Tate (Lighthouse Security Investigations Book 6)

by Maryann Jordan

  Tate’s gaze jumped behind Betty to a teenage boy. She looked over her shoulder, her lips pinched tightly together.

  “Dean, there’s no need for you to—”

  “Mom, I heard him say he was from the FBI. This is about Dad, isn’t it?”

  She opened her mouth, but Dean stepped up behind her and Tate could see that he was more young man than a teenager. And when he spoke again, that opinion was solidified.

  “Let them in, Mom,” Dean said, his voice soft and his hand on his mother’s shoulder. “You can’t shield us forever from what Dad’s up to. And they wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t important.”

  Her expression fell, and she nodded. Looking back at Levi and Tate, she sighed. “Please, come in.”

  They stepped over the threshold into a small living area furnished with a sofa and two chairs. A wood-burning stove was in the corner and a wide-screen TV was mounted on the wall opposite the sofa. Framed pictures sat on the end tables and hung on the walls and at a quick glance appeared to be of Betty and her two children.

  “Can I get you something to drink?” she asked.

  “No, thank you, ma’am,” Levi replied. “We do need to ask you about David, and I’ll tell you that time is of the essence.”

  At that, her eyes widened, and she plopped into the nearest seat, her son sitting on the arm of the chair, his hand once again on her shoulder. “Oh, Jesus,” she breathed.

  Levi glanced toward Tate and offered an imperceptible nod, permitting him to explain why they were there. Glad for the opportunity, he leaned forward and placed his forearms on his knees, his hands clasped in front of him. Holding her gaze, he said, “Ms. Frieder, David Carlson escaped custody this morning from Rawlins Hospital. He was being treated for an injury he sustained during his arrest the previous day. We’ve got questions for you and need any information you can give us because he didn’t just escape alone. He kidnapped a nurse during his escape.”

  Her hand lifted to her heart as she sucked in a quick breath. “Oh, Jesus,” she repeated, then shot a quick glance up toward her son before looking back at Tate. “I’ll tell you anything you need to know, but you have to understand that I’ve had no contact with him in almost eleven years.”

  “We understand, but we need any information, even if you think it’s minor, about where he might have taken her.”

  She shook her head and said, “I don’t know. David and I met twenty years ago. He was a rambling man before we met, driving big rigs all over the west. He ended up working in construction and got a job in Wyoming. That’s how we met. He had a few years on me and the tale as old as time was that I fell for him. We lived in a little apartment over my grandparents’ garage and a year later I gave birth to Dean. Two years later I gave birth to Barbara.”

  Looking up at her son, she offered a little smile. “We were happy. He still worked construction and on weekends he and some of his buddies started building us a house. The problem was a year later, it still wasn’t finished. He’d leave on Saturday morning and come back late Saturday evening after having a few beers, and it wasn’t until later that I discovered he was drinking his Saturdays and our house money away.”

  “He was arrested, ma’am, for carrying drugs. Not just drugs he stole, but meth, which I’m wondering if he produced. Do you know if he was using drugs at that time?”

  Sighing again, she nodded slowly. “Agent Amory, I don’t know anything about drugs. I never used them, and I was never around them. I know he was arrested a few times when he was younger, but I put my foot down about that not being part of our lives. Eventually, he started coming home not acting like himself. He spent more and more time talking about needing to prepare for a government takeover. To be honest, I was so involved with my job and the children I ignored him when he’d start going on and on about needing to make sure we were prepared. At one time, he started storing food in the garden shed. I figured it was harmless.”

  “Was there anything in particular that made you worry drugs were back in his life?”

  “I started getting suspicious because he sure wasn’t acting like he’d just been drinking when he’d come home. One day, when Dean was about six, he came up to me with a bag in his hand and asked me what it was.” She squeezed her eyes tightly and gave her head a little shake as though to dislodge the memory.

  “I realized it was drugs, and I couldn’t believe that David had brought that stuff into our home where we had small children. I got it out of Dean’s hand, had him show me where he found it, but there was no more. I will tell you I searched the house, every nook and cranny, wanting to make sure there was no more lying about. And when David got home, I gave him an ultimatum. Clean up his act or lose his family. You can see what he chose. I haven’t seen him in eleven years.”

