“I know. Tran basically kicked me out of the office and told me to go have some fun. He was right. We can’t do anything about the situation but trust God. I know Jed wouldn’t want us moping and fussing the way we have been. Besides, I enjoyed the movie, too. Didn’t think I would, but it was funny.”
Mary slipped her arm around her husband’s waist. “I’ve got an idea. Let’s take off—go somewhere for a week or so. Just take our minds off of things we can’t change anyway, and get ourselves back together.”
“Great idea. You know what? I’d like to go to the lodge for a few days. Going up there is getting away from your problems.” He walked with his head bowed, trying very hard not to let his feelings get away from him.
“How about if we go the other way? The Hendricksons just got back from a cruise. Madge was telling me what a great time they had.”
“I don’t know. You have to book tickets well in advance for those, don’t you?”
“Madge told me they just decided to go. The ships usually have unsold cabins pretty cheap.” She looked up at him with excitement in her eyes. “What do you think?”
“Okay. See what you can find. I’ll call Tran and tell him I’ll be out of touch for the next week or two.”
CHAPTER 58
Detective Summers awoke with a start.
Her mind had been so full, and she had been so excited by her findings she had not stopped for anything on her drive home until the alarm on her fuel gauge beeped, alerting her it was nearly empty. It was nearing midday, and she had not slept in over thirty hours and not much all week. Pulling off of the interstate, she fueled her car and, with the lack of sleep catching up to her, drove across the street to a small mom-and-pop motel. Out here in the country, there weren’t many options, and it looked clean. It was early for check-in, but when she explained her situation, the proprietor was only too happy to give her a room without any additional charge. Going to her room, she turned on the A/C and then called the chief to report her location before lying down across the bed, fully clothed. Her last thought as she faded off to sleep was how foolish she had been to keep driving so long.
A familiar but strange noise was in her ears. Upon awakening more fully, she recognized it as an aircraft engine running up to full RPMs, then fading as the plane rushed down a runway to take off. She groaned as she lifted her head and looked at the clock radio on the bedside table. It was six o’clock already! She had arrived just before two the previous afternoon. She had slept, unstirring, for fifteen hours.
Pushing herself up from the bed took effort as every muscle in her body protested. She had hardly even rolled over. Struggling to her feet, Sarah opened her bag and gathered clothing for the day before stumbling to the shower. As the water cascaded over her head and she tried to stretch some of the kinks out of her muscles with the shower massage head and hot water, the sound that had awakened her returned to her mind and rekindled thoughts from the previous days. Something tugged at her mind, but she couldn’t quite put a finger on it, something to do with an airplane. . . .
CHAPTER 59
Charles Sitton awoke to the stillness of an empty home. As he did every morning, the first thing he did was look at Collette’s picture on his dresser. The ache in his heart did not go away, but as he looked at the picture he thought of Sue and how much the two women would have liked each other. He felt almost as if Collette was telling him to let go. For the first time, he felt a real peace in his mind about his situation with Sue and bringing her and Jimmy into his life. She could never replace Collette, but she was doing a lot to ease the heartache. Sue and Jimmy were also helping to ease the pain of Elizabeth’s disappearance. Sue would not allow him to give up hope of finding Elizabeth and bringing her back, and Jimmy’s excitement at learning outdoors activities was contagious.
He picked up the phone with lightness in his heart he had not felt since Collette died. “Hi, Sue. Got a minute?” It was early, but he knew Sue would be up, getting ready for work.
“Always for you,” Sue said with a smile.
For the first time since her ex-husband had run off after beating her nearly to death and then kidnapping their son, she felt like trusting another man. Of course, she had a great friendship with Doctor Lambert, but the friendship was professional, not something to bring out her femininity. For the last four months, Charles had done just that. The spark they felt in the hospital had grown into a glowing ember that warmed her as she had not known she needed.
“I’ve got a great idea. Jimmy has Friday off from school for a teachers’ work day, whatever that is. If you think Doctor Lambert could do without you for a day or two, what do you say we take off somewhere for the weekend? I’ll get you and Jimmy a suite and myself a room, and we can get away from things for a while.”
