Progression Series 05 Wrong Place Wrong Time

by Beth Manz

  Part Three

  Emily slapped at Arnie's hand as he reached over to change the radio channel. "Leave that be, Arnie. I want to hear the news."

  "Ah, c'mon Emily," he whined. "What are they gonna say that they haven't said already?" The young man faced the windshield and mimicked the local announcer: "Deer Creek Savings and Loan was robbed today by three unidentified suspects. The suspects took an undetermined amount of cash and are still at large. Blah, Blah!"

  "Enough!" Emily hissed, turning her head to glance back at her brother where he lay in the back seat of the car. "You wake Cal and he's gonna be mad at both of us."

  "All right," Arnie conceded, slouching down in the seat and folding his arms across his chest.

  Emily turned her attention back to the road before her. She wished Cal would have allowed Blair to come with them. Thoughts of him filled her mind, how nice he was, how he'd promised to try to help her get into college... It had been a long time since someone had made her feel like she counted, like she could do something with her life.

  "This whole thing just didn't turn out to be much fun, did it Em?" Arnie asked quietly, scattering her thoughts.

  "Hmmm? No, it didn't, Arnie." She reached over and gave his arm a sympathetic squeeze. "But c'mon, it'll all work out. We'll stick to these back roads, hide out at those cabins we were telling you about, and we'll get to Canada in a few weeks--just like we planned. You wait and see."

  "I know, but--"

  "Shhh!" Emily cut in, holding up her hand to quiet Arnie. "It's another update." Reaching over, she pushed up the volume of the car radio a bit, careful not to turn it high enough to wake her brother.

  "Local authorities have issued an update on the Deer Creek bank robbery that took place this afternoon. Just moments ago we learned that local fire personnel are currently battling a house fire on Willow Run. It's being reported that the bank robbers' remaining hostage was found inside the house, along with evidence that the robbers were using the house--which had been closed up for the winter--as their temporary hideout. No news is available at this time regarding the condition of the hostage found at the scene. Please stay tuned to this station for further updates."

  Emily swallowed. That can't be true! She shook her head, tried to convince herself that there must be some mistake. Signaling, she pulled the car off to the side of the road and threw the transmission into park.

  "Hey, what's goin' on!" Cal's perturbed voice came from the back seat.

  "How could you?" Emily screamed, turning and facing her brother. "How could you burn that house with Blair inside?"

  "What? Give it a rest, Emily. I didn't burn any house..."

  Quickly, she repeated what she and Arnie had just heard on the news broadcast. "That's what you were doing when you sent Arnie and me out to the car, isn't it? You were setting that house on fire!"

  "I told you I did not burn that house down. Think about it, Em. We left a candle burning in that bedroom. Maybe it tipped over."

  "Stop it!" she screamed. Anger constricted her throat, brought stinging tears to her eyes. "Candles don't just tip over, Cal! You did this! I know you did!"

  "Emily..."

  "You said you wouldn't hurt him. You promised! I hate you! I mean it, Cal. I hate you!"

  /

  /

  /

  Blair sat alone in the back of the ambulance, holding the oxygen mask to his face. His lungs and throat burned with each breath he took, but he wasn't about to complain--at least he was breathing, at least he was alive.

  The crunch of shoes on gravel caught his attention and he looked out to see Jim striding toward him. The detective hopped up into the back of the ambulance and took a seat on the bench across from Blair. Reaching out, Ellison placed his hands against Blair's knees and pressed lightly. "How are you doing?" he asked, his eyes boring into Blair's, concern lining his face.

  Blair gave him a thumbs-up. The rope Cal had used to bind him, still attached around his wrist, bobbed with the movement.

  Jim frowned; catching Blair's wrist, he worked at loosening the knot. Blair could feel Jim's hands trembling against his as he labored with the rope. He swallowed in sympathy for his friend--he knew Jim had been scared... Slowly, Blair pulled the mask from his face. "Jim, man, I'm fine. Relax."

  Jim glanced up at him briefly, then shifted his gaze to the hand that held the oxygen mask. "Give me your other wrist, Sandburg," he said in a no-nonsense tone as the rope came free and fell away. "And put that mask back over your mouth."

