disapproved of such slouching.
“For the hundredth time, Phil. I’m not going back till spring quarter.” Kody reached over to the mini-fridge and yanked the little door open, pulling out an energy drink. “You’re stuck with me for a while longer. Besides, you need me around here.”
“Only when there’s something I don’t want to do.” Philip took his readers off and added, “By the way, I fixed the gate on Rainier path. You know, the one you DID hit with my truck last week? Just got back into the office.”
“Oh, that was hardly a dent. Should buff right out!” Kody said defensively, waving him off.
“Just like the rock chips in the windshield? Those gonna buff right out? You drive too fast, kid,” Philip reprimanded, half-joking and half-serious. “Slow it down out there. I don’t need you taking out anymore gates.”
Kody’s reply was mostly a gesture, which Philip chose to ignore.
As much as he gave the kid a hard time, Philip had to admit he liked having Kody around. Especially after last spring. It had been six months since he had stumbled across a dead body during his morning rounds. Reporting his find to the mainland, the authorities had sent out their new sheriff. Faced with an unknown murderer on the island, it hadn’t taken Sheriff Lane long to realize she was going to need someone’s help. Someone with an insight into the community. Someone who was home grown and trusted. Someone like Philip. He’d gratefully joined along, curious to discover the body’s identity and feeling obligated in finding the killer. The decision had been a good one, yet ended in devastating heartache. And like anyone who has lived through nightmarish moments, he had a tendency to not want to be alone with his thoughts.
The sound of tires crunching over gravel outside of the ranger’s office came to his ears and Philip lowered his book with a frown.
“We expecting visitors?” He peeked through the window blinds as a patrol truck rolled to a stop at the station door.
“Don’t think so. Anyone we know?” Kody leaned back in his chair, stretching his neck to see for himself.
“Afraid so,” Philip said, watching four additional trucks pull up behind the first. He recognized the sheriff’s rig in the lead, then Jerry Holmes quad cab pickup, followed by the fire station’s emergency vehicle. The rest of the rigs he noted belonged to fire department volunteers and various locals.
Philip hurriedly tossed his book and glasses down on the desk and barely beat Kody to the door. By the time he had gotten it open, three more vehicles had showed up. The last one pulling a horse trailer.
“We got a fire?” Philip practically yelled, addressing the semi-small group of twelve people, eyeing the driver of the red fire truck.
“No! No fire!” Calvin Morton, one of the town’s two full-time fire fighters, called over his shoulder pulling a paramedic case from the front cab.
“What’s going on then?” This time Philip addressed his question directly to Sheriff Lane. “Afternoon, Sheriff.”
The Rockfish Island sheriff and deputy were walking towards him and Kody, as the rest of the group seemed to be pulling out backpacks and other gear, quickly getting organized.
“Hello, Ranger Russell. Ranger Kody.” Lane smiled warmly, though Philip could tell she was there in her professional capacity. “We’ve got a missing person. A female by the name of Janielle Engels.”
“Janie?” Kody took a step closer out of concern.
Philip put a restraining hand on his shoulder, looking just as worried. “Kid, go get our climbing gear. Last I’d talked to her, she was heading up the easy trail on The Mole Hill.”
Kody nodded curtly, sending his blonde curls bouncing and hurriedly took off towards the office.
“You’ve talked to her recently?” Lane asked, nodding to Deputy Pickens to assist the young ranger.
“Not super recently. Talked to her last…” Philip scrunched up his face in recollection. “Last Wednesday. She was on her way up The Mole Hill to get a few shots of the mountain goats. She asked which was the best way to get there and I sent her up Indian Flat trail. It’s an easy enough climb.”
“Do you remember what she was wearing?” Lane had taken out her trustworthy leather notepad.
“Red baseball cap and a red windbreaker tied around her waist. A white tank top, black cargo shorts, brown hiking boots with red laces and a yellow backpack. She had a fancy camera with her too.” Philip noticed another car pull up, the occupants being Pastor Jonas Adams and the girl’s aunt, Sue Carter. He watched as the pastor hopped out of the driver’s side, before rushing over to open Sue’s door, taking her arm as she climbed out. She looked concerned and worried as she clung to his arm.
“The group says they’re ready, Sheriff.” Jerry had come up behind Lane and gave Philip a friendly smile, joining their conversation. “When was the last time she was seen?” Jerry asked, dropping his pack on the ground and stuffing a light jacket into it.
“She stopped here at our office Wednesday and asked for directions, so to speak.”
