In Cave Danger

by Kate Dyer-Seeley

  Chapter 27

  Sleep was elusive and futile. I finally gave up sometime after four in the morning, made coffee, curled up in a chair in front of the window, and stared down at the Deschutes. The rhythmic sound of its flow helped calm my nerves while the coffee perked up my senses. I could almost hear Gam’s nudging voice guiding me to put the coffee down and listen to the river. Instead, I poured myself a second cup and got dressed.

  The press conference started at six a.m. at the Lava River Cave. I figured Professor LeAnna had timed it so that the story could be part of the morning news. Driving in the darkness, I made my way to the lava caves. There were press vans with satellites already recording live from the scene. I was surprised by how many people had turned out for the event. Must be a slow news day, I thought, grabbing my cell phone and notebook.

  Professor LeAnna stood near the entrance to the lava cave flanked by reporters who thrust microphones at her and positioned their camera lenses on her face. She was wearing jeans, hiking boots, and a sweatshirt with the High Desert Research logo. From a distance she could have passed for one of her young research assistants. Freestanding professional lights flooded the area with glaring white light. Dupree and his fellow Forest Service rangers stood nearby, all wearing their standard uniform. They reminded me of the guards at the London Tower, as if they were on a mission to guard and protect the forest.

  Sam and the other research assistants surrounded Professor LeAnna. They all looked wide awake and excited even though the sun had yet to rise. I waved at Sam and pushed closer to the front of the throng of reporters.

  Right at six o’clock Professor LeAnna clapped her hands and addressed the crowd. “Thank you all for being here at this very early hour. I suppose most of you are used to working before dawn, but my team of college students is usually crawling back from the pub about now. Isn’t that right?” Professor LeAnna turned to Sam. He and his colleagues laughed, as did the press.

  Professor LeAnna motioned to one of her assistants, who had a stack of papers. “I’ve written up a full report for you to review at your convenience, but in the meantime I am quite pleased to be able to make a monumental announcement this morning that will not only impact Bend, Oregon, and the Pacific Northwest but also the future of space science as we know it.”

  Everyone murmured as the graduate assistant passed around the report. I took a few pictures of Professor LeAnna and the press corps.

  Once the reports had been distributed, Professor LeAnna continued. “You’re here this morning because my team has worked for many painstaking years on research deep within the hidden recesses of the caverns we’re standing on.”

  This sent another wave of chatter among the crowd. A few of the reporters motioned to their camera crews to pan over to the cave and zoom in.

  “Thanks to this team of incredible researchers standing next to me, we’ve been able to prove that not only do prehistoric microbes exist in the cold climates underground but these climates are thriving with bacterial life.”

  I had to credit the professor with sharing her accolades with Sam and the other students. A number of hands shot in the air, and reporters shouted out questions.

  Professor LeAnna smiled and held out her hands. “I’ll take your questions in just a moment, but there’s an even bigger piece of news attached to our findings.” She paused and waited for everyone to quiet down. She knew how to work the press. I could feel the anticipation building around me as she held the intensely quiet space for an extra minute. “This morning I am thrilled—absolutely thrilled—to announce that the High Desert Research Center has been awarded a fellowship with NASA.”

  NASA? I got swept up in the frenzy of excitement. This time no one waited for Professor LeAnna to open the floor (or, in this case, forest) for questions. Reporters pushed forward, yelling their questions and elbowing one another for position.

  Sam reached to the ground and picked up a large cardboard box. Then he passed out T-shirts to the research team. They all tugged them on while the reporters continued to press closer. Soon Professor LeAnna and her entire crew were sporting NASA T-shirts. This sent a cheer of applause through the crowd.

  Professor LeAnna smiled and waved everyone back. “That’s right, the great space race has landed here in Bend, Oregon.”

