Things between them became tense when he asked her out on a date. She’d known for some time that he liked her. She liked him, too, but not in the same way. She admired what he was doing for the animals, and he was super nice, but she didn’t have any romantic feelings for him. She was also afraid of what might happen if they did start seeing each other but broke up. He could land her in serious trouble with her illegal pursuits. It’d been a tightrope she walked to keep the friendship on good terms while turning down his advances. Thankfully, he seemed to take her rejection in stride, and now it was as if it never happened.
Traffic was light as she navigated the streets to the edge of town. Todd was like a Pit Bull with a bone when he set his mind on something. Right now, that was talking her out of her trip. Knowing he wouldn’t give up and would no doubt stop by her condo later, she decided to leave a day early and thwart him. If all went according to plan, she’d rescue the dog and be back home before he even realized she was gone.
After parking in the lot of an abandoned gas station, she locked her Jeep and adjusted the backpack over her shoulders. She expected it to be a day trip, so her supplies were chapstick, sunscreen, trail mix, a collar, leash, and treats to lure the dog. Her pack included a three-liter bladder to hold water with an attached drinking tube. In case she had to spend the night, she also brought a flashlight, a lightweight sleeping bag and a blanket. As far as security, she had her phone, a Leatherman utility tool that included a knife, and her taser. She didn’t leave home without it. Despite having a permit to carry a gun, she left hers at home. She was already breaking the law. She didn’t need a weapons charge added to her rap sheet if caught.
Since her goal was to be as invisible as possible, she wore a long-sleeved shirt and jeans, both black, with hiking boots. She might be hoofing it through undergrowth if she couldn’t find a trail to follow. Covering her arms and legs to avoid scrapes and scratches was a must. She also brought two hats: one to wear as she hiked and a black knit cap to conceal her hair when she made the grab.
The area was deserted as she adjusted her pack and set off on her trek. Before she disappeared too far into the woods, she found a sturdy stick to use as a shillelagh. She wasn’t necessarily afraid of snakes, but she didn’t want to come across one, either.
The forest thickened the further she traveled and finding a path to navigate proved difficult. Still, she kept going, using the compass app on her phone to make sure she headed in the right direction. She didn’t have the exact coordinates, only a general area. If she hit water, she’d gone too far. Somewhere beyond the forest was a large lake used by several surrounding counties for fishing and recreation.
After an hour of hiking, she was beginning to think she was searching in the wrong area. The only structure she passed was nothing more than a shack. She didn’t have to get close to know it was an abandoned methamphetamine lab. The odor alone gave it away. The windows were covered with tattered black tarp, and the surrounding ground was littered with broken glass and empty antifreeze, drain opener and paint thinner containers, among others. She steered a wide path around it, not wanting to risk a second-hand high.
Leaves and branches to her left rattled, and she froze mid-step. It was hard to tell who was the most startled: her or the deer who poked her tawny head through the bushes. The deer spun around and bolted, her fluffy white tail swishing jauntily from side to side as she darted to safety. Vanessa let out a relieved chuckle. Todd’s lectures about knife-wielding forest killers had her jumping at Bambi.
She continued on her journey, taking the time to enjoy the scenery along the way. She loved being outside but rarely had the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. Most of her free time the last few years had been spent on successfully growing her clinic. There was something so peaceful about being deep in the woods. Fresh air. No honking cars or ringing cellphones…except hers. With a sigh, she pulled it from her pocket. Todd. She didn’t want his harping ruining her commune with nature. Waiting until he left a message, she inspected her surroundings. Still no signs of human life. When she checked her phone, she did indeed have a voicemail.
Where are you, Vanessa? I’m at your condo, and surprise, surprise, you aren’t. If you took off early on your ridiculous quest, I’m going to drink all your orange juice and leave the empty carton in the fridge. Or, or, I’ll throw it away instead of recycling it. Ha!
He was hitting her where it hurts. Those were two of her pet peeves.
