by Sloan Parker
Bingo. The number on each photo matched one of the grid coordinates on the map. I dug a pen out of Luke’s bag and circled the grids that paired with the photos.
I followed the path the pictures made. “Where were you going, Alex?” I turned over the photos so they were right-side up and reviewed each one again, and then I saw it. I rechecked the dates on the back of each photo.
Holy shit.
I reviewed the map and pictures again, and it all came to me.
“What are you doing?”
Luke’s voice startled me. He still lay before the fire, watching me. One of his arms was tucked behind his head. His other hand was raking through Richard’s short hair in a contented, loving stroke. I wasn’t sure Luke was even aware he touched Richard like that. That only made the gesture more beautiful.
“I figured something out,” I said. “I’m pretty sure I know where Alex was when he made that video of the building with the drugs.”
“Where?”
“Not too far from where we are right now.” I pointed to the photos. “The pictures Tomas gave me weren’t only of Alex’s favorite spots in the park. I think Alex was tracking something when he took some of these photos.”
“Tracking what?”
“Those hikers that were killed. I think I know where he found the drugs. I’m also guessing that the cabin in the video, where they shot those college kids, might be somewhere near there. I want to see if I can find it before we leave the park.”
Luke stilled his hand on the back of Richard’s head.
I turned to sit facing him, my legs tucked underneath me. “I bet that cabin’s where they took Alex. Maybe we could find out what actually happened to him. Or maybe…”
“What?”
“I think he might still be alive.”
Luke’s eyes widened, then closed for a brief second. “Matthew…”
“I know you guys don’t think that’s likely, but maybe they caught him and took him back to that cabin.”
“Then he ended up just like those hikers.”
“But maybe not. Maybe he escaped. He could’ve gotten hurt when he was trying to get away from them, and he knew he’d never make it out of the park on foot, so he’s hiding out somewhere until his injuries are better. He’d know how to find food and water. And there are a lot of caves out here. He could be lying low in one of them.”
“But if he’s hurt, then he probably couldn’t—”
“I know.” It took a moment to say more than that. “I know it’s not logical. I just have this really strong feeling that I have to check. I have to find that cabin and see if there are caves near there or anywhere else he could be hiding, or maybe where he could’ve left another note for his family. I just have to see for myself.”
“Okay. Take it easy.” Luke studied me for a moment more. Then he tapped the side of Richard’s head. “Wake up.”
I gave him a pleading look. “Please.”
Luke shifted his upper body, jostling Richard. “Get up.”
Richard grunted and rolled off Luke onto his back. He blinked several times. When it was clear he remembered where he was, he sat up like a shot. “What’s wrong? Someone here?”
“No. Matthew wants to change directions and head off to see if we can find where the doc was when he made that video of the cabin.”
I gave in and repeated my thoughts to Richard.
He stayed quiet the entire time, carefully listening to me. I knew he didn’t want to push me on anything because of the horrible way I’d spoken to him the other day, but I didn’t want to think about that right then. I needed to do this for Alex and Tomas.
Richard said nothing for several seconds. Then he got up and got dressed. As he was doing up his pants, he asked, “What makes you think you know where to look?”
I showed them the pictures I’d been reviewing. “See those hikers?”
Richard took a seat on the floor beside Luke. “Where?”
“Way in the background.”
“All right. I see them.”
“They’re in quite a few of the pictures Alex took. I think those are the two people who were killed in the video.”
“You can’t tell that for sure. These were taken from too far away.”
“I know it’s them, and I think Alex was watching them. Not only on that day but for several weeks. Or maybe he didn’t know they were in some of the pictures when he first took them. Maybe he spotted them later when he got a good look at the photos after he had them printed. And then he knew something was up, so he went out into the park to see what they were doing.”
Luke asked, “Why would he assume something was up? They just look like they’re out hiking.”
“Look.” I turned over two of the pictures. “They’re all dated, with the time too. These two pictures are from a week before Alex disappeared, taken on the same day, only a couple of hours apart.” I flipped over the photos so they could see the young couple in them. “Do you see it?”
Luke took a closer look. “What are we supposed to be seeing?”
“The backpacks. They were carrying different packs when they left the park than when they entered.” I picked up another set of pictures. “These are from a few days before. And these, the week before that. Same thing.”
Richard took the pictures from me. “Yeah, those are different packs.”
“And check this out.” I showed them more photos. “There are three more college-age couples in these pictures. All wearing backpacks and all taking the same route through the park that the first couple did. I’ve marked it here on Alex’s map. Each photo has a number that coordinates with the grid.”
Richard shook his head. “I don’t get it.”
Luke snapped his fingers. “They hired these kids to take the heroin out of the park on foot.”
I nodded. “Not sure why they were killed, but I think I know where that building is with all the drugs.” I laid the map out on the sleeping bag between us. “From what I can tell in the pictures, those couples were in this grid when they switched packs, near the old mill. I’d bet a million bucks that’s where Alex was when he found the heroin on the video.”
