“The little boy, Liam, is gone.” Wind Dancer stared in the direction without the light. “Come.”
“Hold on, Joseph. We need to announce ourselves. They might have a gun for protection.” Jacque called out and said they were coming in and waited until they were encouraged to join them.
The hysterical mother cried and ran to the edge of the camp, calling for Liam. The father rubbed a hand through his hair. “He’s gone. Disappeared in an instant.”
“What happened?” Jacque asked, shifting attention from the Pawnee for a few seconds. He wanted to make sure another person didn’t disappear.
The man stuttered in fear. “I-I don’t know. We were in bed. Something outside woke me. I thought I saw a shadow. Big. Like a deer. By the time I grabbed my flashlight to check it out, it was gone. I checked on Liam, and he was gone, too,” he choked. “He’s a curious little guy. I thought maybe he went outside.”
“Would he do that?”
“Not usually. He’s afraid of the dark. He even sleeps with a flashlight or his glowworm to keep him company. Both are still here.” He pointed to their campfire. “We let it burn down after we left your camp. Liam kept talking nonstop about Wind Dancer. Most of it we couldn’t understand, but we listened with interest like we knew exactly what he meant.”
“He told you about the Indian folktale, ‘Her Seven Brothers.’ It’s about the big dipper in the sky,” the Pawnee said matter-of-factly as he turned his attention toward the woods.
Ellie came to stand next to her husband. “How do you know that?”
“I could hear him. I understand.”
They stiffened and grabbed each other’s hands before shifting their concern to Jacque. He moved closer to them and lowered his voice, although he knew from experience Wind Dancer could still hear him if he paid attention.
“Wind Dancer is very special. Not so different than your Liam. He has this supersonic-hearing thing going on. No one seems to know why. He has a lot of special gifts that make him—peculiar. Nothing to be afraid of. If Liam is close, he’ll be able to hear him.”
“The boy cries.” Wind Dancer turned around. “I go for him.”
Ellie burst into tears. “He’s lost,” she moaned, falling into her husband’s arms.
“Not lost. Taken.”
“What?” Ty gasped. “How do you know?”
“I feel it,” he said. “I say truth, Jacque. You know I do. We must get him. If he goes to water, I cannot hear.”
“What the hell does that mean?” Ty choked on his words. “Shouldn’t we call the police, the park rangers, or something?”
“We need to go now, Jacque,” the Pawnee insisted.
He pulled out his phone and realized he had no bars. “Are you sure about this, Joseph?”
“Yes. I need light.” The Pawnee nodded to the flashlight. “I go faster alone.”
“I’m going, too.” Ty gently led Ellie to a stool near the fire pit. The Pawnee had already disappeared into the darkness.
Jacque grabbed the man’s arm. “You won’t be able to keep up. You stay here. I’ll go for help. I know someone at the police department in Sunset Rock who can help. I don’t think Ellie should be alone since we still don’t know what happened. I might have better reception outside the park.” He eyed the dying embers. “Build that fire up. Wind Dancer will be able to use it as a beacon when he comes back. He’ll smell it and see it from a long way off.”
Ellie shook her head. “I don’t understand, Jacque. How?”
“It’s a really long story. Do you have a weapon, Ty?”
“I have a pistol I keep locked up. Was afraid Liam would find it.”
“Get it out and load it. If anything comes into the camp, you can scare it off with it.”
“You talk like there are monsters out there.” Ellie shivered, rubbing her arms as tears cascaded down her cheeks.
This was one of those moments when he wished he hadn’t been exposed to the ugly side of man. He also wished he’d not seen the woman named Karla laid out on a slab with her face scratched up.
“I’m sorry. Being a Chicago detective, I just naturally expect the worse. I bet Wind Dancer comes carrying Liam in on his shoulders before you know it. Stay close to the fire. If you get spooked, get in your car. That might not be a bad idea anyway.” He patted Ellie’s arm and nodded to Ty. “It’s several miles out of here, but at least I’ll be on higher ground. Darkness will slow me down, but I’ll do my best to hurry.”
The first mile of road was mostly gravel and dirt, making a speedy exit impossible. It also twisted back and forth, avoiding boulder outcroppings. He wondered why the powers that be hadn’t removed the boulders. Some eco-maniac engineer must have decided natural might be considered more pleasing. Once he hit paved road, his speed increased but only slightly. It, too, curved with trees that grew too close to the road and created the appearance of someone trying to hide. He laid a hand on the Glock he’d stuck in the holster he’d rigged between the seat and console then returned his hand to the steering wheel.