“And her work says she’s not been seen or heard from since before Labor Day weekend.” Lane motioned for the crowd to gather together as Kody and
Caleb came back with the climbing gear and a backpack for Philip.
Philip took the pack handed to him, checking the contents to make sure everything he needed was still inside. They always kept a couple bags ready for such emergencies.
“Listen up, folks!” Lane’s voice surprisingly boomed from her small petite frame as she stood with her legs slightly apart and her hands on her hips. Her tone was serious, professional, and chock full of authority. “We are looking for a Janielle Engles. It’s my understanding, some of you may know her as Janie, Sue Carter’s niece. She spent a majority of her summer vacations as a kid staying here on the island.” Lane held her hand up to quiet the crowd as rumblings of recognition sounded. “Janielle is approximately five foot six, with brown hair, and blue eyes. Twenty-three years of age. She’s wearing a red windbreaker, white tank top, and black cargo shorts. I’ve been told…” Lane nodded towards Sue, “she is an accomplished climber. She was last seen on Wednesday of last week here in the park, apparently making her way up The Mole Hill. She may’ve taken Indian Flat trail. I need for us to split up and cover as much ground as possible. We have no idea if she wandered off to other areas of the park but may have, as she’s a photographer. I want to make sure we’ve hit all the key areas as fast as we can.”
Philip leaned over to Kody and whispered for him to grab the two-way radios. Kody took off in a full sprint and Philip gave Lane a polite and apologetic nod for the interruption.
“I need two volunteers to check the water front on the east and south side of the island and another two on the west and north side. Jerry and Calvin, I want you to search the campgrounds and lower level hiking trails. Caleb and Kody, …” Kody managed to come to a screeching halt by her side in a cloud of dust and gravel, holding an armful of portable radios. “I want you two to take a rig and search the jeep trails. Shayla and Angie, if you’ll cover the horse trails? Ranger Russell and I will hike up Indian Flat trail and…” She stopped, her eyes searching the group. “Who’s a good climber?”
Scanning the small group of volunteers, Lane saw two hands poke up from the back.
“You two,” she addressed Gabe Garent and Lucas Wilson, both avid climbers and summertime fire department volunteers. “You make your way up…” She turned to Philip, “What’s the second trail’s name? The difficult one?”
“Snakehead.” Philip recognized the two young men and knew they were more than capable of making the climb.
The young men had begun to lower their arms when Deputy Pickens started to make his way over with a climbing backpack. Philip put a hand on his chest arresting his progress, knowing both Gabe and Lucas had better gear than the ranger’s office and most likely already in their truck.
“Now, we have no way of knowing what kind of condition Janielle will be in. She could be hurt, unconscious, dehydrated, hungry. Keep your eyes peeled and your ears open. Radio if you see or hear anything.” Lane paused and looked each person in the eye before continuing. “And keep an eye on your partner. I don’t want this turning into a search party for any of you. I want everyone to check in every hour on the dot.”
Philip cleared his throat, eyeing Lane for permission to speak. She nodded and took a step back, letting him have the crowd.
“Everyone! I want you to be aware of your surroundings at all times. Especially when searching outside of the campgrounds and away from people. Remember, this is a wildlife preserve. Keep an eye out for bears and cougars. If you have any questions on how to handle an animal confrontation, come see me before heading out.”
The crowd mumbled their understanding and restlessly started to mill around as Kody continued to distribute two-way radios.
“Sheriff, mind if we ask Pastor Jonas to say a quick prayer?” Calvin Morton asked, nodding towards the Baptist pastor.
Without waiting for an answer, all heads immediately bowed and Pastor Jonas stepped into the circle of volunteers. His voice was strong and carried well.
“Heavenly Father, we ask for guidance as we search for Janie. We pray she is found alive and well and for your protective hand to keep us safe in our search. In Jesus’ name, amen.” Pastor Jonas raised his head and Sheriff Lane nodded her thanks before addressing the group again.
“Okay, people! Let’s go!”
Chapter 5
“So, just out of curiosity, why did you send her up this trail?” Lane asked, pulling a handkerchief from her back pocket.
It was now mid-day and even though the late summer heat had dissipated somewhat with the early whispers of fall, Lane had a light sheen of sweat beading her brow. In front of her, she could see a patch of damp forming between Philip’s shoulder blades.