  Dean slid his arm around his mom's shoulder, pulling her in close. “Nobody blames you, Mom. You did everything you could, and me and Barbara have a better life with Dad out of it.”

  “Ma’am, have you ever heard of Robert Heller or Bob Heller?”

  Her face pinched again, and she nodded. “He was younger than David, probably close to my age. I never heard that he worked a job, but he always hung around. To be honest, I thought he was a bit simple, but he seemed to worship the ground David walked on. David would start talking about wanting to stockpile supplies for the takeover, and Bob would be the first one to run out and start buying things.”

  “The vehicle David was in today was registered to Robert Heller but used this address.”

  Gasping, her eyes widened. “Oh, my God! Neither David nor Robert has ever been in this house! I moved here right after the divorce, and David paid a few years of piddly child support, so he’d know this address. But I assure you, Robert Heller has never set foot in here!”

  “Ma’am, do you know who his friends were at that time? I know it was a long time ago, but anything you tell us could help. Do you know where he and his buddies would go?”

  Shaking her head, Betty threw her hands up to the side, palms facing the ceiling. “No, I’m sorry. I know this doesn’t sound too good but being around David was exhausting. I was working to pay our bills, took care of the children and the house, and found that the more he rambled, the more I ignored him.”

  “Mom, what about that old album in the basement?” Dean’s voice was soft as he pulled her tighter against his side.

  Tate was once again impressed with Betty’s son. He’s handling her with kid gloves but wants to do the right thing. Looking directly at Dean, he asked, “Photo album?”

  Betty’s brow furrowed as she twisted her head around to look up at Dean. “Honey, I don’t know. I haven’t looked at those pictures in years.”

  Pink hit Dean’s cheeks as he admitted, “I’ve looked at them. Not a lot, but occasionally, I’ll take a look.” He lifted his gaze to Levi before shifting toward Tate. “I don’t want to have a relationship with my dad, but I guess it’s human nature to wonder about him. So, rarely, I’ll take a look at the photo albums. Mostly, I was looking at pictures that had him and me in them, but I’m sure there are others.”

  Levi nodded. “Can you bring them up here or should we go down to look?”

  “I can get them, sir. There’s only one of ‘em.” Dean stood and hurried to a door in the hallway. The sound of his footsteps clomping down the stairs was soon followed by his return. In his hands was a faded photo album, which he immediately handed to Tate.

  Opening it, he quickly scanned past the pictures of David and Betty when they were together, not seeing anything of significance in the backgrounds. At first, the photographs were all of them before they had their children. There were only a few pictures that showed David without family, but Tate immediately recognized one of the men on a fishing trip as Bob Heller. The background showed mountains, water off to the side. Sliding the picture from his plastic sleeve, he turned it around and showed Betty. “Do you have any idea where this was taken?”

  She leaned forward, her fingers closing aroun
d the photograph, and brought it closer to her face. Shaking her head slowly, she sighed. “It’s not familiar to me, but I remember David talking about the fish he would catch in the Medicine Bow River.” Looking up from the photograph, she added, “I was never outdoorsy, so I didn’t go on any of the trips. We didn’t have enough money for hotels, so I guess he and Bob would just camp. And in case you’re going to ask, I don’t recognize these other men in the picture.”

  “Mrs. Frieder, would you allow me to keep this photograph if I promise to bring it back?” Tate asked. “I work with someone who can probably identify where this was taken.”

  “I don’t mind, but that was years ago. I’m not sure it would have any bearing on where he is now.”

  “I understand, but it would serve as a starting place.”

  “We're digging into David’s family,” Levi said, “Is there anything of a more personal nature that you can tell us? Was he close to brothers, uncles, anyone?”

  “He had an older brother who died years ago, but by the time we divorced, his sister-in-law was tired of him always asking for money and told him not to come around anymore. She once mentioned that she hated the influence David had over her son. His name was Kenneth. Kenneth Carlson. But Lordy, I haven’t seen or heard from him in ages. Kenneth’s mom died several years back, and she was the last of his family.”