“What old mill?” Luke asked.
“It’s this abandoned mill along Windtree River. I kept thinking the outside of that building looked familiar. I thought I’d seen it before, but I couldn’t remember from where. Then it came to me. I hadn’t seen it. I’d read about it. Alex mentioned the mill in his book.”
Richard carefully examined the map. “There’s no indication of a mill on here.”
“It’s pretty remote, and the park service doesn’t publicize it so they can keep tourists from trying to get there. It’s pretty run-down. There’s been a push in recent years to restore the mill, so they’ve left it standing for now.”
Luke asked, “If it’s not on the map, how do you know where it is?”
“Alex described the location in his book. I’m pretty sure it’s not too far from where we are right now.” I pointed to the grid area on the map again. “If I take a look around this area here, I know I can find it. And also find the cabin where those hikers were killed. I bet it’s not too far from the mill. There has to be a road or a path, something that leads to the mill, probably to the cabin too. Maybe something that’s not in use anymore, like the trail here at the cabin. There had to be some way they originally brought in all the drugs and supplies to set up their operation.”
Richard seemed to be considering that. When he spoke his tone was deliberate but cautious. “Matthew, we need to get out of this park and get help. And when we do, we can tell the feds everything you figured out about where Alex was and why. Then they can go take a look at the mill.”
“I know I’m asking a lot. I know this is a huge risk, but I can’t wait. I need to find out if Alex is still alive.”
“Matthew…” Richard was shaking his head. “The chances that he—”
“I get it. I don’t know how I know, I just do. I think he’s sti
ll alive.”
He sighed. “These people are incredibly dangerous. They killed that young man and woman, maybe because the two were stealing from them or they wanted to get rid of any loose threads or maybe just for the hell of it. And if they find us with the phone, they’re going to kill us too.”
I knew he was right, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had to do this, that it was up to me to figure this out before it was too late.
But too late for what? Did I really think there was a chance Alex was alive?
I did. But why did I have to do this myself? If we stayed in the park any longer, it could be too late for us.
“Okay,” I said. “Yeah. I know you’re right. I don’t want anything to happen to either of you.” I couldn’t even fathom that. Hearing Luke vocalize his fear that something awful might happen had been bad enough. “We’ll keep going for the road.”
Richard eyed me for a long moment as if he wasn’t sure if I was really on board with that plan.
I nodded in reassurance but said nothing more.
After another quiet beat, my stomach growled.
Luke gestured toward the shelves at the back of the cabin. “I checked those tins earlier. They’re filled with granola bars and trail mix.” He retrieved one of the containers and several bottles of water. “Most of it’s expired, but I say we chance it.”
We ate the stale granola bars and trail mix and drank the water.
Luke stuffed four extra bottles in his pack. “We should hide Alex’s cell phone somewhere in here. Just in case…”
In case we were caught, but he didn’t say that. He was right, though. It would give us something to bargain with.
“Yeah,” Richard said. “Good idea.”
Luke got up and meandered around the room, indicating several places where we could stash the phone. There weren’t many options that wouldn’t be obvious if the cabin were searched. We all settled on the best spot: shoved down in between the seat and the back cushion of the office chair. The phone wasn’t visible, and Luke had it lodged in there so well if someone moved the chair around or took a seat in it, the phone would stay put.
As we neared the end of the granola bars, Richard said, “We should get going. I think we’re just going to have to make our way in the rain. It doesn’t seem like it’s going to stop anytime soon.” He went to take another bite of his bar but stilled with it halfway to his mouth like he’d just thought of something.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Shh.” He held still and listened.
Snap.
The twigs on the front steps.
Richard met Luke’s stare. “Someone’s outside.”
We all hurried to get up.
I was hastily gathering up the last of the photos when the hammer fell from the doorknob. “Shit.”
“Go.” Richard pointed to the back of the cabin. “Now!”
Chapter Thirty-One
Luke tucked the map and photos into his pack, and we raced for the rear of the cabin. Richard cranked the window open and climbed through first. I knew what he was doing. If they were already surrounding the place, he wanted to be the first one shot at.
No shots rang out.
I rushed out after him. Then Luke did the same. We quickly made our way into the trees behind the cabin.
Right as we ducked into the tree line, we heard the cabin door burst open, then the desk being shoved aside. A voice filtered out from the open window behind us. “They were here.”
“Go.” Richard grabbed my arm and Luke’s and thrust us in front of him.
Lightning lit up the sky. The stinging rain came down harder as we wove our way deeper into the forest, racing around giant chestnut oak trees and leaping over fallen limbs. My drenched boots repeatedly slipped in the wet, muddy brush. I had to focus on every step to keep from falling flat on my face.
“Faster,” Richard said. “They’re right behind us.”
We trudged on, farther and farther away from the cabin, all of us breathless, the rain beating down on our backs. We had nowhere to get out of the weather or attempt to hide.