  Switching the oxygen mask to his other hand, Blair lifted it back up to his face and offered Jim his arm.

  Jim took his wrist in his hands, working more slowly this time, visibly trying to relax. "Chief," he began as he worked at the stubborn knot, "I want you to go back to town with the paramedics."

  "What are you going to do?" Blair asked, his voice muffled by the oxygen mask.

  "I'm going to stay here and work on the investigation. See if we can't find those kids tonight, bring them in."

  Blair lowered the mask from his face and pinned Jim with a stubborn glare. "Then so am I."

  The rope binding Blair's wrist came loose; Jim pulled it away and dropped it to the floor of the ambulance. The detective sighed deeply and leaning forward, grabbed the hand that held the mask and moved it back to Blair's face. "Can you hear yourself, Sandburg?" he asked pointedly. "Your voice is all raspy. I want you to go into town and get checked out at the hospital. Who knows how much of that smoke you inhaled."

  Blair shook his head slowly. "No. I'm fine, Jim, and I'm staying with you.

  "You're not," Jim said firmly, then stood abruptly and jumped from the ambulance, effectively ending the conversation. Blair discarded the oxygen mask and followed him, having to run several steps in order to catch up with the taller man. Pulling his partner aside, away from the small groups of officials still gathered at the scene, Blair faced his friend, moving up close.

  "Listen, Jim," he ground out, "I'm staying with you whether you like it or not."

  Jim clenched his jaw. "Sandburg..." But his expression softened as he reached out and placed his fingers gently against Blair's cheek, against the bruised area where Cal had hit him. "Chief..." he began again, his voice soft, pleading this time. "Just go with the paramedics."

  Shaking his head, Blair moved even closer to his friend and looked up at him steadily. "Jim, are we partners or aren't we?"

  Jim blinked down at him in confusion. "Of course we are. You know that."

  "Fine," Blair said, "Then as your partner, when I say I'm staying with you, your answer is, 'Okay, Chief. I'm glad to have you back at my side where you belong.' Anything else, Jim, and we aren't really partners at all, are we? You're in charge and I'm your tag-along flunky." He folded his arms over his chest and stared up at the taller man. "So, what's it going to be?"

  Again, Jim blinked down at Blair. He paused for a moment, befuddled, then a small grin began to play at the corners of his mouth. "Chief," he said after a few seconds, the smile breaking fully across his features, "I'm glad to have you back at my side where you belong."

  Blair moved back just a bit. Nodding his head, he smiled his approval. "That's better."

  Jim reached out and grabbed his arm, pulling him up close again. He pointed a finger at Blair. "But if you ever pull another stunt like you pulled in that bank, I'm going to kick your butt all the way into the next state. Got it?"

  Blair rolled his eyes and nodded his head. "Got it."

  "All right, then." Jim tapped him lightly on the forehead then turned him in the direction of the truck where Simon was standing, leaning against the side of the old Ford. "C'mon, buddy." He smiled down at Sandburg, bringing his arm up and draping it around the smaller man's shoulders. "You and I have some bad guys to catch."

  /

  /

  /

  Simon watched as Jim and Blair walked toward him. The kid looked like he'd been in a brawl--a bruise on his left cheek, a cut on his temple that ha
d been covered with a butterfly bandage. And as bad as he looked, he sounded even worse. But Simon had no doubt that Sandburg would do what he always did--stick beside Jim until the case was solved.

  "Captain Banks?"

  Simon turned toward the sound of the voice. Riley strode toward him, his gaze on Jim and Blair. "I'm going to need a statement from your man."

  Simon settled himself more comfortably against the side of the truck and crossed his arms over his chest. "So now Sandburg is one of my men?"

  "Look, Captain, I was just doing my job. If Mr. Sandburg--"

  "Dr. Sandburg," Simon corrected.

  "If Dr. Sandburg," he began again, "Knows something that will help us find our three suspects, then I need to talk to him. Tonight."

  "When did this become urgent for you?" Jim asked, stopping behind Riley, his tone accusatory.