Ten minutes were lost by taking a wrong turn down a road that led to another empty campground. It would be full soon with the eclipse drawing campers from everywhere. Once he returned to where he first got lost, a mule deer ran in front of the car, causing him to slam on the brakes. The animal paused on the edge of the road and looked around cautiously then into the headlights.
Before he could move forward, a dark object pounced on the hood of the SUV and blocked his line of sight for a few seconds. It was the size of a bear with spikes on its spine. He grabbed the flashlight to get a better look. When he directed the light out the windshield, it turned glowing eyes his way and let out a blood-curdling scream. The sound startled Jacque enough, he dropped the light. He reached for his gun as the thing rolled off the hood and ran at where the mule deer had stood seconds earlier. He sat frozen by the encounter until he heard the terrified cry of a wounded animal. This time, he floored the car and drove recklessly until he reached the park entrance.
He put the car in park and shone a flashlight on the hood of the car. No dents were visible from this perspective. The bright moon appeared to bounce among the clouds as a light wind moved them across the night sky. Pulling out his phone, he realized how hard he was breathing and that his heart hammered in his chest, so he took a few seconds to calm down. He double-checked the door locks after turning off the engine, careful to keep an eye on the rearview mirrors for any movement.
“I need to speak to Chief Perez,” he said, swallowing hard to make his voice sound normal.
“Sir, if this is an emergency, you should call—”
“You’re damn straight it’s an emergency,” he barked. “This is Detective Marquette from Chicago PD. I spoke to her earlier today. There’s a missing child up here at Kewa National Park. We need your help now.” The irritated-detective side of him took over, causing his momentary fear of the boogeyman to evaporate. He gave the person on the other end his phone number. “Have the chief call me ASAP. And since I don’t know who to call concerning park rangers, search and rescue, I’m leaving that in your hands. You got that?”
“Yes, sir. Are you at the campground now?”
“I’m at the entrance. No reception down by the lake.”
“Stay where you are. I’ll call the chief and the other people needed for this.”
Jacque clicked off and checked his weapon. A large cloud slid over the face of the moon, leaving a halo around the edges. He decided to turn the car around in order to return to the camp. The thought of Liam, alone in the woods, with a killer or a wild animal, gave him pause. The digital clock showed 3:45 a.m. Not quite two hours since he first heard Ellie’s screams.
How did Wind Dancer get to him that quickly, yet he slept so soundly he didn’t hear the commotion in the camp next to them? Was it a cry of terror or Ellie screaming the little boy’s name? Why didn’t Wind Dancer go immediately after whatever it was in the woods? Maybe the Pawnee didn’t know what was h
appening until he heard Ellie.
His phone hummed the ringtone song from the television show Law and Order. “Marquette.”
“Jacque? Chief Perez. What’s going on?” The words flowed through a yawn.
He caught her up to speed as much as possible without sounding like a hysterical little child who’d lost her pacifier. “I need to get back. I’ve been up here too long.”
“Give me your exact location, including, which entrance to the park you used. That place is a maze if you don’t know where you’re going. Got state troopers on the way and search and rescue. Might be another twenty minutes before anyone shows up. I’m closer. Maybe ten minutes. Wait for me.”
When she clicked off, he realized she demanded rather than asked he wait. One of the things he’d wanted on this trip was not taking orders or listening to unreasonable demands he behave in a certain way. After turning the key in the ignition, he put the SUV in gear and headed back to camp. He’d deal with Perez later if need be. For now, he wanted to check on the distraught family he left alone and hoped Wind Dancer had returned with the little guy in tow. Or on his shoulders.
When he pulled into the neighbors’ camp, the fire had died down to a small blaze, but he could still see the smashed tent, supplies strewed everywhere, and equipment upended. Where were Ty and Ellie?
Chapter 6
Jacque eased out of his SUV, gun in hand, and paused to listen. Evaluating the surroundings had served him well on the mean streets of Chicago, but out here, the sounds compromised his ability to put the chance of danger in perspective. The snap of a twig or the sudden absence of a bullfrog’s croak set his nerves on edge.
An unexpected breeze sent sparks skyward at the same time the flap of owl wings soared over the flickering remnants of the campfire. Seconds later, his hoot mixed with the soft waves of water cascading over stones along the shoreline of the lake.
The moon continued to dodge in and out among the clouds as he moved toward Ty and Ellie’s car. The driver’s side door appeared to have been shoved inward. Jacque flashed his penlight along the entire side of the vehicle and noticed deep scratches. At this distance, he couldn’t determine if the couple had made it to the car after he’d suggested it would be safer. He couldn’t bring himself to call their names, in case something or someone else lurked in the trees at the edge of the camp.
