Dark Secrets and Dead Reckoning, A Red Pine Falls Cozy Mystery (Red Pine Falls Cozy Mysteries Book 3)

by Angela C Blackmoore

  “Hello, Mayor Tomlin?” came Ben’s voice, shocking her out of her reverie. Abby jumped at the sound and cursed herself, causing Ben to look at her out of the corner of her eyes, thinking she was talking about him but thankfully he didn’t stop.

  “Yes, Sir, sorry to bother you, sir,” Ben continued. “I… Gabe is missing. He was out in the forests looking for Frank and was supposed to report in last night.” Ben paused for a moment, listening. “I know sir, yes sir; we did try to contact him. Sometimes the Radio’s get a little cranky in the deep forest, but nothing again this morning.”

  Ben stopped talking and started listening, so Abby looked down at the map he’d shown her, trying to make sense of what was within the red circle. She could see some roads but had little clue what some of the other things meant. It was nothing like the map programs she had on her phone.

  “Yes, sir. That’s exactly right, sir,” Ben said, looking sideways at Abby and speaking loudly enough so she could hear what he was saying. “The sheriff’s office usually approves a search and rescue, and they’re busy with whatever’s going on out on the highway. Do you have any ideas?”

  Abby quieted as Ben started nodding to whatever the Mayor was saying on the phone. He pointed at the phone and made a thumbs up noise before he started talking again. “Yes, sir. Send everyone out here, and I’ll call Conner and Julia back to help organize. We’ll do a road search too, so anyone with a four wheel drive is welcome. Thank you, Sir.”

  After he had hung up, Ben looked every bit as relieved as Abby felt. “The Mayor is going to take care of contacting people. Thank goodness for politicians, right? He’s going to reach out to the local churches and also Joe Forsyth. He has an in with the local Rotary club. All we have to do is wait”

  Abby nodded and tried to act like nothing was the matter, but the realty was, waiting felt like a terrible idea. Right now, Gabe was out there alone, and there was nothing she could do about it.

  Chapter 15

  The first cars and trucks began to arrive about twenty minutes after Julie and Conner got back. Despite being young and nervous, Ben began organizing everyone into groups and then sending them out to grid coordinates on his map, led by those experienced in the mountains and forest around Red Pine Falls.

  Hazel and Mr. Wilberson also came up, driving in his rusty old pick-up. They were too old to go stomping around in the forest but quickly began assisting with radios and helping Ben with organizing the different groups.

  “He will be okay,” Hazel said, giving Abby a big hug. Cheerio was sitting at Abby’s feet with his chin resting on one of her feet as well. Despite his cast, they’d brought him up with them when they came out after the farmers market. “He’s a strong man and knows his way around out there. He will be fine.”

  Abby tried to play along but deep down, she knew Hazel was just trying to console her, and despite herself, she broke down in the old woman’s arms.

  “I don’t want to lose another one,” Abby tried to say through her tears. “I don’t want to lose him.”

  “There, there, dear. You won’t lose Gabe,” Hazel said softly. “I promise you that the good Lord would not have made you go through all of that just to take it away now. You’ve done too much for all of us. We’ll help you get Gabe back.”

  Abby nodded and snuffled, hating the way her voice sounded as she cried on her grandmother’s shoulder. She didn’t hear the boots step up next to her until an old, scratchy voice spoke. “Abby?”

  Abby looked up, blinking for a moment until an image of Joe Forsyth resolved into view. She didn’t answer, but Joe took her looking at him as permission to speak.

  “Listen, I can’t imagine just sitting around here is good for you, stewing in your own juices,” Joe said, shifting slightly. “I’m about to head out in my truck. Would you like to go out with me?”

  Abby latched onto the idea and nodded. She started to wipe her face off on her sleeve, but Hazel pushed a tissue she’d been keeping for that reason into Abby’s hand. She gave her grandmother a look of thanks before dabbing at her tears, then stood. “I…yes, that sounds like a good idea. I just don’t want to sit around here thinking about what might have happened. I want to be doing something!”

  “Yep,” Joe said. “That’s what I thought. You’ve been too much in the thick of things to just sit here like a wallflower. Come on.”