“Sounds like fun. Where did you have in mind?”
“I’d like to take you to the lodge, but . . . I don’t know. Someplace far away from here and everything going on.”
“Let me check and see if I can get off. It sounds like fun! Surprise me. I have to run or I’ll be late. I’d hate to get the weekend off because I got fired.”
Both chuckled as they hung up. She knew Doctor Lambert would give her the time off, romantic that he was.
CHAPTER 60
Jed awoke with a start. He had gone to sleep sitting against the bear and had slept more soundly than he wished. He couldn’t believe how tired he was. Something awakened him, but he wasn’t sure what. The fire was burned down to just coals, so he stirred it up a bit to get a light flame and then added more wood. He put on smaller sticks to get it blazing sooner and piled some larger, dry branches on top. As the fire flared up he saw eyes glowing at him from the edge of the darkness near Lizzie. Rising to his feet he picked up his rifle, although he was loath to shoot it and frighten Lizzie. Besides, one never shoots at something if he doesn’t know for sure what he’s shooting.
Another set of eyes, and then a third set showed up.
Judging by the height from the ground, Jed deduced they were coyotes. He knew coyotes normally don’t travel in packs, and they normally don’t bother humans. But the bear carcass had attracted their attention, and there was a large group surrounding the fire now. They were hungry and were trying to find a way to get to the carcass, but his presence kept them away.
Jed called out softly, “Lizzie. Lizzie, I need you.” She stirred but did not awaken. He called to her again. “Hey, Lizzie. I need you to wake up.” This time she stirred and then stretched and opened her eyes. “Sorry, but I need a little help. Can you get up?”
“Sure, what’s wrong?”
By this time, the fire had blazed up, giving more light. The coyotes shrank back from the light further as they tried to find a way to reach the carcass.
“Don’t be afraid, but we have some coyotes trying to get to the bear. I need some help to keep them away. Don’t worry. They shouldn’t attack you.”
“What can I do?”
“Pick up a stick out of the fire, and be ready to swing it at one of them if he comes close enough. Usually it’s enough.”
About that time, one of the braver, or at least hungrier, coyotes dashed toward the bear but drew back when Jed stepped toward him. The others edged closer, as if to make a concerted rush. Jed yelled and ran toward one group, which promptly drew back, but others crept forward in their place. Lizzie swung her branch at one venturing a little too close and connected with a solid thump. The coyote yelped and leaped back, hair singed, but he didn’t go far. The scent of the bear was just too tempting.
“I hate to do it, but I may have to shoot some of them.”
Three coyotes edged around the circle and made a dash together when Jed had his attention on the other side. He quickly turned and snapped off a shot, dropping one of the three, but the other two jumped on the carcass and started tearing at the hide. Lizzie swung her stick at the two of them, but they didn’t flinch. Jed couldn’t risk another shot because Lizzie was in the way, so he stepped tow
ard the bear with his rifle reversed and swung the butt. He connected with one’s head with a loud crack, and the coyote fell off. But the other, instead of running away, leaped at Lizzie, teeth bared.
Suddenly, there was a deep battle cry bark, and a black shape leapt from the shadows and collided with the coyote. The battle was short and sharp. Jed turned and fired at two coyotes trying to come from behind him, and Lizzie swung at three others. The coyote that had leapt at Lizzie turned tail and ran from the circle, yelping, with the black creature chasing it. When it saw the coyote was leaving, the black creature turned back toward some of the others and drove them away also.
“Tommy!” Jed cried out.
He finally remembered the name of the dog John Johnson had lost. Tommy had been named jokingly after John’s dad. “Tommy, come here, boy.”
Tentatively, he walked toward the fire, as if deciding he wanted to be with people again. Jed reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of jerky, which he extended toward the dog. This time, he didn’t throw it but held it so the dog would have to come to him if it wanted the treat. Lizzie knelt down in the dirt and spoke softly and gently to him. Gradually, the dog stretched his neck out and snatched the jerky from Jed’s hand. He darted back to safety before gulping it down.