I’m serious, V. I’m worried about you. If you insist on going, I’m coming with you.
Too late and no way in hell. She didn’t want to end up in prison, but she could take care of herself if she did. Todd would never survive.
Call me. Please.
A guilt-filled groan escaped. It was the last word uttered so sincerely that did her in. Todd would worry himself sick if she didn’t call. She wasn’t sure how much longer she’d have reception, so she found a downed tree to sit and dialed his number.
“Please don’t tell me you left already,” he said in lieu of a greeting.
“I wanted to get an early start,” she responded defensively.
“Vanessa.” He strung the last ‘a’ out for a good thirty seconds. “You didn’t just leave early. You skipped out an entire day sooner than planned. I wanted to go with you.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I’ve got this. I’ll call when I can. I may have to wait until late to free the dog or even into tomorrow, so don’t panic. I brought a sleeping bag.”
“You are not spending the night in the woods.”
The way he said the phrase, she could picture him with his nose pointed haughtily skyward. “Hello? It’s called camping.”
“Hello?” he mimicked. “It’s called bugs and critters and no internet or flushing toilet.”
Yeah, that was a drawback. But she’d been camping many times with her parents growing up. They were some of her fondest memories—s’mores around the fire, sleeping in a tent and laughter.
“I’ll be fine. I’ve got to get going, so we’ll talk soon.”
She disconnected before he could respond. They’d rehashed the same conversation so many times there was nothing left to be said. Digging in her bag, she found the jumbo sack of trail mix that added a good five pounds of weight to her supplies, but she didn’t care. With ingredients of peanuts, almonds, cashews, raisins, and M&M’s, it was the perfect mixture of sweet and salty. Feeling energized, she slid the pack on her shoulders and continued to forge a trail to her destination.
Half an hour later, a structure came into view. Vanessa crept closer and ducked behind a tree. It looked exactly as the anonymous tipster described with brown wood siding, a green tin roof and a porch along the front. Nothing fancy, and it was in some serious need of curb appeal, though there were no streets around except for a rugged lane that led to the cabin.
Excitement sizzled through her. Her quest was chained to the side of the house. From her vantage point, she couldn’t tell if it was a male or female. She didn’t want to keep calling the dog it, so she went with a male. The ground beneath him was bare, and from what she could see of the filthy water bowl, it was loaded with leaves and grass. He appeared to be a Patterdale Terrier, though he was severely underweight and skeletal, and it looked like he might have mange. Sad resignation filled his eyes. He’d given up. Not if Vanessa could help it.
She jerked when branches snapped and turned to see a vehicle approach the shack via a narrow dirt road. Dropping down to the ground, she grabbed her phone and pushed the record button as four men rolled out of a newer model black panel van. Maybe she could convince the police to arrest them for animal abuse. She’d make sure to include footage of the neglected dog, too.
Her brows narrowed, and she craned her neck forward. One of the thugs seemed familiar, but she couldn’t place how she knew him. They were carrying fast food bags, and her stomach rumbled, reminding her that all she’d eaten in hours was trail mix. The familiar man wasn’t completely heartless as he
tossed something to the dog on his way inside the house. The dog didn’t even attempt to sniff the thin hamburger patty inches from his nose. He wouldn’t last much longer if he didn’t eat.
Now that the cabin was occupied, she’d have to wait until dark to make her move. She couldn’t risk one of the occupants looking out a window and catching her in the act. Her hiding place was secure for now. There were enough trees and bushes to camouflage her location. Glad that she packed a blanket, she removed it and spread it on the ground to relax.
She’d almost fallen asleep from boredom when one of the men came outside on the porch talking on his phone. He stood at least six-six and sported a bushy red beard. She couldn’t hear what he was saying, but the longer he talked, the more agitated he became until one arm flailed wildly in the air. With a disgusted huff, he disconnected. The other three came outside, and together, they descended the stairs. Fear rooted her to the spot when they turned in her direction. They didn’t look like the kind of men who would buy her innocent hiker story. Thankfully, they stopped a few feet from the cabin. One of the men crouched down and did something on the ground. To her surprise, he stood and lifted a handle on a trap door. It was camouflaged entirely with dirt and leaves, so it blended in with the surroundings. She never would’ve known it was there.