  Levi stood and Tate followed his lead, both men thanking her and Dean. She walked them to the door, then reached out and placed her hand on Tate’s arm. “I’m real sorry to hear about that nurse. I hope you find her safe and sound.”

  He thanked her, and with a chin lift jogged back out to Levi’s SUV. Climbing into the passenger side, he held the photograph carefully, took a picture, and then sent it to Josh. Dialing LSI, he was not surprised when it was answered immediately. “I’m sending Josh a photograph. It’s David and Bob Heller, taken many years ago, possibly near Medicine Bow River, near Elk Mountain. I know it’s a longshot, but his wife said that was the only place he talked about going to. I was only in that area once as a teenager… some of my family went on a camping trip through there. It’s remote as fuck and could be easy to hide there.”

  “Got it. I’ll start scanning and searching immediately.”

  “Mace?” He knew he had all the Keepers listening. “I’m here with Agent Levi Amory. He’s got me well suited and armed.” Turning toward Levi, he said, “You’re speaking to my boss, Mace Hanover, and some of the other people we work with.”

  “Agent Amory, thanks for letting us work with you.”

  Levi chuckled and said, “Call me Levi, and I don’t know that I was given much choice. It seems you’re on a first-name basis with the Director of the FBI. But that’s okay with me. I’ll appreciate all the cooperation we can get.”

  Mace replied, “Good to hear. What’s your immediate plan, and how can we help?”

  Levi looked over at Tate, then said, “Right now, we’re going to head toward Laramie. While we don’t know exactly where he is, indications are that he is somewhere nearby in an area that he knows and can hide in.”

  “What support will you have?”

  “I’ve got the local FBI offices and sheriff’s departments. They’ll give complete ground support, but whatever backup you can give us would be appreciated,” Levi said. “I’ve got someone from my office looking up the security cameras along Interstate 84 toward Laramie. From what Tate tells me, you’ve got a lot more power at your fingertips.”

  “I hear what you’re saying. No problem. We’re on it,” Josh said.

  Mace jumped into the call. “Tate, just letting you know that Clay is flying in. We’ve got a private plane that’s flying him into Rawlins. He’s rerouting from a mission in California, so it’ll be middle of the night before he gets there. He’ll be in contact.”

  Tate kept his eyes on the front windshield, watching the familiar landscape roll by. Hank Claiborne, known as Clay, was a former Ranger and a crack security specialist. And he’d be damn glad to have him as backup. Glancing upward, he sighed. “Gotta tell you, it looks like snow. Probably not what he was expecting when heading to California.”

  “He’ll be prepared,” Mace assured.

  Closing his eyes for a second, a sense of relief snaked through Tate for the first time in hours. He trusted Levi, but another Keeper working on the ground with him would make their job much easier. “Thanks, Boss.”

  Disconnecting after Josh said he would send them what he could on the photograph, he leaned back in his seat. Neither man spoke, words not necessary. All Tate needed was for Levi to get him closer to where David might have taken Nora. Then even God can’t help him when I get my hands on him.

  13

  It was as though they had forgotten she was in the vehicle with them. Nora inched upward to a seated position, and even though Bob occasionally glanced toward her, he made no comment for a while. Finally, when she was completely upright, he narrowed his eyes on her.

  “She’s sitting up.”

  His words hit her in the gut, only because she had no idea how volatile any of the men might be. Preparing to slump back down, she breathed easier when David shook his head and snorted.

  “She can’t go anywhere, and there’s no one around. Leave her alone.”

  Bob appeared to accept David’s directive, and she forced her breathing to slow so that her heart would not pound so heavily. Sitting up, even in the back of the SUV, it was now easier for her to see that they were off the main road onto a narrow but paved road. And they were climbing in altitude. The clouds that had been threatening snow were now sending a light snowfall, but she had no doubt it would soon get much worse.

