by Dana Mentink
He rubbed his still chilled arms. “Hannah, how long have you lived in Beaver Creek?”
“Two years. I used to live in Whitehorse, but Doyle had me transferred here to help out with staff changes. I love the small-town atmosphere and I’m content to stay.”
Doyle? How close was she to the superintendent? Surely not…no, none of his business. Layke glanced at the superintendent’s profile. He had to be at least fifteen years older than her. “How did you guys meet?”
“We met on duty at the Whitehorse International Airport, right, little one?” Doyle said as he flicked on his signal light.
“Yes, you immediately gave me a hard time. I had just graduated from the CBSA and taken the Whitehorse assignment. I got it easily since not too many of the BSOs wanted to move here.”
“What’s a BSO?” Gabe asked.
Layke turned from the front seat to see how she’d respond.
Hannah straightened the boy’s jacket and pinched his nose.
It was obvious how much she loved kids.
Something they didn’t have in common.
“It’s a border services officer,” she said. “That’s what I am.”
“What do you do?”
“I watch people come across the border and make sure they don’t bring anything into Canada they shouldn’t.”
“Like me,” he said in a soft voice.
What? Layke stole a quick glance. Gabe lowered his head. “What do you mean, sport? I thought you lived at the group home near here.”
“I do, but we were in Alaska for our retreat.”
Layke eyed Hannah. Her taut expression revealed her anger.
The boys had been kidnapped and smuggled across her border. On her watch.
Doyle stiffened in the driver’s seat. “Gabe, do you remember how they got you back into Canada?”
Layke could only guess the horror this young boy and the others went through. He took a breath to repress the anger bubbling inside.
“It was black, but I remember them putting us in boxes.”
“Did they lift the boxes into a truck?” Hannah asked.
“Yes and it was stinky.”
“Gabe, can you remember if the truck was big and noisy? Do you know what a transport truck is?” Layke asked.
“It stunk like the ocean.”
A fish truck. Their first lead.
But how many fishing companies were there in the Yukon-Alaskan area?
They had to narrow it down.
And fast.
* * *
Hannah squeezed Gabe’s shoulder. He was a smart boy to remember these details and give them their first hint of how the assailants smuggled the children across the border. She knew some of the local fisherman. It was a popular sport here in the wintertime. People travelled far to come ice fishing. She glanced out the window, mesmerized by the snow-covered trees as Doyle took the back way through their seventy-something-resident small community. She’d love to take time to play in the snow with Gabe and Layke. Build a snowman, have a snowball fight. Maybe even build a fort. However, their perilous situation prevented that from happening. It appeared they’d escaped their captors once again, but it was only by the grace of God.
Doyle pulled up to the small two-bedroom bungalow she rented. The cozy one-level timber home had ample room to make her comfortable and allowed her to host her church group every other week. She’d become attached to the sweet people of this town.
“Thanks, Doyle.” She grabbed the handle.
“Wait.” Layke opened his door. “I need to ensure it’s safe. Give me your keys.”
She fished them out of her parka and handed them to him.
“You have an alarm set?” Layke asked.
She tilted her head. “In Beaver Creek? No need for it. Some residents don’t even lock their doors.”
“Do you?”
“Of course. You can’t take the Ontario city girl out of me. I saw too much growing up not to lock my doors.”
“Good. Be right back.” He climbed from the vehicle and trudged through the deep snow to the front door, scanning the area. He opened her door and stepped inside.
“Why is he going in without us?” Gabe asked.
“Just to make sure no one is in there.”
“You mean the man with the spiked hair?”
Doyle reached around and squeezed the boy’s shoulder. “Yes, and any of his men.”
Couple minutes later, Layke reappeared and waved them in.
She unfastened Gabe’s seat belt. “Let’s go. Hurry.” She turned back to Doyle. “Thanks for driving us. Can you look into local fish trucks and get back to me?”
“Will do. You can’t stay here. Where will you go?”
“Not sure yet.”
“Let me know. Stay safe, little one.”
They stepped out of the vehicle and Doyle drove off.
“Yoo-hoo! Miss Hannah!”
Hannah turned to find her neighbor, Birdie Wood, waving her newspaper in the air and making her way toward them. Great. What did she want? Even in the darkness, this woman didn’t miss a thing. She was sweet but could be somewhat of a busybody. She knew everyone’s business in the entire town. She was often seen camping out at the local restaurant nursing an endless cup of coffee while she talked to the residents and any tourists passing through.
“Hi, Birdie. How are you?’
Her long flannel nightie peeked out from under her parka. “Where have you been, missy?” She eyed Gabe. “And who’s this young man?”
“Birdie, I’ve been working.” She refrained from sharing further details as she didn’t need the entire community knowing their plight. “This is Gabe. Gabe, this is Miss Wood.”
Gabe puckered his face. “Why are you wearing your pajamas?”
“It’s early. Came out to get my newspaper and saw you coming.”
Hannah’s front door opened and Layke stepped onto her tiny porch. “Hannah, you need to come inside. Now.”
Right. She couldn’t linger in the open.