The four disappeared into the opening. She really wanted to know what was down there, but that wasn’t part of her covert operation. It was just her being nosy. Save the dog was her only goal. Still, curiosity ate at her. What were they doing? Another meth lab? Illegal poker games? Or something else?
Hours passed. She wanted to play a game on her phone but didn’t want to risk draining the battery since she had no way to recharge it. Too bad she didn’t pack a book to read or anything to pass the time. Right now, her only source of entertainment was watching an ant navigate the hills and valleys of her blanket as it crawled haphazardly away. Fun times.
Her lids popped open when another vehicle approached. Pushing upright, she peered through the bushes to spot a sleek red sports car. She recorded the sharp-dressed man who stepped out. He looked familiar, too. His eyes roamed the forest, forcing her to slink lower. Snapping his lapels, he marched forward.
Two of the men emerged from the bunker. They said something to the newcomer. She wished she could hear their conversations and looked for a closer hiding place, but there were none. It appeared as if they were trying to block his forward progress but eventually gave in and escorted him underground.
Ten minutes later, all four of the original men plus the newcomer reappeared. She hit record again. Judging by the wild arm movements and angry faces, they were arguing about something. As if happening in slow motion, Sports Car whipped out a gun from inside his breast pocket and shot one of the men in the head point-blank. Blood and brain matter sprayed before he collapsed like a marionette whose strings had been snipped. Vanessa gasped and then dropped to the ground when four heads swiveled her way.
She’d just witnessed a murder. No, an execution. In cold blood. The dog hadn’t even flinched at the shot so close to him. Meanwhile, it was all she could do to control her bladder. Now she was glad all she’d eaten was a handful of nuts and raisins and chocolate, but even that threatened to make a reappearance. Her heart thundered so loudly in her ears, she wouldn’t hear if they came after her.
She peeked, and fortunately, they were still in the same spot. Sports Car said something and pointed his weapon ominously at the others before he stalked off to his Porsche. He slammed the door so hard, she flinched. Putting the car in reverse, he executed a squealing half turn before spinning leaves and twigs as he sped away.
The three remaining guys seemed dazed as they stared at their fallen comrade. Another argument took place with pushing, shoving and pointing. Then—no way—they rock, paper, scissored until they declared either a winner or loser. Apparently, the latter because one of the men stalked off disgruntledly and disappeared around the opposite side of the house. When he returned, he was carrying a shovel. He began digging a hole she assumed would become a grave. When the pit was deep enough, the other two grabbed the dead man’s arms and feet and chucked him inside like a sack of potatoes. She felt a pang of sadness for him. For all she knew, he might deal drugs to kids or build bombs, but he must have family who would miss him. His life ended in the blink of an eye, and there’d been no tears of sorrow or mourning. He’d been unceremoniously tossed aside like yesterday’s trash.
After he was covered with dirt, the three men retreated inside. No symbol to mark his final resting place and no graveside prayers. He’d been forgotten already.
Vanessa’s blood pressure slowly returned to normal, but she knew as soon as she closed her eyes, she’d relive the scene over and over in her head. Witnessing a life ending wasn’t something easily forgotten. Her mouth felt like she’d inhaled a dozen cotton balls. Unlatching the water tube from the side of her backpack, she sucked the tepid liquid slowly, letting it coat her parched throat.
The sound of another vehicle approaching had her entire body tensing, wondering if Sports Car returned to finish off the others. One glimpse through the brush told her it wasn’t a red Porsche but a white panel van. Unlike the newer model the original men drove, this one was rusty and dented and missing a headlight. A rope tied to the hood was the only thing holding the front bumper on, and duct tape covered cracks in two windows.
