Caching Out

by Cheatham, Tammy

  Tate and Emma stood with Martin at the front of his patrol car. “See you pulled the short straw today, Martin.”

  Leaning back against the car Martin replied, “Yeah, that’s about the way of it. I thought it best to stop by even if I was on call. Couldn’t leave the car in case something comes over the radio, since I didn’t want to turn my portable on too close to the proceedings. Barb paid our respects with Jewel.”

  “Martin, you see that young guy with the short dark hair, wearing a grey suit that walked out into the parking area just a minute ago? He got into a red rental car. I didn’t recognize him, but I don’t think King liked him.”

  “No, Tate I didn’t see him. What makes you think King didn’t like him?”

  “When the guy stepped up to Jewel, King left his post at the head of Walt’s casket and moved to stand next to Jewel. I saw her say something to King and pet him. Just seemed strange to me, since King hasn’t moved from Walt’s casket since he got here.”

  Martin shrugged, “Yeah, that is a little strange. Could just be that he didn’t know the guy, most everyone here is local.” Walking around to the driver’s side of the patrol car he continued, “I’m going to run my patrol real quick and I’ll meet you all back at the courthouse in about an hour. Chad is coming in to meet us too. I want to wrap this up and catch this bastard before he hunts again. That give you enough time?”

  Tate nodded.

  Emma said, “Tate, you’d better go talk to your mother a minute, otherwise we’re going to be at her house eating cake in an hour instead of tracking down a killer. I tried to beg off, but you know how stubborn she can be.”

  Forty five minutes later, Tate and Emma pulled into the courthouse parking lot. Martin’s car was already parked in the designated spot for the Sheriff. Unlocking his office door Tate waited for Emma, Martin and Chad to go inside before stepping in and closing the door.

  “You and Miss Emma ready to do a little geocaching?” Martin asked.

  Tate turned his computer on and reached into a desk drawer, pulling out a small hand-held GPS and laid it on the desk in front of him. “This is Walt’s GPS. I borrowed it from the evidence room. Figured if we’re going to cache, then we should look like we’ve done it before and a serious cacher probably wouldn’t use a cell phone.”

  Until now Chad had stood quietly behind Martin, but seeing the GPS he stepped forward and picked it up, turning it over in his large hand. “I’ve never been geocaching, can you tell me how it works before we go? I don’t want to look stupid or waste time.”

  Walking over to where Chad stood, Emma smiled, “Sure, Chad, we’ll give you a crash course and you’ll be fine.” Glancing at Tate, she turned to look at Martin. “Martin, I know you want this guy bad, but I don’t think that you should go with us.”

  Martin frowned, “Why not? You know that me and Tate’s been working this case together since the Parker murder and I can’t see any reason that I shouldn’t be out there too.”

  Emma explained, “We know that the UnSub has been in the county, or in and out of the county, for the last few weeks and knows the area well, right?”

  Martin nodded, “That’s true, but what’s that got to do…”

  “Chances are,” she said, “that he’s seen you, and possibly Tate as well. We went back to Parker’s house and came up empty when we searched for a camera. We know that the camera was broken at the site where Walt was found, but we don’t know if he had a working camera at the Babcock scene and you were there for a long time, right?”

  Deflated, Martin sank back into his chair. “You’re right. I was there from the time the boy was found until Daniel took the body to the morgue. If there was a camera there, then he probably did see me. Damn. So now what do we do? I thought we were going out in teams.”

  “We will go in teams,” Tate leaned back in his chair. “I don’t want anyone out there alone.”

  Stepping to Tate’s side, Emma said, “I agree, but what we need is a partner for Chad, or I can go with Chad and we’ll find you a partner.”

  “You go with me, Em,” Tate barked without hesitation. “How about I call Reva and see if she can help us out? She’s a seasoned cacher and she’s seen this mystery coin before. I think she’d be willing to help us out if it means that we catch Saralyn’s killer.”

  Tate dialed Reva’s number and she answered on the second ring. Explaining the situation to her as briefly as possible, Tate then said, “Thanks, Reva. Chad Green will be by to pick you up in about fifteen minutes and he’ll explain more about our plan to you then.”