Lizzie continued speaking softly to the dog, holding her hand out to him. He crept slowly back toward her and tentatively reached his nose to her hand, sniffing.
“There you go,” she whispered. “Come on. We won’t hurt you. You look like you could use some loving. Oh, look, Jed. His collar is too tight. No wonder he’s so skinny. He’s probably had a hard time finding food small enough to swallow.”
Jed reached into his pocket and pulled out another piece of jerky. He handed it to Lizzie to feed Tommy. This time Tommy took it from her hand and only retreated a little way to eat. Lizzie got another piece from Jed, held it in her lap, and called the nearly starving dog back to her. It came close enough for Lizzie to stroke the side of its head once as she softly crooned to him. Though Tommy jumped back without the jerky, he didn’t go as far, and, with Lizzie’s constant soft crooning, he crept forward again. This time he allowed Lizzie to place her hand on the side of his head as she fed him the piece of jerky. “Good dog,” she crowed and stroked his head gently yet firmly. “You’re a very good and brave dog. We’ll fatten you up if you’ll let us.” Tommy seemed to like the attention and stood trembling but didn’t pull away.
Jed slowly stood to his feet and started to step toward Lizzie, but Tommy stepped between them and growled low in his throat in warning. Jed laughed and said, “Looks like you have a dog.”
Pulling the last piece of jerky from his pocket, Jed extended it toward the dog but kept it close enough that Tommy would have to come to him to get it. He also extended his other hand to let Tommy sniff his hand. At first all Tommy did was growl, but he didn’t snap. Finally, Tommy allowed Jed to pet his head while Jed fed him the jerky.
CHAPTER 61
When Detective Summers stepped from the shower, she had reached no better conclusion regarding what bothered her about the airplane she had heard. As she dressed in casual clothes for the day, she was grateful to have a travel day and not to have to report in to the office. She could dress as she wished, not in uniform for a change. She was proud to wear the uniform, but sometimes it was nice to be able to dress feminine. She took a last critical look in the mirror, still with the airplane puzzle on her mind, before walking out the door. Just because she wasn’t in uniform didn’t mean her mind wasn’t working.
“Good morning!” said the proprietor from behind the counter when Detective Summers walked into the front office. “May I say you look much better than you did when you arrived yesterday? I take it you slept well?”
“I don’t think that’s much of a compliment if I looked as bad as I felt. I hardly rolled over once in fifteen hours. Had a little catching up to do, I guess. Tell me something. I thought I heard an airplane take off this morning. I didn’t know there was an airport around here.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry! No, we don’t rightly have an airport. What you heard was Dan Hixon. He does a little crop dusting from his pasture, which is right behind the motel. I keep complaining he wakes my customers up in the morning with that old plane of his. Doesn’t do much good, though, as you can tell.”
“Not a problem. I might want to pick his brain about a case I’m working on. How would I find him?”
The proprietor pulled out a local map and showed her how to get to the entrance to Hixon’s farm. She turned in her key and walked into the attached restaurant that, judging by the number of pickups outside, must be the local meeting spot for coffee and breakfast. She knew that was always a good sign.
“Good morning. What can I get for you, hon?” asked a middle-aged waitress as she slid a glass of water and a menu in front of Detective Summers.
“Let’s start with a cup of coffee, and let me save you a trip. Just bring me a sausage and cheese omelet.”
“Homemade biscuits or toast?”
“Real homemade biscuits or from a mix?”
“Real ‘hand squoze,’ as my momma would call them.”
“I haven’t had real biscuits in a long time. We’ll go with those.”
“Okay. That’s easy enough. Be right up with it.”
Detective Summers, being a police officer, had chosen a corner booth where she had a good view of all that happened in the restaurant and of the entrances and exits. She saw a man walk in the door who had marks around his eyes as if he had been wearing goggles. Somehow, she had the feeling this was Dan Hixon, and his aircraft was an open cockpit type. When he started for a booth near hers, she stood and asked, “Excuse me, would you by any chance be Dan Hixon?”