“Well, I didn’t suggest this trail at first. Originally, I told her she’d have better luck on either Shale Rock or Snakehead. The trails are harder, though quicker routes to the summit and both would have led her straight to the mountain goats,” Philip answered, pausing for breath. “I was pretty surprised when she asked for the easiest way up instead.”
“Why is that?” Lane had stopped, her weight resting on her back leg, her front leg stretched out in front of her.
Philip frowned in contemplation. “Well, I always thought her to be a good climber and assumed she’d want the shortest instead of the longest route.” Philip shrugged his shoulders and started to head up trail again.
“Sue mentioned her nieces come to the island every summer?” Lane tucked the handkerchief away and hoisted her backpack higher up on her shoulders.
“Yup. Parent’s died in a car accident when they were seven. The girls lived with an aunt back east and during the summer, they’d come stay with Sue and Henry. Kept up the tradition, even after Henry died and they graduated from high school.” Philip stopped and looked down at Lane, who was making her way carefully up the trail behind him.
She had changed into climbing shorts before they had set off and somewhere along the way, she had stripped down to a white tank top, tying her uniform shirt around her waist. Her sheriff’s badge, now pinned to the tank top’s shoulder strap, glittered in the sun.
At this high angle, Philip had a bird’s eye view of Lane’s cleavage and quickly adverted his eyes. Used to seeing Lane in her unflattering sheriff’s uniform, it always seemed to unnerve him to notice she was a shapely woman.
Lane, happening to glance up as Philip was glancing down, smiled at his reaction and politely hauled up on the front of her tank top. A small effort to be modest.
“Speaking of staying over the summer. Any luck finding a new place to live?” Philip shyly brought his eyes down and cautioned a glance at Lane, before heading up the trail again.
“None,” Lane’s voice sounded sour. “And I’ve been told most of the residents plan on opening up their private property to hunters. I have a sinking suspicion Harry would like me gone before hunting season starts rolling.”
Lane’s tiny apartment, located above Hattie’s General, was meant to be a short-term living arrangement from the beginning. It had practically no kitchen to speak of, very little furniture except for a twin sized bed and chair, a minuscule bathroom, and a broom closet for storage. Lane, having lived there for the last six months longed for a place of her own, where she could take her things out of storage and have more than a few square feet of living space.
However, the island being the size and population it was, she wasn’t having any luck in finding a new place. Her deputy had been able to rent the Jensen’s house after Lane made arrangements with the elderly couple, who permanently decided to stay in Arizona. There was also the Esten’s cabin, though Lane had no desire to live there.
And then there was her landlord, Harry. Hoping to have the small apartment freed up so he could rent it to the island’s fall visiting hunters and at a much more profitable fee. He had been eagerly suggesting new places as they became available and none, much more desirable than the small apartment she was already calling home.
“Well, I might be able to help you.” Philip sighed with relief. T
hey had finally broken through the tree line. “Let’s take a break,” he suggested, making for a large cedar.
“Really? How?” Lane asked, warily. It was Philip who suggested she take the small apartment in the first place.
“My Uncle Chuck. He’s decided to move over to the mainland to be closer to my cousin Julie. He’s got a cottage down by the shore, not far from the main point. Nice place. It’s not terribly large, but it’s a heck of lot roomier than your dinky upstairs apartment.”
“How much?” Lane asked, waiting for the expensive answer. She took a tentative look behind them, down trail. She was surprised to see how far they had gotten in the short hour, having made better time than she had thought.
“Not as much as he could be asking.” Philip smiled.
Lane looked from the trail, back up at Philip.
“How MUCH?” she asked again, highly suspicious it was a bigger number than she had already estimated.
“Only five hundred a month,” Philip announced cheerfully, grabbing his water bottle.
“It must be a dump,” Lane surmised, disappointment heavy in her voice. Nothing on the island, for the exception of her matchbox apartment, was anything under a thousand dollars a month.
“Not at all!” Philip looked offended, “It’s actually quite…lovely.” He frowned at the last word. “It’s a nice place. My uncle is loaded and doesn’t really need the extra money. He just wants someone to take care of the cottage and the few belongings he’s left behind. I told him you would. That is, if you’re interested?”
“You bet I am! That is, as long as it’s not a dump,” she teased, wiping the back of her hand against her forehead and smiling up at Philip. “Thanks for thinking of me.”
Philip shrugged. “You’re a good answer to my uncle’s problem and you need a place. I’ll take you over to see the cottage tomorrow, if you’ve got time.” He picked up his backpack and nodded his head towards the trail, signaling for them to start moving.