  Abby gave Hazel one more hug before following the old man to his truck and climbing into his cab. Unlike Gabe’s truck, she had to push some boxes to the side so she could fit her feet into the wheel well.

  “Oh, sorry about that. Not used to having passengers,” Joe said apologetically, reaching over and helping to move some of the items out of the way.

  Abby was happy to see it wasn’t trash, but boxes and other things he used for his mushroom buying business. Despite the organized clutter, the cab was spotless. “What about your wife? Does she ride with you?”

  Joe chuckled as he started up the truck and then pulled out onto the road. “Heaven‘s no. We have an old Lincoln for when she wants to go out.” He shrugged. “She hates stepping up into the truck. Says it makes her stocking run.”

  Abby smiled at the thought. She had never met Mr. Forsyth’s wife, but she could picture a proper old blue-haired lady with a Sunday outfit on trying to climb into the truck and failing. “How long will it take us to get to the area?”

  “Probably about forty-five minutes,” Joe said as he concentrated on driving. It was still paved, but Abby suspected it would quickly turn into gravel roads where they were going. Still, she wasn’t worried. She’d met Joe a few months ago when she’d been researching mushroom hunting, and he was one of the buyers. He knew his way around the mountains. “There’s lots of ground to cover, but we’ve already managed to go over about a third of the roads out that way.”

  Abby nodded, not answering the man but suspecting he wouldn’t mind a bit of silence. Instead, Abby stared out at the trees and forest that they were passing. She watched the green’s and browns flash by broken only by the occasional stream that stretched back into the woods. It was beautiful, but right now, Abby couldn’t help but think of it as the enemy.

  About twenty minutes after leaving the ranger station, they turned off onto a gravel road which quickly devolved into the rat maze that seemed to crisscross the wooded mountains everywhere. She lost track of where they were shortly after that, but the older man didn’t seem to be bothered as he chose their path with confidence.

  Reaching for his two-way radio mic, Joe pushed some buttons and then clicked the tab on the side before speaking. “Chuck? You there? I’m coming up to the east of Blackwood Mountain. Where are you?”

  The radio crackled. “Just coming the other way. You’ll probably see me in a minute. I’m headed back to the ranger station go pick up another group.”

  “Okay,” Joe said. “I’ve got Abby Morgan with me. I’ll wait to talk to you in a few, and you can tell me where you’ve left off.”

  “Roger, see you in a few.” Came the reply.

  It wasn’t more than a minute later that another truck came into view, this one was newer and didn’t look like it spent a lot of time out on the back roads, but was now dusty and a bit mud splattered toward the rear. When it stopped, a younger man rolled his window down and leaned out, idling his truck next to Joe’s who had also stopped.

  “Any luck?” Joe asked.

  “Nothing yet,” Chuck replied. “We’ve got some people doing foot searches near his last known area, but I’m not holding much hope for that because his truck’s not in the area.”

  “What does that mean?” Abby asked, feeling her panic and worry rising once again.

  Joe turned to her and reached out, patting her arm. “Don’t worry, Abby. Honestly, we’ll either find him with his truck, or he will be close. We’ve got people doing sweeps just in case, but I don’t think we’ll be close until we find his vehicle or at least signs of it. That’s what we’ll be doing along with some other searcher
s. Looking for the truck.”

  Abby nodded, letting Joe turn back to Chuck. “How far did the other road searchers get?”

  “I think they’re out by Old French Road right now,” Check answered, eliciting a grunt and a nod from Joe.

  “That’s not bad,” Joe indicated. “Okay, Chuck. Thanks. We’ll head out that way and join them.”

  “Good luck, Joe,” Chuck answered, then leaned out a bit more to look at Abby. “We’ll find him, Mrs. Morgan.”

  Abby nodded, trying to smile bravely while Joe put the truck into drive. He didn’t say anything, but his hand came out and patted Abby once again on her arm, trying to give her comfort as they headed deeper into the forest.

  Chapter 16

  It was getting late in the day by the time they’d turned down the last road in their section of the grid. Abby was beside herself with worry. Every time the Radio crackled or someone spoke, she would jump in anticipation that this call signaled that Gabe had been found. However, every single time, it had just been some inane chatter or someone asking for a status from so and so group.

