Deadly Silence

by Lindsay McKenna

  No, Benson had plotted long and hard on this group killing. The senator wanted it to look natural, as if they’d gotten lost out in the thick forest, frozen to death from hypothermia at night. At this altitude—eight thousand feet—the autumn nights were well below freezing. Cold enough to kill someone—naturally.

  Benson congratulated himself on his detailed research; he had found out that grizzly bear number 340, a female with two cubs, lived in the general area of the broken-down miner’s cabin. He used the cabin as a central point to track her daily activities. And anyone who knew bears, knew a mother with cubs was the most dangerous of all predators. This sow, a cinnamon-colored grizzly, was particularly moody and would attack a hiker or hunter without any provocation. All the stupid hiker or hunter had to do was show up within range of her weak eyesight and she’d barrel after the human intent on killing them. She had a reputation for this and Benson smiled faintly. He’d spent a month following her, watching her through binoculars and getting used to her pattern of activities.

  Best of all, her main territory was right near that old cabin hidden by the woods. She would travel ten or fifteen miles a day looking for food, but she always returned to that area, a favorite haunt of hers. The flower meadow was oval and provided plenty of grubs that she dug up from beneath the rocks to feed herself and her growing cubs. Benson had found her hibernation den up on a craggy, clifflike area two thousand feet above the meadow. At that level, snow came early and the sow would be working overtime to eat voraciously before she went up there to hibernate through the long, cold winter. He’d also discovered other caves near her den that had been created by volcanic activity millions of years ago. These caves were to the north of the grizzly’s lair. And they were perfect places to hide someone so they would freeze to death.

  Watching the three hikers, he saw that they were unaware of anything except enjoying their noontime hike. Getting up, he moved without sound through the brush and thick woodlands. He was at least a quarter of a mile away from them and they were too focused on themselves, not on the area around them, to hear him. Again, Benson smiled. The groves of white-barked aspen were sporting their yellow leaves. In other spots, there were trees with red and orange leaves. If he weren’t intent on his job, Benson would enjoy the brilliant fall colors that came the first three weeks of September. Already, it had snowed twice, and now they were enjoying an Indian summer. Usually, winter would set in permanently by October. And that’s what Benson was counting on.

  Assured his targets were going to the meadow as usual, he moved swiftly up the steep slope. The land rose sharply and then descended just as sharply down to the meadow. Benson knew that at this time of day the sow and her cubs would be south of the meadow. She wouldn’t hear the hikers and that’s what he wanted. His heart pounded as he pushed his toes deeply into the pine-needled ground beneath him. Now, luck would play into his hand, he hoped.

  Benson arrived at the northern end of the meadow. It was filled with yellowing grass and the last of the hardy wildflowers that had managed to survive the first snows of the season and the nightly frosts in the area. The highly private area looked like a gem surrounded by the dark green forest spattered with bright fall colors. The Tetons majestically towered above it. Shedding his pack at the cabin, he made sure everything was in readiness. Double-checking that the bear was not around, Benson placed a pistol in the holster at his side. Covering it with his dark green-and-brown jacket, he mentally went over the elaborate and complex trap once again. He was ready to kidnap the kid and the woman. Smiling faintly as he headed unseen toward the meadow, Benson knew that when one of them showed up missing, it would set off a search of the area by the other two. The cabin would be a pit stop to a greater plan he had for his victims. He’d carry the unconscious woman and child up to a cave. It would be there that he’d put his victims. Benson was sure that one night alone in that cave at below-freezing temperature would kill them. Hypothermia would do the job for him. To make it look like they’d been killed by a bear, he’d put them into the grizzly bear’s known path and sprinkle a trail of food so that the sow would find the unconscious victims and eat them. That would be two people killed under natural circumstances. Then, he’d wait and time the last hit on Matt Sinclaire. It might take a couple of days, even a week, but Benson had carefully planned the firefighter’s demise. He would take him out and carry him to another cave and he, too, would freeze to death overnight. Grinning, Benson knew this challenge was fearsome but he felt confident he could pull it off.