  The state cop turned, his gaze taking in both men. "I always wanted to catch them, Ellison. I just needed something to go on." His gaze shifted to Blair. He took a step closer and glared down at Sandburg, his hulking figure towering over the anthropologist. "Can you give me that, son?"

  "Riley," Jim ground out, reaching out in an attempt to push Blair behind him, "I don't appreciate you trying to intimidate my partner--"

  "It's okay, Jim," Blair said evenly, his gaze never leaving Riley. "He's not intimidating me."

  Simon grinned as he watched the exchange, biting back an amused chuckle. Riley had no idea who he was dealing with. If he thought Jim was a handful...

  "I don't know anything that can help you," Blair said. "If I did, I'd tell you. Believe me, I want them caught more than you do." He glanced up at Jim. "They took my backpack, man."

  Riley rolled his eyes. "You're worried about a backpack? I've got three robbery suspects on the loose, people who--I remind you--tried to kill you, and that's all you can think about?"

  "A very important speech is in there," Blair answered, not at all put off by Riley's imposing size or manner. "I have a conference to speak at tomorrow and I need it. You have no idea how hard I worked--"

  "Unbelievable," Riley muttered, cutting off Blair. Then, without saying another word, he turned and walked away.

  Jim clapped Blair on the back, chuckling softly. "I don't think the man likes you, Chief."

  "Nah, he just doesn't understand me," Blair said, bouncing up on his toes.

  "Sandburg, none of us understand you." Simon moved toward them. "Okay, gentlemen, what's our next move?"

  "We find my stuff." Blair looked up at Jim. "I wasn't kidding. They really do have my backpack."

  Simon dropped a hand on the anthropologist's shoulder. "Blair, you look like hell. Why don't you two head back to the motel. Tomorrow morning, first thing, we'll search for these guys."

  Blair shook his head. "Tomorrow will be too late, Simon. I need to be in Pullman by one o'clock for the conference registration."

  Simon glanced at Jim for help in persuading his stubborn partner, but Jim only shrugged.

  At that moment, the detective's cell phone rang. Jim excused himself and pulled it from his pocket, then took a couple of steps away, where he spoke quietly into the receiver. Simon turned his attention back to Blair. "Can't you reproduce your speech?"

  "No, it's on my laptop-"

  "Which is also in your pack," Simon finished for him.

  "Exactly." Blair exhaled a long breath. "I know it probably doesn't matter much to anyone else, but Simon... I've never been asked to keynote a conference before. I'm already going to show up there looking like I've been in a barroom fight. I don't want to be totally unprepared on top of that."

  Simon stared down into Blair's earnest blue eyes, saw the importance of what he was telling him displayed in the young man's expression. He sighed deeply; he knew he was probably going to end up spending his entire night out in the cold weather, chasing after that speech.

  Jim closed his phone and moved to stand beside Blair again. "You won't believe who that was."

  "The bank robbers," Simon joked.

  "Actually, it was," Jim confirmed. "It was Emily. She was calling to make sure Blair was all right."

  Sandburg stared up at Jim. "Did she say where they were?"

  Jim shook his head. "Just asked if you were okay and then hung up."

  "Not much help there." Simon let out a breath of frustration. This was going to be a long night.

  "Actually," Blair began, his gaze staring past Jim, and Simon could practically see the wheels turning in his head, "I think that call could be just what we needed." He looked up at his partner. "Jim, Emily called you from wherever they're holed up now."

  Jim nodded. "Most likely."

  "Then what we need to do is move beyond what you heard when you were talking to her, to what you didn't hear."

  Simon crossed his arms, watching the exchange with interest. What was the kid talking about? How could Jim move beyond what he heard to something he didn't hear?

  But as he watched Sandburg walk Jim through the call, coaxing him to block out Emily's voice, to listen for background sounds instead, he realized that this was something they had done before. Jim followed Blair's instructions with ease, closing his eyes and turning himself over to Blair with total confidence.

  "What do you hear?" Blair finally asked.

  Jim stood with his eyes closed, his head cocked slightly to one side. "Water," he breathed. "There's water lapping in the background. Like a lake."