  As time drug on, Abby would pay less and less attention as she slipped into hopelessness.

  “How long can someone survive out in the forest?” Abby finally asked without turning to Joe.

  “Depends,” he said slowly, his own eyes staying glued to the twists and turns. “If you know what you are doing, you can survive quite a while. The Pacific Northwest isn’t the most unforgiving place in the world. Lots of water, and a decent enough number of things to eat for someone who’s not squeamish. The cold at night is the worst thing, but Gabe knows his woodcraft. Even if he didn’t have his truck, he could make something with the pine boughs pretty quick. If he’s stayed in his truck, it’s an even better chance. These rangers always carry around plenty of supplies.”

  “Even if he’s hurt?” Abby asked, finally turning toward the old man.

  Joe glanced her way for a second and frowned. “Don’t think like that, Abby. If you do, you’ve already lost, and you’re not a quitter. Maybe twenty years ago, I’d have been able to do better than Gabe, but not now. He’s the lead ranger for a reason.”

  Abby teared up slightly and was just about to ask another question when the two-way radio crackled to life. For a moment, Abby felt herself respond, but she pushed it down and looked out the window, determined not to get her hopes up once again.

  “Hey, Joe!” came a voice. She didn’t recognize who it was, but she’d heard it occasionally talking to other searchers, and sometimes even Joe. However, this time, the person on the other end seemed excited, catching Abby’s attention. “Is Abby still riding with you?”

  Joe reached over and picked up the mic. “Hey Don, yes she is. Tell me you have good news for us. You didn’t even say over. Over.”

  “Heck yes I do!” said Don. “We’ve found Gabe’s truck, and guess who was lounging inside as pleased as punch to see us.”

  Abby looked at Joe, her heart leaping into her throat as she clutched onto the armrest for all she was worth. Joe slowed the truck and then looked at Abby, speaking once more into his mic. “Uh. No jokes now. It is Gabe, right? All healthy and happy?”

  “Yes, sir, though he’s got a bit of a bump on his head,” Don said, almost drowned out by the sudden squeal of happiness Abby made as she began bouncing in her seat.

  Joe had to wait a few minutes until Abby quieted down before he spoke again. “Can you repeat that, Don? Sorry, I have a rather excited young lady here with me, and I didn’t catch the last bits.”

  Don laughed, and Abby could hear the kindness in his voice as he spoke. “I don’t blame her one bit. What I said was someone did a number on his truck. Busted out the radio, slashed the tires, and even pulled out some wires from under the hood. Head on back to the ranger station. We’ll meet you there.”

  “Roger that, Don,” Joe said as he turned the truck on the road and began heading back toward the station. “And thanks. The young lady was fighting to keep my spirits up. Out.”

  Abby’s tears came flowing down her face as she felt her emotions boil over. Gabe was safe and heading back to the ranger station. But someone had struck him and then reduced his truck to something that wouldn’t move. As they watched the fading light of the day disappear into the trees that surrounded them, Abby couldn’t wish for Joe to drive fast enough.

  Chapter 17

  Abby almost didn’t wait for the truck to stop before she jumped out and raced into the ranger station. The people that had come to search were slowly arriving back from their search areas, but all of them were talking animatedly and waving at Abby as she raced through the parking lot.

  She only had eyes for the double doors that led into the building itself.

  Pushing them open, she saw Gabe sitting next to Hazel and Becky as he scratched Cheerio’s ears. Looking up, their eyes locked, and it was the most beautiful sight that Abby had ever seen. Running across the lobby, she didn’t even realize she’d almost run over Ben as he walked by with a tray of coffee and tea.

  “Gabe,” she said, launching herself into his strong arms. He was dirty, and he hadn’t had a shower in days, but Abby surrendered herself to him with a long, deep kiss that lasted for several blissful moments.

  When they finally broke the kiss, Gabe kept his arms around her as they rocked back and forth together. “My goodness, Mrs. Morgan. I would swear you missed me,” He said, drawling the words as he smiled, displaying his dimples which Abby loved so much.