  Settling down behind thick brush about a thousand feet away from the meadow, Benson waited. His adrenaline was up and he savored the excitement of the hunter in stalking mode. This is what he lived for. Now who would wander nearest to where he was hiding? That was the only question that remained unanswered.

  “HURRY!” CASEY CALLED breathlessly, running through the meadow, laughing. Megan was hard on her heels. Matt was bringing up the rear. Stopping, she turned and smiled down at the girl. Megan looked cute with her hair up in a ponytail. Her warm pink jacket, a red T-shirt and coveralls along with her little red day pack on her back made her look like a bright spot in the yellowed meadow.

  “Help me open this up, Megan,” she urged, opening the red wool blanket that Matt always used for picnics.

  Megan laughed and caught hold of one corner of it. In no time, they had the bright red blanket spread across the ground. Shedding her pack, Casey set it down and opened it up. Megan helped her unload the plastic containers of food they’d made earlier in the morning for their lunch. Looking up, she saw Matt approaching. How handsome he looked to Casey. Ever since their last talk, it were as if the wall that she’d always held up to protect her from men had dissolved.

  “Need some more help?” Matt called, grinning. His heart swelled with love for his daughter, who was completely focused on helping Casey pull out the plastic plates, flatware and napkins. Of late, Megan had become much more engaged with life, happier and wanting Casey around as much as possible.

  “Nope,” Casey called. “I think Megan and I have it taken care of.”

  Nodding, Matt pulled off his day pack and set it on the grass near the blanket. The sun was warm, but there was a chill in the air because they were high on the slopes of the Tetons. It never got really warm up at this altitude. Leaning over, Matt pulled out a thermos of coffee for the adults and some orange juice for Megan. Handing them to his daughter, Matt felt at peace for the first time in a long time.

  Settling down on crossed legs at one end of the blanket, Megan in the middle distributing plates, flatware, napkins and closed food containers to him, Matt absorbed his daughter’s expression. It was almost as if Megan was normal once more. She was also trying to form words. She made fewer guttural sounds and rasps, and it appeared to Matt that she was honestly trying to speak once again.

  He silently thanked Dr. Jordana Lawton for prescribing the medicine for Megan’s elevated cortisol levels. The last test had revealed that Megan’s cortisol was finally settled within normal bounds. And her demeanor had changed remarkably as a result. Megan was happy. The shine in her eyes told Matt everything. They were all happy, if he was reading the look in Casey’s eyes, too. How badly he wanted to take her into his arms, kiss her and make love with her.

  As Matt helped open the containers, his heart expanded with more joy than he’d felt in a long, long time. Over the last month, Casey and he had slowly, like two orbiting planets, moved closer and closer together. If the look in her eyes was any indication, Matt knew they would kiss before this incredible day was over. “Let’s see,” he murmured, taking the spoons and putting them in each container, “we have grilled chicken, potato salad, olives and for dessert—chocolate cake.”

  “Who knew you were such a chef,” Casey teased. She felt her lower body responding to Matt’s heated look. On the way up the trail, they’d held hands. She was always concerned about how Megan would take their getting together. Matt had assured her a number of times that Megan d
oted on her and he didn’t think there was an issue. Still, Casey cared deeply for the little girl. She would turn nine years old in five days and they had planned a wonderful birthday party for her. Megan knew nothing of it and that would make it all the sweeter to see when all her school friends came over to celebrate the milestone with her.

  Preening, Matt said, “Hey, at the firehouse, my team salivates until I make this cake.”

  “I believe it,” Casey murmured. Megan sat on the edge of the blanket between them. She made sure the girl was served first. Matt poured her orange juice from her thermos and set the cup down in front of her. There was such a wonderful happiness covering all of them, Casey realized. The autumn sun was warm and took the chill off the midday air temperature, hovering in the forties.