“I guess it depends on who’s asking,” he replied with a grin. “Do I know you?”
“No, I heard your plane take off this morning, and when I saw you walk in with goggle marks around your eyes, I just made an educated guess. I’m Detective Summers, and I’ve been up in Minnesota on a case. I could use some help. I’ll buy your breakfast if you’ll let me pick your brain for a few minutes.”
“Hey, now. Wait a minute. I haven’t done anything wrong!”
“No, from all I know of you, you are a good man. I just need some help on a case I’m working on. When I heard your plane this morning, it got me thinking.”
“Good enough. I’ll do what I can for you.” Dan walked over to Detective Summers’s booth and sat down.
The waitress came over with a cup of coffee and a glass of water for him and said, “It’s on the way, Dan. I saw you walk in the door.”
Detective Summers said, “Put it on my ticket, please.” The waitress looked at Dan with surprise on her face but said nothing.
“I guess it’s what I get for being single and can’t cook. I’m too predictable. I don’t even have to look at a menu anymore. They just bring it to me. Anyway, enough about me. What can I do for you?”
“First off, tell me about yourself. About your flying history.”
“Easy enough. I started out in the Army flying rotary wing—that’s helicopters—for the 7th Cav in Vietnam. That’s the 7th Cavalry (Airmobile) if you aren’t familiar with them. From helicopters I transitioned into fixed wing and did a lot of ‘bird-dogging,’ or observation work, in the O-2, which is the same as the Cessna Skymaster, a push-pull twin-engine plane used for observation. Since I left the Army, I did some bush flying, and lately I’ve been trying with mixed success to make a living crop dusting. I have an old Ag-Cat that I keep together with baling wire and chewing gum.”
“Don’t let him kid you, hon. Dan, here, has a good plane that is as well-maintained as any around! He knows what he’s doing in the air, too,” said the waitress as she set their breakfasts in front of them. “I hope you don’t mind, but I held yours until his was ready.”
“That’s fine, thanks.” Detective Summers turned back to Dan as she cut into her omelet. “Are you familiar with th
e De Havilland Beaver, then?”
“Oh, yes! One sweet airplane! Takes a lot more green than I ever saw to buy one of those, though. Army had some, and I was checked out in them. Flew some of the brass around ‘in country’ a few times if they were going too far for a chopper. Loved flying the bird but hated putting up with the brass.”
“Have you done any amphibian time?”
“Sure. I did quite a bit right after I got out of the service. Did some bush work up in Alaska and Canada for a while. Took me a bit to save the cash to buy the old Cat I fly now. Fun work, but you have to know what you are doing, like crop dusting. No time for flaking out up there.”
“Um-hmm. When I heard your old radial fire up this morning, I had the feeling you’d be able to help me. If you were, hypothetically, to steal a Beaver set up with floats, and needed to fly beyond your range, how would you arrange to have someone meet you in an out-of-the-way spot with avgas in a truck? Would it be hard to buy avgas and put it in fifty-five-gallon drums without causing suspicion? Or would the people at the tank farm consider it strange?”
“Okay. Back up a little bit first. What is it hauling, marijuana or something?”
“No, that’s what the one we found when I went to Minnesota was carrying. It was a similar Beaver, and it was full, so the truck they were loading the marijuana onto had some fifty-five-gallon drums of avgas on board. They were pumping the gas into the plane. The plane I’m concerned with would have had two kids along. High school seniors, a guy and a girl, so little weight.”
“Strange. Steal an airplane and take a couple of kids along for the joyride.”
“We think they were kidnapped, although there is an outside chance the boy was in on it. It was his father’s plane.”
“That puts a whole different light on it. It isn’t all that difficult to move a stolen plane if you have the right connections, but kidnapping kids is different. I don’t see why he would want to bring anyone else from outside in on it. It is too easy for someone to talk too much. Let me think on this for a minute.” Dan pulled a pen from his pocket and started doing some figuring on his napkin. “Did this plane have the original radial engine, or was it one of those modified with a turboprop?”
Stranded at Romson's Lodge Page 14