  “Maybe,” She answered, laying her head on his chest as he tucked her under his chin. “Maybe just a little.”

  Abby was oblivious to everyone else standing around and watching them. Most had smiles on their face, and a few had tears. Becky and Hazel were holding hands while they watched the two, but overall, it was a beautiful, silent moment that the rescuers all shared with the happy couple.

  Finally, Abby broke the tableau and pulled back a few inches, looking up into Gabe’s smiling face. Reaching up, she lightly touched the bandage wrapped around his head. “What happened?”

  “Not to sound too cliché, but Frank got the drop on me,” Gabe said, winching slightly despite Abby’s light touch. “I found his camp, but it was just getting dark when I approached. I think he must have been standing next to the tree that I walked by, and hit me with something. When I woke up, his car was gone, and he’d trashed my truck.” Gabe sighed, “I just don’t know why he would do something like that.”

  Abby sighed, trying to stifle the anger she suddenly felt for Frank. She’d not been impressed with the man’s loud, obnoxious ways when she’d first come to Red Pine Falls, and most of his actions had just ended up sinking him further and further in her mind. After what Susan had told her and then attacking her boyfriend, Abby was not happy at all. “I do,” Abby said quietly.

  Gabe quirked his eyebrow, making it partially disappear up under the bandage that ran over his forehead. “Oh really now? Is this more stuff that the Sheriff would be angry at?” Abby shrugged, but Gabe could tell Abby had been busy.

  “Abby!” he said, shaking his head but grinning at her.

  “What?” she asked, turning back to him and trying to keep the guilt out of her voice. “I didn’t mean to find out. It just happens. It is bad though.”

  Gabe shook his head but pulled her into his arms once more, whispering softly into her hair. “Abby, Abby, Abby, what am I going to do with you?”

  She sighed, and closed her eyes, reveling in his embrace. “You are going to keep holding me, Mr. Wilson, and just for the record, you are not going to ever get yourself lost in the forest again.”

  “That’s a plan I can get behind,” Gabe said.

  “Promise?” Abby asked into his chest.

  “Promise,” Gabe answered, nodding softly.

  “Gabe?” Ben called from across the room. “Gabe, you should probably come over here.”

  “Gabe looked over with concern on his face at Ben’s tone. “What’s wrong, Ben?”r />
  Ben looked back and forth between Gabe and the two-way radio he was talking on, then jumped up and ran over to Gabe and lowering his voice. “Uh, I don’t… They found Frank. In his car about a mile from where they found you.”

  Abby, Becky, and Gabe looked at Ben with mounting horror before Ben realized what he’d said. “Uh, no! No, he’s alive!” Ben stopped and looked around before lowering his voice. “He’s alive, but he crashed his car into a tree, and he’s been sitting out in the woods eating bark or something. He’s ranting about breaking the law and begging to be brought in. He is scaring the searchers that found him. They don’t want to touch him.”

  “Who found him?” Gabe asked, looking at Abby for a moment as he remembered what she’d said to him earlier. It hadn’t been a lot of information, but it was enough to tell Gabe that he should step in despite his own injuries.

  “Sterling and Carey,” Ben offered, trying to keep up with Gabe’s confident strides as he headed toward the two-way radio.

  “Yeah, I know them, good folks,” Gabe said as he picked up the mic. “Sterling, are you there? Can you tell me where you are and I’ll come pick up Frank.”

  The two-way crackled and a woman’s voice came in. “Sorry Gabe, it’s Carey. Sterling is trying to keep Frank from crawling into our jeep. We’re over by ridge two-dash- twenty-seven on the northern slope.” There was a pause, and Gabe was about to speak when Carey started to talk again. “Uh, can you hurry? By the wrappers scattered all over the ground, he’s been eating nothing but Twinkies and junk food. I think it's oozing out of his pores.”

  Gabe grimaced before clicking on the mic and speaking into it. “Roger that, I’ll be out there right away. I’m not so fresh myself, but we’ll take him off of your hands. Tell Frank I’m on my way and to sit tight.”

  “Thanks, Gabe,” Carey said. “And welcome back. I’m glad they found you.”