  FRANK WATCHED THE FAMILY. They were genuinely happy. He could hear their laughter drifting his way from time to time. When they finished their meal and had packed it back up into their knapsacks, Matt Sinclaire brought out a Frisbee. The little girl loved chasing it, picking it up and slinging it through the air to the two adults. He watched, his heart starting a slow pound, as the woman threw it. She wasn’t very adept at it. The red Frisbee waffled on the air and landed just at the edge of the meadow. He hunkered down and waited.

  Running over to the Frisbee, Casey laughed. Turning with it in hand, she called back to Matt and Megan, who stood in the middle of the meadow, “I’m not very good at this, you know.” She twisted and threw it as hard as she could toward them.

  Megan screeched with delight and caught it as it thunked to the ground about thirty feet from where Casey stood.

  “Weak throw,” Matt called, cupping his hand to his mouth.

  Grinning, Casey said, “Guilty as charged!” She laughed and felt buoyant. Something as simple as a Frisbee game was bonding them tightly to one another. Like a family.

  Family… The word whispered through Casey’s mind as she saw Megan scoop up the Frisbee, a smile on her face. Hadn’t they been like a cobbled-together family since they’d met? Casey acknowledged it in her heart. What was there not to love about Megan? She was a bright, caring child, sensitive and innocent. And Matt… Casey’s gaze moved to the man in the center of the meadow. In that moment, she realized how much she loved him. The sensation drenched her like a vibrant rush of wild river water.

  Casey was so caught up in her revelations that she didn’t see Megan toss the Frisbee in her direction. It was only Megan’s shout that jerked her out of her reverie.

  The Frisbee sailed high over her head and disappeared up the slope of the mountain. It tumbled into the thick brush, unseen.

  “Are you asleep at the switch?” Matt hollered, laughing good-naturedly.

  Embarrassed, Casey raised her hand and yelled, “I’ll go get it. I’ll be right back!” and she dove into the thick underbrush.

  Matt watched her dive into it, her hand held near her eyes so she wouldn’t get swatted by the brush. In seconds, she had disappeared.

  Megan laughed gaily and ran back to her father, flapping her arms like a bird ready to take off. She threw her arms outward toward her father.

  Matt picked her up and whirled her around and around until they both got so dizzy that he fell to the ground. Careful not to hurt Megan, Matt hit the ground first and absorbed the shock. His daughter squealed in delight and rolled off to one side. Over and over again, Megan purposely rolled through the grass. Her coat became damp from the dew still caught deep within the thick strands of golden grass.

  Getting up to his hands and knees, breathing hard, he saw Megan scramble to her feet. Matt didn’t even have time to get balanced when she flew into his arms. They both tumbled once more to the ground, laughing and giggling.

  By the time Matt wrestled Megan and lost the “fight,” he was winded. Happiness thrummed through him because his daughter was finally becoming more like her old self. Grateful for the rough-house playing, he managed to get to his feet. Megan stood nearby, dusting off all the pieces of grass that clung to her coveralls and jacket. Matt did the same. Time had halted.

  Lifting his head, he looked to the end of the meadow. Where was Casey? Frowning, he searched the brushy wall where she’d disappeared minutes earlier.

  “Casey?” he called, “did you find the Frisbee yet?”

  No answer. Maybe Megan had thrown the Frisbee a lot farther into the brush than he’d first thought? “Come on, Megan, let’s go find Casey,” he said, and he held out his hand to his daughter.

  Megan gripped his hand and they walked toward the end of the meadow.

  “Casey?” Matt called again as they reached the edge of it. “Casey?”

  No answer. Frowning, Matt suddenly felt worried. Turning, he leaned down and told Megan, “Stay here. Daddy’s going to find Casey. Stay on the blanket and watch our knapsacks.”

  Nodding, Megan galloped back out into the meadow to stay with the three day packs.

  Moving into the brush, Matt protected his eyes with his hand from the many branches swatting at his face, just as he’d seen Casey doing. The brush was tough and it took everything he had to bull his way through it. As he emerged on the other side of the ten-foot-high brush, more walls of yellowed leaves met his gaze. Looking around, the brush too tall to see over, Matt called Casey again.

  No answer.