Birdie put her hands on her hips. “Is that your boyfriend?”
“No. This is Constable Layke Jackson. Layke, this is my neighbor, Birdie.”
“Hi there. Sorry to interrupt, but we have some business to attend to and must get going.”
Birdie cupped her hand on her mouth as if telling Hannah a secret. “Yippie doodle! He’s handsome. I think you should date him.” She said it loud enough for Layke to hear.
He smirked.
Gabe giggled.
Hannah cleared her throat. “You need to turn up your hearing aid, Birdie. We gotta run.” She grabbed Gabe’s hand and headed toward the door.
“Tootles, everyone. Chat later.” Birdie waved and ran back into her house.
Hannah and Gabe followed Layke inside the bungalow. The cheerful open concept of the living room and kitchen usually calmed her after a long shift, but not today, with a gang hot on their heels. They needed to get in and out quickly.
“I see your Jeep out back. Why didn’t you take it to work yesterday?” Layke stood watch at the front window.
“Doyle picked me up.”
He turned. “Does he normally?”
“Sometimes when we’re on shift together. He tends to baby me, and when he heard the storm was coming, he offered to drive.” She rummaged through her kitchen drawer and looked for the puffer. Her breathing had worsened and she needed it right away. After reaching toward the back, her fingers finally grasped it. She administered two puffs and stuffed it in her pocket.
“We gotta roll.”
Gabe plunked himself on her plush couch. “I want to stay here. I’m hungry.”
“Sport, the gang might know where Miss Hannah lives. We need to leave soon.”
Hannah grabbed her keys. “Where to
?”
Layke pulled out the new cell phone Constable Yellowhead had given him at the detachment. “Let me make a call. Can I go into one of your rooms?”
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
He rubbed his chin. “I’m feeling much better.”
She wasn’t sure if she believed him or not. His skin still looked ashen, and even though she’d only known him for a day, she guessed he wouldn’t let her baby him. “Second door on the right.”
“Would you like a Pop-Tart?” Hannah said after Layke was gone. She could at least provide Gabe that much of a breakfast—even though it wasn’t a healthy one.
“Yes!” He jumped up and down.
She opened her cupboard and pulled out a box. “Here you go.” She handed him a chocolate one and stuffed more in a nearby backpack. She looked through her other food supplies and added granola bars just in case they couldn’t get to a restaurant.
Hannah’s cell phone played the tin whistle tune from the Lord of the Rings. She’d chosen the popular tune for her friend Kaylin Poirier’s number. She fished her phone out of her pocket, pressing Answer. “Hey, friend. What’s up?”
“Do you have a sec? I have news.”
Hannah heard excitement in her friend’s voice. “What’s going on?”
“Hudson and I set a date. October third.”
“Yes!” She pumped her fist in the air. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Will you be my maid of honor?”
A phrase stuck in her head. Never a bride, always a bridesmaid. Would she ever get to be a bride? No. She couldn’t have children, so she would never marry. Sadness washed over her. “Of course! I can’t believe you’re getting married to the man of your dreams.” Her soft voice betrayed her feelings.
“You’ll find someone, Hannah. I just know God has a plan.”
Yeah, but He changed the plan.
A commotion sounded in the background. “I gotta run. My shift is starting. Stay safe.”
“Love you to the moon and back.” The saying they’d adopted since meeting on the streets of Windsor.
“You too.” She hung up.
Layke walked back into the living room. “That Doyle?”
“No, my friend asking me to be her maid of honor on October third.”
“Kaylin Poirier?”
Hannah’s jaw dropped. “You know her?”
“I’m best friends with Hudson. He asked me yesterday to be his best man.”
“No way!” What were the odds? “Small world. I didn’t know you were from Windsor.”
“Grew up there and met Hudson when I was a teenager.”
“In school?”
His eyes clouded. “No. Long story.”
Another part of his past he obviously didn’t want to talk about. She’d let it go. For now. Her inquisitive mind needed to know more. “What did you find out?”
“Murray has agreed to let us come to his place.”
“Where is it?”
“About an hour from here. Deep in the woods.”
“Does he like to hide from civilization?”
He grinned. “He has an outdoor excursion company.”
“Oh. Do you mean Murly’s Wild West Adventures?”
“Yes. You’ve heard of it?” Layke checked his watch.
“Never been there, but I’ve read great reviews on it. Always wanted to check it out.” She stuffed more into the backpack. “Do you think we’ll have time to go to Tiki’s Tourist Trap?”
“Who now?”
“The town’s favorite eatery.” The food there always made her mouth water. Just thinking about it right now made her tummy rumble.
“Not sure we—”
The front window exploded and a rock thudded on the floor.
Gabe screamed.
Seconds later, a hissing canister followed, with smoke steaming from it as it spun.
* * *
They had nano seconds before the teargas would take effect. Layke scooped Gabe up, lifted him over his shoulder and motioned to Hannah. “Back door. Run!” The smoke had already begun to burn his eyes, but he refused to rub them. That would only make it worse. “Sport, close your eyes.”