  I could see the headline now. Standing on my tiptoes I clicked a few shots on my phone. I didn’t know if they would turn out, but I could run them through an app and make them look intentionally retro. If nothing else they’d work on our social media. I knew that our readers would love a story about the lava caves’ connection with space.

  For the next forty-five minutes Professor LeAnna answered questions about her research and what the NASA partnership would mean for the High Desert Research Center. She didn’t officially talk money or numbers, but I had a feeling that NASA’s pockets were deeper than Harley’s. Securing a fellowship with NASA had to ensure that Professor LeAnna wouldn’t need Harley’s money to continue her research. I felt happy for her and Sam. This really was revolutionary research, and it was a thrill to be a small part of it.

  As the press conference began to wind down and reporters and camera crews packed up their gear and took down their satellites, I noticed Dupree heading into the cave. What was he doing? I couldn’t contain my curiosity, so with a quick glance around to make sure that no one was watching me, I stuffed my notebook into the front pocket of my hoodie and hurried after him.

  Chapter 28

  Dupree was light on his feet as he darted into the cavern. Why was he going inside? And a better question: Why was I following him? I ignored the nagging voice in my head telling me to turn around and continued after him. I didn’t have a headlamp or flashlight, so I used my cell phone as a light. I didn’t want to risk Dupree seeing me, so I waited long enough for him to make it to the bottom before I started down into the darkness.

  It was slow going navigating the uneven steps without a real flashlight. The light on my phone cast a narrow glow, which was nothing compared to the high-powered headlamps we had used yesterday. This was probably a bad idea. A really bad idea.

  Pushing my internal warning siren to the back of my mind, I continued on. I knew that Dupree was up to something, but what? Could it have to do with Kira’s murder? Was he looking for samples in the cave? Or did it have something to do with Professor LeAnna’s announcement?

  My foot skidded across one of the steps, causing me to topple to my right. I caught the handrail just in time.

  Focus, Meg.

  I plunged deeper into the darkness. A feeling of cold invaded my body as the light from above faded away. Where had Dupree gone, and how long would my phone battery last? I checked and was relieved to see that it was at eighty percent capacity.

  The ground disappeared in front of me. I was left with nothing but a vast sea of black. Maybe I should turn back after all? I paused and let my heart rate slow. As much as I wanted to retreat to the light, I felt compelled to move forward. Maybe it was due to feeling so helpless about what to do next with Pops, but I knew I had to get to the bottom and find Dupree.

  At least I’m dressed appropriately for caving, I thought as I climbed down four more steps. I should be close to the floor. Then what? I wondered how far ahead Dupree had gotten. My short legs were no match for his. I hoped I’d be able to catch a glimpse of his light.

  Oh no, what if he wasn’t using a light? I hadn’t considered that, but at that moment my feet hit solid ground. I was at the bottom.

  I turned off my phone and stared down the long tunnel. There was a flickering light about thirty feet ahead. I wasn’t sure if I should use my light or try to navigate the cave blind. I opted for light. Even if Dupree had some connection to Kira’s murder, I didn’t think there was any way that the laid-back Forest Service had actually killed her.

  “Please let my intuition be right,” I whispered under my breath as I clicked on the flashlight app and headed after Dupree. Before I had taken a step forward, Dupree wh
ipped around and angled his light directly at me. I threw my hand over my eyes to block the blinding beam.

  “Freeze!” he shouted.

  “It’s me, Meg,” I replied, stepping to the side to try and escape the light. Yellow and orange dots danced across my vision.

  “Are you following me?” His voice reverberated off the cave walls.

  I took a tentative step forward.

  “Freeze!” he shouted again.

  “Okay, okay, relax.” I stepped back.

  Dupree positioned his light on my face again. I winced and looked away.

  “Why are you following me?”

  I wished that he would let me come closer so we didn’t have to shout back and forth in the cave. The echo of our voices was unnerving. “I wasn’t exactly following you. I saw you head down here and wondered if there was something going on, that’s all.”

  “That sounds like following to me.”