  What the hell had happened to her? Almost mouthing those words, Matt felt the first niggling fear. This was grizzly country. He knew bears frequented stands of brush like this precisely because smaller creatures hid within them. He knew a grizzly could silently move up behind a human and they’d never hear it coming—until it was too late.

  Now, fear made him more than worried. Matt knew each grizzly bear had a territory. Had Casey run into one? Surely, he’d have heard it. Matt wasn’t so sure. He’d been in the middle of the meadow with Megan. He hadn’t been watching the grove Casey had disappeared into. His focus had been on playing with his daughter, instead. Running his fingers through his hair and turning around, anxiously searching for any sight or sound of Casey, his mouth turned grim. Again and again, Matt called for Casey.

  She never answered him.

  Worried now, Matt could see Megan standing un certainly by the day packs, looking around, anxious now that both adults had disappeared. He called back to Megan to reassure her. Where had Casey gone? It wasn’t like her not to answer him.

  For the next twenty minutes, Matt tramped through the brush, struggling and falling several times. At the end of his search, he returned to the meadow, to Megan’s relief. Pulling the radio off his belt that would put him in direct contact with the fire department, he made an emergency call for help. Megan was clinging to his hand. She looked scared. As scared as he felt. After reporting that Casey had disappeared, Matt waited. He heard no sounds out of the ordinary. He saw no movement up the brush and wooded slope. But hell, a thousand-pound grizzly could whisper through the area and never be seen or heard by a human.

  Swallowing hard, Matt was torn. He desperately wanted to go find Casey. But he couldn’t. Not with Megan in tow. He would not jeopardize his daughter’s life if a grizzly was on the hunt. They always went for little children first. To a hungry bear children resembled small animals, their high-pitched voices sounding like a baby creature’s crying. All of that made them serious food targets.

  Oh, God, where are you? Casey? What happened? Where are you? Wiping his mouth, Matt knew he had to get Megan out of the area. Within the hour, the forest service would be sending in a team of rangers who would scour the area. The fire department was sending an ambulance, just in case. But it would be down at the parking lot, a thousand feet below them at the trailhead.

  Mind whirling, Matt numbly put on his day pack and helped Megan on with hers. He gripped Casey’s pack and then captured his daughter’s hand. As he started to walk out of the meadow, Megan cried.

  “What?” he demanded, his patience thin.

  Pointing to where Casey had gone, Megan tugged on her father’s hand to stop him. Tear
s splashed down her paling face as she jabbed her small index finger at the end of the meadow.

  Matt shook his head. “Casey’s missing, Megan. I have to get you back down the trail. There’s help coming. We’ll look for her soon.”

  Breaking into sobs, Megan jerked loose from his hand. She started running across the meadow as fast as her little legs would carry her.

  Dammit! Matt whirled around. In several long strides, he caught up with Megan. Gripping her, he held her tightly in his arms. “Megan, Casey has disappeared,” he rasped. “She’s not here!”

  Screaming, Megan tried to escape his hands. She twisted right and then left. Her face was white now, with tears making her cheeks glisten.

  “Mommy!” she screamed. “Mommy!” She jerked her finger toward the wall of brush where Casey had disappeared.

  Shocked, Matt almost let go of his daughter. She was speaking! The word was clear and easy to understand. Feeling trapped in a hurricane of wild emotions of terror for Casey and joy over Megan suddenly speaking, Matt tried to gentle her into standing still.

  “Mommy disappeared,” he begged her hoarsely. “She’s disappeared, Megan. I promise, I’m coming back here to find her. But you can’t come with me. This is bear country. I can’t risk you being hurt.”

  Her hands pressed to her eyes, Megan stopped trying to get away. “Mommy, Mommy,” she kept sobbing.

  Pulling Megan into his arms, Matt held his daughter tenderly, her head against his shoulder as she cried. Megan didn’t understand what had happened. And he hadn’t explained it very well, either. Glancing up, Matt stared at the brush. What’s happened to Casey? Oh, God, please let her be alive! This can’t be, it just can’t! You can’t take her from us! You can’t…