Hannah put her hand over her mouth, grabbed her backpack and pulled out her Beretta before rushing to the back entrance.
Thankfully, Hannah’s Jeep Cherokee was parked on the side of the house, but would they be under fire as soon as they stepped outside? Layke held tight to Gabe and also unleashed his Smith & Wesson. “Be careful. Check for any suspects. They’ve probably surrounded the house.” And expected them to flee. Was it stupid to try? They had no choice.
Hannah wheezed, raised her gun and eased open the door. She looked around. “Looks clear, but they could be hiding in the dark.”
Great, the sun wouldn’t rise for probably a couple of hours. However, that could work to their advantage.
The front door crashed open. The suspects had breached the premises.
“Go now!” His voice came out low and raspy. The gas effects would consume them at any moment.
Hannah exited and unlocked her Jeep with the key fob. She kept her gun raised, searching the area for anyone lurking.
He stumbled outside as Gabe shifted in his hold, his legs still weak, but he pressed onward. Layke held him tighter with his left arm and ran to the vehicle, holstering his weapon. He climbed into the back with the boy. “You drive.”
She hopped in the front and started the Jeep, backing out of the driveway just as a masked man came around the side.
He fired, but his shot went wide.
“Go! Go! Go!” Layke yelled as he buckled Gabe.
She pulled onto the street and the Jeep lurched forward at full speed.
He looked behind and saw under the light of her front door two masked men jump into their truck. They followed in hot pursuit.
“We got a tail. Step on it.”
A shot hit the right-hand side mirror.
The Jeep jerked at her acceleration and he fell backward into the seat. He fastened his seat belt and reached for his radio. “Constable Layke Jackson in need of assistance. Taking on shots.”
The radio crackled. “Constable Antoine here. Where are you?”
Layke glanced out the window into the dark morning. “Just passed the post office.”
“Tell them we’re heading toward the AlCan Highway,” Hannah said.
He relayed the information.
“On my way,” Constable Antoine said. A siren pierced through the radio. “Will intercept there.”
Another shot hit the bumper and the Jeep swerved.
Gabe yelled.
Their vehicle jerked side to side as Hannah fought to keep it on the icy road.
“Hang on!” She yelled as she wrenched the wheel right and sideswiped a snowbank.
Layke bounced and hit his head on the window. Pain registered, but he fought to suppress it and tugged a crying Gabe closer to him. “It’s okay, sport. God’s got this.” Had he just said that? Hudson said it all the time.
“Sorry!” Hannah pulled the Jeep back to the road and turned onto the highway.
The truck followed as another shot rang out and hit the back end. How long before they incapacitated them?
Sirens and flashing lights appeared as Constable Antoine’s Suburban lurched onto the highway, crashing into the truck.
Layke peered behind them. The truck stopped momentarily and jerked around before heading in the opposite direction. Good job, Constable Antoine. “Pull over, Hannah.”
She obeyed and veered the Jeep to the right.
“Stay with Gabe.” Layke got out and headed toward the dented Suburban.
Constable Antoine maneuvered the cruiser to the side and spoke into his radio before exiting. “Only got a partial plate before the
truck sped off. Alaska plates. I’ve called it in. You okay?”
“Good. The boy is a little shaken. The assailants breached Officer Morgan’s house with teargas. We barely got out in time.” Layke rubbed the goose egg forming on his forehead from his slam into the window.
“First they compromise your hideout at the cabin and now here? How do they know where you are?” The officer took off his hat and scratched his head.
“No idea.” The question had also raced through Layke’s mind. A limited number of people knew their whereabouts. Could it be a mole? Dare he even think that? He knew it could happen, but in the little time he’d spent in the Yukon, the people seemed genuine.
“I know what you’re thinking. Our detachment is tight-lipped. It’s not us.”
“Not saying it is, but it’s too much of a coincidence for me. Someone is leaking information.” Layke took his notebook from his jacket pocket. “Listen, did you have anything to report on the injured assailant?”
“No. So far he hasn’t turned up at any hospital.”
“You check local vets?”
He shook his head. “Closest vet is in Whitehorse.”
Five hours away. Would they go that far? “What about medical centers?”
“Closest is the Beaver Creek Health Center on the Alaska Highway. Nothing so far.”
“Okay, keep me updated and let me know what you find on that license plate. Any word on the attackers at the corporal’s house?”
“Nothing.”
“Okay, thanks. We need to go.” He turned to leave.
“Where will you go?” Constable Antoine said.
Layke stopped. Could he trust this officer? The rule book in his head told him he needed to convey the information, but his gut told him to hang tight. Why was he following his gut all of a sudden? “Best no one knows.”
The officer pursed his lips and climbed back into his vehicle.
Layke had annoyed the local police, but it couldn’t be helped.
He trusted no one at this point.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Layke brushed aside his growing trepidation over a possible mole and opened Hannah’s door. “I’ll drive.” He glanced at Gabe in the back seat. The boy’s gaze darted back and forth as if checking for the masked men. His agitated state was evident. Layke nodded toward him and turned his eyes back to Hannah. “He needs a mother figure right now.”