  “I know, it doesn’t sound so great, does it?”

  His tone shifted slightly. “No, it doesn’t, and like I said yesterday, it’s dangerous down here. You shouldn’t be down here by yourself. Do you even have a light?”

  I clicked on my cell phone and illuminated a four-inch circle on the cave wall. This made Dupree laugh.

  “That’s not a light.” He pulled his away from my face and shined it on the floor. Then he walked toward me. His posture reminded me of a cat stalking its prey.

  “Sorry about sneaking up on you like this,” I said when he was a few inches away. “I didn’t meant to freak you out or anything.”

  “I’m already freaked out, so you just added to that feeling.”

  “Why?” Dupree didn’t strike me as the type who easily freaked.

  He stared at me for a second. “You really shouldn’t be down here. It’s dangerous.” His pupils were almost fully dilated in the darkness, making them look like black holes.

  “You already said that.” Was he dangerous? I didn’t think so, but if I was being completely honest with myself I hadn’t been the best at reading situations like this in the past.

  Sighing he glanced behind him.

  “What are you looking for down here?” I asked. “Does it have something to do with Kira’s death?”

  Shadows danced on the wall behind him. “Look, you don’t understand. You should really get out of here. It’s not safe.”

  “Are you looking for a clue into Kira’s murder?”

  He checked behind him again. “No, but like I said, you should get back aboveground.”

  “I will, but I can’t figure out what you’re doing. You have to admit that it’s pretty weird that you’re sneaking around when there’s major news breaking. I saw you talking to Harley when we hiked the volcano the other day. Did he put you up to it?” I wasn’t sure why I was pushing him. Maybe with so many unanswered questions in Pops’ death, I had to have answers about what happened to Kira.

  “Wait, do you think I had something to do with Kira’s death? You’ve got it all wrong. Kira and I were great friends. She was awesome, like one of the coolest people on the planet. I never would have hurt her.” Then he held up one hand, which was covered from his wrist to his elbow in leather bracelets. “Did you hear something?”

  I turned, followed his gaze, and listened for a moment. The cave was completely still. The only sound was a constant drip of water. “No, why?” It smelled of damp earth or maybe Dupree’s sweat. I noticed beads of moisture on his brow.

  “Must have been my mind. It’s running like crazy right now.” He wiped his forehead with the bracelets.

  “Trust me, I know that feeling.”

  Dupree nodded. “Yeah, I can tell. You should spend more time in the forest. It would help.”

  I wasn’t sure if I should thank him for the advice or take offense.

  “So you and Kira were friends?” I asked, rubbing my arms for friction. Standing on the cold cave floor was making my core body temperature drop. Maybe Dupree and I should head back to the surface to continue our conversation.

  “Yeah, she was the best. Totally got nature. Totally connected, you know?” His voice sounded shaky as he spoke. “She did right by the forest. She was a tireless advocate and wasn’t afraid to stand up for the trees.”

  Gam would have liked that sentiment. I could picture Kira with her arms outstretched, acting as a physical barrier for the forest.

  “That’s why they killed her, you know?” Dupree continued. “They wanted to destroy everything that was good and open and shared about this land—this place. Kira wouldn’t let them, and it’s my fault she’s dead.”

  “What?” I could hear the confusion in my tone.

  Dupree met my gaze. “I didn’t kill Kira, but I know who did.”

  My mind raced at Dupree’s words. He knew who killed Kira. Why hadn’t he gone to the police, and what was I doing down here with him?

  Chapter 29

  I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Dupree knew who killed Kira.

  “Who?” I asked.

  “It’s a long story.” He froze and held his lantern up.

  “I have time.”

  He scanned the cavern with his light. “No, you don’t. You’ve got to get out of here.”

  I planted my feet firmly. “Can you just give me the condensed version?”

  “You’re not going to leave until I tell you, are you?”

  “Nope.”