After several minutes, I pointed to our left. “I think I can get us to the main road if we go this way.”
“How do you know that?” Luke asked.
“I went over the map back at the cabin. We’ve been going north since we left there, and we just passed Angel Wings rock formation a few minutes ago, which means if we turn and head due west, we’ll eventually run into the main road on this side of the park.”
They both gave a nod, and I led us that way.
The wind kicked up, whirling the rain and rotting remnants of last year’s fallen leaves through the air, limiting our visibility. It wasn’t long before I’d lost complete sense of where we were. For all I knew I was leading us in circles, and we were headed in the opposite direction of where we needed to be, but there was no way I could stop to review the map and get my bearings. I had to trust that I was on the right track. Besides, all that mattered right then was getting us away from the murderous gun-toting cops and park rangers.
So I kept going, traipsing through the heavy brush as fast as I could. I had no idea how much time had passed when Richard pulled me to a stop. “Ease up. I don’t think they’re behind us anymore.”
I nodded and slowed down so none of us would trip and fall in the dark. I didn’t want to stop altogether, though. I was determined to get us to the road. And I would too. That was if I hadn’t completely fucked this up and gotten us lost.
The wind howled through the air and whipped the branches of the trees around like they were nothing more than paper streamers blowing in the breeze. The brutal rain and wind made it harder to keep an eye on the ground before me. I tripped right as I came upon an embankment that led down to a wide rushing stream. I caught myself before I toppled down the steep hillside, then tried not to ruminate for long on how I’d almost fallen like I did when I was a kid.
When Richard and Luke caught up with me, Richard gestured at the stream. “Let’s follow the ridge and see if we can climb down somewhere safer.”
I started hiking again but halted when a loud crack tore through the air above our heads. A heavy branch came crashing to the ground five feet from me. I jumped with the jolt of the impact. My boots slipped on the muddy ground, and I landed on my hip, sliding headfirst down the embankment, mud kicking up as I attempted to grab for purchase.
“Matthew!” Richard called out from somewhere above me.
I managed to flip to my stomach and tried digging my fingers into the ground to stop myself, but that just got the rest of me slick with mud and also descending faster toward the stream and the rocks at the water’s edge.
No time to do anything else, I ducked my head and flung my arms up as I tried to turn my body before impact. I came to a crashing halt, my right shoulder blade smacking into a massive rock. Stabbing pain radiated down my side and back.
I couldn’t move for several breaths. Then the pain started to recede. Before I could even think about trying to get up, Richard and Luke were there.
Richard gripped me around the waist. “Easy does it.”
“I’m okay,” I said. “I can get up myself.”
That didn’t stop him. He kept his arm around me and held on as I got my feet under me and stood. Mud covered me from head to toe. I spit to clear my mouth and then wiped at my eyes.
“You sure you’re okay?” Luke asked, practically screaming to be heard over the roar of the wind and the rain smacking the surface of the water beside us.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Guess we should cross the stream here.” I laughed, but it wasn’t a humor-filled sound.
Luke smiled tentatively in return. “Sounds good.” He handed me a T-shirt from his pack. “Here, wipe your face on this.”
Richard shook his head. “We’re not going anywhere right away. You’re resting here for a minute.” He still had an arm around my waist.
I shrugged out of his touch. “I said I’m okay.”
I threw the soiled shirt at Luke and went to take a step away. My right boot slipped, and I almost hit the ground again, but Luke caught me.
“You’re not okay. You need to take a break, Matthew.”
I backpedaled several steps. “Don’t tell me what to do. I am okay.”
He flinched at my tone.
I hadn’t meant to take out my frustration on either of them. I spun away from him and glanced out into the forest on the other side of the stream. “We’re probably heading in the wrong direction anyway.”
“I don’t think so,” Richard said.
I shook my head, not even sure what I meant by that.
He came up behind me and laid a hand on my shoulder, lovingly sweeping his thumb over my taut muscles. “Let’s wait until the rain lets up and we can see better.”
“No. We have to keep going.” Before they could argue more, I started across the stream, wading through the knee-high water, navigating around the larger rocks that jutted up out of the surface. I dipped my hands into the cool water to aid the pelting rain in washing away what I could of the mud from my face and arms. Richard and Luke followed, but I didn’t wait for them. I started hiking along the bank.
“Stop!” Luke caught up with me and grabbed my arm, pulling me to a halt. “You need to let up before you get hurt.”
I was vibrating with anger. At Luke’s words. At the men chasing us. At the storm. At myself for falling down the embankment like I’d done all those years ago.
If it hadn’t been for the tender way my father had treated me after that fall, for all those good moments alone with him—the camping, the video games we used to play, the movies, the laughs—I might not have been so fucked up about the way he beat me, about his leaving, or about Alex’s disappearance. I might not have forced Luke and Richard to head out into this park and put them in jeopardy.