  Having grown up with the mountains practically in her backyard, she both loved and respected the land. She remembered both Nathan and Tate talking about the terrain when they came back from their many hiking or camping trips. Mountains could be beautiful to hike and yet dangerous if you did not stay on the trails. Wildlife was abundant and could be dangerous.

  Some areas of the mountains and hiking trails were inundated with hundreds of visitors each year, but much of the land was uninhabited with plenty of places for someone to hide. She recognized they were heading in the direction of the Elk Mountains, not a place she had visited but knew that they could easily disappear in the thick forests.

  She was familiar with how quickly snowstorms could turn into blinding blizzards, and she wondered how Tate would be able to find her. She did not doubt that he would try, but with each passing moment felt that his chances of success were lessened.

  Looking down at the scrubs she wore, she was grateful she had included a long-sleeved shirt under her top. The Jeep had heat, but it did not reach to the back effectively. Her legs were cold, but thick socks encased her feet. She almost giggled at the outrageous idea of trying to hike through the snow in her footwear—her nursing clogs were hardly suitable for outdoor wear. And in a snowstorm? Shit, I’d get frostbite before I got halfway down the mountain!

  The old Jeep slowed down and she watched as they turned between tall scrub brush now dusted with snow onto a smaller, gravel road. This path was much less traveled, the potholes jarring her, bouncing worse with each mile. The snow now covered the scrub brush and trees, and if she had not been so scared, she would have appreciated the beauty. Looking out the back window, she spotted the tire trails through the snow on the road. As her heart leaped, she prayed that the snow would stay light enough that if someone was following, they would be able to track the movements.

  Following? How would anyone know who to follow? She had been so terrified when Bob hit her and pushed her into the back of the SUV, she paid no attention to her surroundings in the hospital parking lot. Had anyone witnessed what happened? Did anyone get a description of this vehicle? She knew that David’s escape would have been noticed, and surely her absence as well.

  Hospital security cameras! Barely able to hide her audible gasp, she sucked in her lips. Please, God, please, let someone have seen us o
n the security cameras. She had no idea what Tate did for a living other than his family talking about his job working missions for a security company. Would he have the skills to find me? Thinking about their last conversation, she blinked back tears. God, I wish I had a do-over. Or at least a chance to see him one more time.

  She looked at her watch. I was recording David’s information on the computer at 1 o’clock when I was taken. Three hours had passed. Swallowing deeply, she kept praying.

  The scrub brush gave way to trees that grew thickly along the sides of the gravel road. The snow had not reached the ground as the branches covered the area, allowing her to peer through the front windshield. Once more, the driver turned off the road, and this time it seemed as though he was driving on dirt tire ruts, not an actual lane.

  Unable to see into the distance, she was surprised when suddenly, a small clearing opened, exposing a snow-dusted cabin and several outbuildings. Two pickup trucks were parked to the side, the darker one appearing to be more rust than metal. The other truck was white, and with the snow, there was little she could tell about it. Unless she could steal the keys and get away, the extra vehicles would do her no good, but she filed that snippet of a plan into the back of her mind.

  Jerking to a stop next to the door of the cabin, she remained still, uncertain of what to do. Scanning the area, she ascertained she wouldn’t be able to run fast enough to get away from the men and into the woods as long as they held weapons. But if they ever put them down, maybe, just maybe…

  She couldn’t remember the other men’s names, so she blinked dumbly as David turned around and ordered, “Stay with Porter.” A look of disappointment crossed the face of the man holding the gun, and she could only assume that was not him.

  The driver had alighted from the vehicle and walked to the back. After he lifted the back door, he wiggled his fingers toward her. “I’m Porter. Come on.”

  Those were the first words he had said in her presence, and she stared dumbly for a few seconds. He wiggled his fingers again. With no other recourse, she scooted to the back of the old SUV and dropped her feet to the ground gently. Considering that her legs felt like jelly, she was glad her hand still grasped the tailgate. Porter maintained a blank expression, but he waited for a moment until her legs were steady underneath her. With a lifted eyebrow, he jerked his head toward the cabin. “Let’s go.”