  “Okay, listen, you know that I know the cave better than anyone else around here.” He said this like a question and paused.

  “Yeah,” I replied.

  “A while back I got an invitation from Congressman Riley for a ranch dinner at Harley’s. I didn’t want to go, but Kira thought it would be good for morale. You know, mend fences, and she also thought it might be a chance to find out what the congressman was really up to.”

  “Okay.” The anticipation was building in me. I could feel nervous energy pulsing through my veins.

  “I went. We all did.”

  “You all?” I interrupted.

  “The team here—the rangers and Kira.” He kicked a rock with his hiking boot, causing it to cascade down a pile of loose boulders. The sound echoed and made me flinch.

  “Oh.” I nodded and waited for him to go on.

  “The dinner was a huge production. Riley had Harley slaughter one of his prized cattle, which was totally wasted on most of us—we’re all vegetarians.”

  “Right.” That news didn’t surprise me. It matched Dupree’s nature-conscious vibe.

  “I don’t know what Riley’s agenda was with everyone else or if it was just a way to get to me, but after the dude had consumed a bottle of red wine he pulled me into Harley’s barn.” Dupree shuddered at the memory. “That place was like a scene out of a horror movie. There was butchering equipment everywhere—blades, knives, saws, cleavers, hooks, and hangers. I realized after I left that he was trying to send me a message, talking to me in there, you know?”

  I didn’t know. I had no idea where Dupree was going with this story, but I gave him a half nod in hopes that he would continue.

  “He told me he had a proposition for me, one that would make a lot of money. Way more money than I would ever make working for the Forest Service.” Dupree sounded bitter. “I didn’t want his money. I thought he was nuts to think that any of us would do this work for money. I don’t need money. Money is for the man and big business. I love the land. All of us do. That’s why we work as servants to the land.”

  That was an attitude I understood and appreciated. I couldn’t imagine Dupree or Kira being motivated by money.

  “And I’m guessing you told him as much?”

  Dupree nodded. “Yeah, but I haven’t gotten to the worst part yet.”

  “The worst part?”

  “Riley’s proposition to me was to smuggle drugs into the caves. He was looking for a partner—someone who knew the caves—to stash his drugs.”

  “His drugs?” I knew that I must have sounded incredu
lous, but I couldn’t believe that the congressman was an addict.

  “I shouldn’t have said it like that,” Dupree said. “Not his drugs as in his personal stash, but his shipment of drugs. He’s involved in some super shady stuff.”

  His shipment of drugs. I repeated Dupree’s words in my head. Oh, my God, what had I stumbled upon?

  “The dude was such an egomaniac. He really couldn’t believe it when I turned him down. Then he threatened me, of course.”

  “How could he threaten you?”

  “Told me he’d go to the police if I said anything. That he’d flip it around. That they would never believe some earth lover wasn’t involved and that it would be his word against mine.”

  “So what did you do?” I wondered if Dupree could see my heart pounding in my chest.

  “I went straight to Kira. I figured she would know what to do and would be able to go to the big bosses. Riley had a point. He had all the power, and I was afraid that if I went to the police they would end up locking me up or something.”

  “What did Kira say?”

  “She was fuming, but she was kind of happy about it. She said she knew there was more to Riley’s legislation than just wanting access to old Forest Service roads. She put it all together. She figured that Riley was planning to stash drugs throughout the federal land.”

  “Did she go to the police?”

  Dupree kicked the ground again with his boot. “No. She wanted to get proof first, but before we did she ended up dead, and I know he killed her. I know it.”

  Congressman Riley was involved in drug trading and may be Kira’s killer. I thought my head might explode as connection after connection became clearer. Suddenly, I realized that Kira’s murder had brought me one step closer to solving who had done the same thing to Pops.

  Chapter 30

  “There has to be proof down here somewhere,” Dupree said. “So far, I haven’t found it, but I will. I need more time, but I think we might be running out.”