  Agreeing that each team would take three of the six caches on their ‘most likely’ list, Tate loaded three into Walt’s GPS and highlighted the other three on Emma’s cell phone. Tate and Martin watched as Emma explained to Chad how to use the GPS and some of the general rules of geocaching.

  Looking like he’d just lost his best friend, Martin asked, “So what can I do to help without actually going out to look for caches?”

  Emma placed a reassuring hand on his arm. “We need to you be our acting command central. After each find, we’ll call in and report back to you. You’ll know where each team is, and if we find the coin.” She turned to Chad, “If you and Reva find the coin, you are to leave it, understood? We can’t have a private citizen calling our killer out. If you find it, leave the coin there and call me and Tate with the coordinates so that we can go and retrieve it.

  “Last thing before we go,” Tate added, “remember that you’re just a hiker out for fun today. Act excited when you find the cache, laugh or something, maybe even hold hands. You know, make it look real. If the bastard is watching we don’t want to tip him off in any way.”

  Pushing the GPS into his jacket pocket, Chad nodded. “You can count on me, Chief. We’re going to find this killer and pull the plug before anyone else gets hurt.”

  CHAPTER 35

  Twenty minutes later, Chad drove into Miller’s Haven following the directions Tate had given him, and found Reva’s house without any problems. She was sitting on the steps when he pulled into the driveway and stood when she saw his blue truck turning in. Once Chad stopped, Reva opened the passenger side door and jumped in. Glancing over at her, Chad thought she looked tense. “You sure you’re up for this?”

  Reva hesitated a minute before saying, “I am definitely up to this, Chad. If I can help you guys catch Saralyn’s killer, then I am with you all the way.”

  Grinning, Chad looked over his shoulder as he backed out of the drive. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled the GPS out tossing it on the seat between them. “Tate already loaded the coordinates into the GPS and I know the general area for the three caches we’re responsible for.”

  Smiling for the first time, Reva said, “Let’s do this!”

  Once Tate entered White’s Lodge Resort, Emma fed him directions until they had to park and finish the hunt on foot. Walking along the pine covered trail, Tate reached out and took Emma’s hand giving it a gentle squeeze.

  “Today’s the day, Em. We’re going to nail this bastard and put an end to this nightmare.”

  Smiling up at him, Emma gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. “Feels like old times doesn’t it? You and me out to rid the world of one more sick killer.”

  Tate grinned and picked up the pace as the beeping of the GPS became more insistent. “Must be about there. Did this one have a clue?”

  Emma shook her head. “Not really a clue, but the directions did say that you don’t have to cross the fence, so I’m thinking that if there’s a fence it must be on or near it. GPS says we need to go about fifteen feet further.”

  A few seconds later the hand held device stopped beeping and a robotic voice said ‘you have reached your destination. Letting go of Emma’s hand, Tate moved toward a barbed wire fence marking the boundary of the lodge property. “Okay, Em, move a little up and down the fence line to see if the directional arrow changes.”

  Taking a few steps along the fence line, Emma turned ar
ound and stopped. “Don’t think I need to go any further.” She pushed some leaves away from a metal fence post and reached behind it, pulling a green ammunition container from a shallow resting place under the leaves. “Not very well hidden.”

  Squatting next to the container, Tate slipped the clasp open and pulled the top back so that they could see inside. “Damn, it’s not here.” Closing the container, Tate pushed it back into the shallow indention and covered it with leaves. Glancing up at Emma he said, “Don’t look so disappointed, Em. We’ve still got two to go.”

  Tate and Emma retraced their steps to the car and got in. Turning up the air conditioner, Emma pulled her hair back and let the cool air blow in her face. “For spring in South Dakota, it sure is hot out today. So, which cache do you want to do next?”

  “Load the one off County Road 17, that’s the closest one to here.” Pulling his cell phone from his shirt pocket Tate handed it to Emma. “Why don’t you give Martin a call and let him know to cross this one off the list.”