Scooting upright, she found her phone and started recording. The driver who slid out looked as derelict as his ride with greasy black hair and a scraggly goatee. Hitching up his pants, he approached the porch. Before he could climb the steps, the occupants of the cabin stormed outside with weapons drawn.
Vanessa’s heart started thumping again. The newcomer lifted his hands skyward and stumbled backward as the men descended on him like maggots on a rotting corpse. Ugh, bad mental reference. The conversation was tense, with raised voices and lots of gesturing towards the underground bunker. The newcomer said something that angered the others. The giant with the bushy red beard took a menacing step forward, causing the newcomer to lurch back until he tripped over an exposed root and went down hard. He threw his hands in front of his face as he begged for his life. Unmoved by his pleas, the giant advanced closer and aimed his pistol. No, no, no, Vanessa chanted in her head. Her stomach couldn’t take another bloody execution.
She slammed a hand over her mouth as a gunshot rang out. Bending forward, she lost the water and bits of trail mix she’d ingested. Sweat dotted her brow, and spots danced before her eyes before she realized she wasn’t breathing. As she forced her lungs to inflate, her vision slowly started to clear. The giant stood off to the side, speaking on his cell phone, while the others grabbed the dead man and tossed him in the back of his van before heading to the bunker and disappearing down the steps. When they returned, one of the men hauled something inside a black trash bag over his shoulder. He hurled it in the back with the dead man and then climbed inside the driver’s seat and drove away. The giant and the other men retreated to the cabin.
Vanessa ended the recording with a shaking hand. Her first order of business would be to notify the police once she saved the dog and got the heck out of the creepy forest. Darkness was descending quickly, and shadows made it harder to see. She’d need to navigate back to her Jeep with her flashlight. It would be rough going, but there was no way she’d stay a minute longer than necessary. It’d be a cold day in hell before she returned to these godforsaken woods.
Todd had been right. She was in way over her head.
Knowing just how deadly the men inside the cabin were, she’d have to wait until she was sure they were asleep before attempting to free the Terrier. A smarter woman would leave now, but she’d come this far, and after seeing the dog’s condition, she knew she couldn’t leave it to die a slow, painful death.
She was shaking and not from the nip in the air. What did Sports Car see in the bunker that warranted him assassinating one of the men? And why was the newcomer killed?
Though she wanted answers, they would be up to the police to solve. She had no part in whatever was going on, nor did she want one. The phrase ‘curiosity killed the cat’ flittered through her mind.
She’d just settled on her blanket when the three men came outside and loaded into their van. Hoping this was the opportunity she’d been waiting for, she watched the taillights disappear completely before standing. Her knees almost buckled, and she was so shaky, she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to walk. Sliding her phone in her pocket, she pulled the knit cap over her head and tucked her hair inside. Armed with a handful of treats, she cautiously approached the dog, speaking lowly to reassure him that she intended no harm. There was just enough light for her to see that he hadn’t so much as moved. He was so defeated and sad. Her heart broke into a million pieces.
Holding out a treat, she crooned softly to him. Interest peaked, he lifted his nose and sniffed the air. Easing closer, she exhaled when he gingerly picked the treat from her palm. In two bites, it was gone. He pushed upright until he was sitting, looking expectantly at her for more. She gave him another, but she needed to get him out of there before the men returned.
Reaching out, she scratched his head. He didn’t try to bite her or dislodge her hand, so he decided to trust her. She’d just loosened the chain around his neck when a door slammed, and then a flashlight blinded her.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing with my dog?”
Chapter Four
The trip to Minnesota took longer than Quinn anticipated. Major construction on an interstate around Chicago forced him to detour miles out of his way, and then he was caught in not one but two backups due to accidents. He didn’t roll into town until early evening. Despite the delays, he had plenty of time to locate Vanessa’s house and talk her out of her mission tomorrow. Then he’d find a motel that allowed pets and catch some sleep before heading into the forest in the morning.
Worth the Risk (COBRA Securities Book 21) Page 3