  "Anything else?"

  The sentinel paused for a moment, then he let out a long breath and opened his eyes. "That's it, Chief. Just the water."

  A ripple of disappointment passed through Simon. This whole area was dotted with rivers and there was also one large lake. Jim's clue didn't really move them forward. But as he looked at Blair, he saw nothing but hope.

  "Emily told me that her family used to vacation at some lake in this area when she was a kid." His gaze shifted from Jim to Simon and back again.

  "Deer Lake?"

  "That's it!" Blair said, remembering the name of the lake Emily had mentioned. "What if that's where they are now? At a cabin on that lake? Do you have a map of the area?"

  "Yeah, but I'm telling you, Sandburg, Deer Lake is huge..." Jim opened the door of the truck and pulled out the flashlight and the map he and Simon had been using all evening. They spread it out on the hood of the truck, Jim and Simon holding it down against the building wind. The branches of the trees swayed around them as the storm moved closer.

  Blair took the flashlight from Jim's hand and positioned its beam over the map. He pointed to the large lake that lay only a few miles from where they were. "It's the only body of water large enough to have lapping water."

  "Chief, not only does the size of the lake work against us, but it's going to be surrounded by hundreds of cabins. I don't think-"

  "I know it's a long-shot, Jim," Blair cut in, tucking his hair behind his ears as the wind tugged at it. "But I just want to go there, see the area. Maybe we'll get lucky."

  Simon watched as Jim stared down at Blair. He could see the concern in his detective's eyes. Knew he wanted nothing more than to take Blair back to Cascade and put this all behind them. But that wasn't going to happen. Because Blair was determined to find the three bank robbers... and Jim would be at his side, helping him the entire way.

  "Let's go," Jim finally said, gathering up the map. But as they turned toward the truck, they saw Riley lumbering toward them again.

  "Now what?" Jim intoned.

  "You two take off." Simon turned his full attention to the state cop. "I'll run interference with the locals."

  Jim reached up and patted the captain on the shoulder. "Thank you, sir." Glancing at the state patrolman, he squeezed Simon's shoulder in sympathy. "Somehow I think that Blair and I are going to have the easier of the two jobs tonight."

  Simon laughed and turned to his detective. "I think you're probably right. Now get out of here. And if you need backup, you call."

  /

&nbs
p; /

  /

  "We're driving in circles, Chief."

  "No we're not, Jim."

  Ellison looked over as his partner and gave a sarcastic snort. "Like you could tell with that keen sense of direction of yours," he muttered. "Listen, we've passed the sign with the arrow that points back to the highway two times, and I'm sure we're just about to pass it again. I'm telling you, Sandburg, we are driving in circles!"

  Blair pursed his lips in annoyance. Jim was right. Even he, with his less than stellar navigational skills, had seen the sign Jim was talking about--two times. The men had been out for well over an hour, driving the main road that circled the perimeter of the lake, straining to see through the pounding downpour. The rain had started in earnest half an hour before, making visibility through the darkness that much more difficult, even for a sentinel. More than once Blair had noticed Jim lifting his hand to rub at the base of his neck.

  A feeling of guilt washed over him. He knew Jim must have a splitting headache by now, though he hadn't said a word. Blair knew he should let Jim off the hook--should suggest that they call it "quits" for the night and go back to the hotel.

  But he just hated the idea of giving up--hated the idea of the three robbers getting away with they had done. And dammit! He needed that speech!

  "Let me look at this one more time," he suggested, positioning the beam from Jim's flashlight over the map that rested in his lap.

  "Chief, all that map shows us is the lake and about a hundred small roads and lanes that lead into it. We need something more. Something that would give us a clue to where they went in."

  "Well, how about hearing? Do you think you'd be able to hear them if we stopped the truck and just listened?"

  Jim shook his head. "Not with all this wind and rain. And even if I could filter all that out, we're so far away from the lake that I doubt I'd be able to pick up on any conversation or other noises at this distance."

  Blair sighed and flicked the flashlight off. Placing it back in the glove box, he muttered, "I hate to give up on this. I'm positive they're out here."