  Emma dialed Martin’s number and waited while the call connected.

  “Crawley here. That you Tate?”

  “No Martin, it’s Emma. Tate is driving. You can cross the first White’s Lake cache off our list. No coin there. Have you heard from Chad and Reva yet?”

  “Just got off the phone with Chad. They didn’t have any luck with their first one either. They’re on the way to their second cache site, too. I sure hope one of you find it soon and we don’t have to widen the search to pull in more cache sites.”

  “Don’t worry Martin, we’ll find the coin and I’m certain that it’s going to be at one of the six sites we’ve targeted. If not, then we just have to open the search up further and maybe even pull in more help if we run short on time. I fully intend to have that coin in my hand before the day’s end.”

  Disconnecting the call, Emma turned to Tate, “Chad and Reva came up empty handed with their first pick too.”

  Tate frowned, “I heard what you told Martin and I appreciate all that you’ve done to help us with this case, especially since you’re working off the grid and could possibly lose your job if this gets out, but there is no way in hell that you’re walking away from a cache site with that damned coin in your hand. I won’t let you make a target of yourself that way.”

  Opening her mouth to argue, Emma stopped when Tate raised his hand. “I know what you’re going to say and you can just save it. Nobody but me walks away with that coin. Nobody.”

  Staring at him, Emma watched his hands tighten on the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white. His posture pretty much said it all. The muscle ticking on his jaw, the eyes straight ahead. Oh yeah, she’d seen that look before. With a sigh she turned and stared out the passenger side window. Some things just don’t change, no matter how much you want them to, she thought. Anger bubbled up from somewhere deep within her, from the place she’d buried it when they’d divorced. Well, she wasn’t married to him now, and she didn’t have to hold her feelings inside any more. “Tate, pull over.”

  Tate recognized the look. Oh shit, here it comes, he thought. Steering the car to the side of the road, he eased to a stop and pushed the gearshift into park. Might as well get it over with, he thought and turned to face her without saying a word.

  “Tate Echo, I have never met a more stubborn man in my entire life! Comments like that last one make me want to pull my service revolver and just shoot some sense into you or put you out of my misery, whichever comes first! I am a trained agent for the damn Federal Bureau of Investigation and I am perfectly capable of handling myself without any advice or protection from you. In case you don’t remember, comments just like that one that caused our divor….”

  Before she could say another word Tate hauled her against his chest and covered her mouth with his own in a punishing kiss, his tongue exploring her mouth in a violent dance that commanded her senses. Breaking the kiss, Tate leaned back against the seat of the car, struggling to get his breath under control.

  Staring at Emma’s flushed and confused face he said, “And that, Emma, is a big part of why we got married in the first place.”

  Starting the car, Tate punched the gas pedal. He jerked the wheel moving the SUV back onto the road, behind them a spray of loose gravel peppered the dirt.

  Staring straight ahead, Emma fought to regain her composure and her own breath. Damn that man could kiss, now if she could just yank out his vocal cords he’d be perfect! The GPS broke their silence, instructing them to turn right at the next intersection.

  Grabbing her phone from the console, Emma stared at the device. “Two miles further then we have to walk.”

  Passing a large, white, frame farmhouse with dark green shutters, Tate pointed, “That’s Walt Mabry’s house. I expect that Jewel will eventually put it on the market, she has a house just outside of town herself.”

  Turning in her seat and catching a glance of the house as they passed Emma whispered, “Maybe not. That’s all she has left of her dad now.”

  “How much further?” Tate asked.

  “Just over a mile.”

  Instructing Tate to pull over, Emma watched as he maneuvered the car as far off the road as he could. “Try to look happy, Em. We’re supposed to be having fun here. You know he’s watching.” Taking her hand, Tate looked at the GPS then pulled Emma along as he cut through high weeds on the roadside. Following the directions, they walked side-by-side still holding hands.

  Pulling on Tate’s arm, Emma held the GPS up to him. “We need to cut to the right here.”

  Tate stepped over a fallen tree and looked around at the landmarks, then at the sun hanging high in the mid-day sky. “We’re almost back to Walt’s property line. Surely it’s not hidden on his land.”

  Stopping, Emma turned to him. “It’s going to be here, I just know it. This human time bomb thought it would be funny to hide his cache on the property of his last victim.”

  Stepping up the pace, Emma took the lead as they walked single file through the wooded area. The dense trees offered a respite from the sun’s hot rays, but the native white rock littering the ground slowed their progress. Stopping, Emma consulted the GPS and whispered to Tate. “No more police talk, Chief. We’re just two cachers out for fun from here on out. The cache is about a hundred feet straight ahead.”

  Tate pointed, “The fence running here is Walt’s fence. I can actually see the top of his shop building from here.”

  Turning to look in the direction Tate pointed, Emma nodded. “Here we go, Tate. This is it.”

  Forty feet later, Tate pulled Emma close and planted a quick kiss on her lips. A little more loudly than necessary he said, “Bet I find it before you do!”

  With a grin Emma dared, “So what do I get if I find it first?”

  Swatting her on the butt and snatching the GPS from her hand, Tate laughed, “No need to set the stakes, because this cache is all mine babe.”

  Separating, Tate and Emma scanned the area looking for the hidden cache.

  “I found it!” Emma shouted.

  Pulling a small round metal container from under a pile of rocks stacked against a fallen tree, Emma held it up as Tate walked to where she was kneeling.

  Dropping down he said, “Open it up, Em, let’s see what’s in it.”

  Pulling the top off the container, Emma removed a small wire bound tablet first and sitting it aside peered into the container. She reached to the bottom of the container and pulled out the coin. Knowing that they could be on camera she held the coin skyward between her thumb and forefinger before speaking, “Check this out. Think it’s some kind of travel bug or Cache Coin?”

  Tate wanted to scream. I told her not to touch that damn coin. Reaching to take the token from Emma he was surprised when she jerked away from him jamming the coin into her front jeans pocket and laughed. “You’re not taking my treasure, Hun! I found it fair and square and I’m the winner so now tell me what my reward is.”

  Knowing how angry Tate was
with her, Emma moved closer to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Standing on tip toes she pushed her lips against his and quietly murmured, “Don’t blow this Tate. It may be our only shot.”

  Growling under his breath, Tate pulled her closer, covering her mouth with his in a toe curling kiss that turned hungry in an instant.

  Emma swore. This was getting to be a real habit with the two of them, but right now she didn’t care. Maybe he was punishing her for taking the coin. No, if that were the case then he’d be punishing them both. Pulling her lips from his and hugging him tightly, her mouth against his ear she whispered, “You trying to give our killer a jumpstart or what?”

  Breaking away, Tate locked eyes with Emma. “That, sweet Em, was the beginning of your reward for finding the cache before me. Now put the container back and let’s get home so that I can finish rewarding you.”

  Laughing for the camera, Emma turned and snapped the lid back on the container pushing it against the tree and covering it with rocks and leaves. Standing she took the hand that Tate offered and without talking they walked away from the cache site.

  A quarter mile away Gavin watched his computer monitor as the couple on the screen found the cache and took his coin. When the man pulled the woman into a tight hug and let his hand drift low on her ass Gavin whistled. “This one is going to be a lot of fun, just look at that fine little ass.” Moving closer to the screen, he pushed a button zooming the screen in on their faces. “Shit! It’s the same couple that was talking to that old sheriff at Walt’s funeral this morning!” Letting the screen slide back to full he reasoned, It’s a fucking set-up Gav. They think they’re going to catch you! Gavin laughed at the absurd idea, “They think they’re going to catch you!”

  Staring at the retreating backs of Tate and Emma he snarled, “Let the chase begin, assholes. This is one game you just can’t win.” Watching as his tracking program loaded onto the screen Gavin stood and walked into the kitchen, pulling a carton of orange juice from Walt Mabry’s refrigerator. With the glass in hand, he moved back to the den and peeked through the blinds just in time to see Tate and Emma drive past on their way back to town. Silently he held the glass up, a toast to his next victim.