Circling around to the rear, he spotted the trunk of the sedan had an object wedged haphazardly under the bumper and guessed an attempt at opening it had failed, since it remained closed. He made his way to the passenger side and pressed his face against the glass to see inside. Ellie popped up and screamed, sending Jacque backward in shock.
“Ellie, it’s me. Jacque Marquette.” He eased closer, remembering Ty had a pistol. Now he could also see the outline of Ty who leaned against the door and covered his face with both hands. “Are you all right?”
They nodded.
“Stay here. I’m going to check things out then I’ll come get you. The police are on their way, along with first responders. Okay?”
Ellie forced a smile and laid a palm on the window. Her eyes bore a sadness that reminded him of the little boy, now gone.
After a quick check of the campsite, he returned to the car. Both Ty and Ellie watched him with expectation.
“You can come out now.” He tried Ellie’s door, but it remained locked. “Do you want to stay there?”
Ty said something to Ellie he couldn’t hear, but the click of the lock, followed by the door being cracked open, revealed a terrified woman.
“Let me help you, Ellie.” He extended a hand, and she clamped onto it as she managed to wiggle herself out. “Ty, I’m not sure you can open the door on your side. Pretty smashed in. Want me to try and give it a yank and you put your shoulder to it, or do you want to climb over the console?”
Before Jacque got a response, Ty scooted over the top of the console and climbed out. His slow movements resembled a sloth. Ellie assisted at the last second.
“Heck of a night, Jacque,” Ty said, trying to right himself, once on the ground.
Jacque reached for the man and slipped an arm around his waist to steady him. “What the hell happened here?”
“Not sure. Something rushed in and started throwing things around, growling, and then headed toward us. I made Ellie get on the floorboard the best she could and I laid over a bit to try and be out of sight. Guess I hurt my back again. Had surgery six months ago.”
“What was it?”
Ty shook his head then turned his eyes skyward. Light from the campfire caught the glint of tears in his eyes. “I just don’t know. It leaped across the hood like some kind of gazelle then began slamming into the door, like it wanted to get to us.”
“I don’t see any bullet holes, so I’m guessing you didn’t use that pea-shooter of yours.”
“No. Not so sure it would have done any good. I think you’ll find a dent in the roof, too. It jumped up there and pounced a few times before taking off. I tried to take a peek at whatever it was, but all I saw was a large shadow as it passed near the campfire.”
“Maybe a bear?” Ellie’s voice quivered.
“Maybe.” But Jacque doubted it. “Come on. It’s gone now.”
“It could still be there,” Ellie sniffled.
“Ellie, I’ve got a gun that will bring down a bull elephant at a dead run. I’m the best marksman in our precinct, too. I worked for S.W.A.T for a while before I became a full-time detective. Rest assured, if anything comes around, it’s a goner. Okay?”
“Okay.” She tried to smile, but it came across like someone who was constipated.
He led them to the fire, built it up then found some overturned lawn chairs for them. The clues would be fresh, provided there were any. He flashed the penlight around the area in hopes of seeing any evidence of what had come into camp. Better to wait until help came before he started poking around.
Once more, the imagine of the girl, Karla, lying on a slab, flashed in his mind. Scratches on her face, broken nose, possibly from a fall, but not much else. Was she scared to death?
He turned his attention toward the frightened couple who huddled together, holding onto each other’s hands. Jacque wondered about the little boy and the Pawnee who went in search of him. He tossed another couple of logs on the fire to build it up. Hopefully, the blaze or the smell of smoke could be used to lead him back if his friend needed help. Would Wind Dancer meet his match with whatever lurked in the dense forests surrounding them?
Red strobes appeared as pinpoints of light in the distance and grew larger with each second the search and rescue vehicles neared. Jacque moved toward the police car to intercept Chief Perez.
“Chief. Thanks for coming so quickly.” He nodded toward the couple who rose from their seats near the fire, still clinging to each other.
She reached into the car and pulled out a caddy of four cups of coffee. Handing it off to him, she focused on the couple who now spoke to a paramedic.
“Thought everyone might need some wake-up juice.” She switched her gaze to Jacque who felt confused at how she’d had the time to pick up coffee. As she walked toward the couple, she laid the question to rest. “Convenience store on the way. Called ahead. Done this before in emergencies. Ran it out to my car when I pulled in. It’s a little thing, but sometimes just holding a cup of warm coffee can settle folks down enough to give us a clear picture of what went on.”
Perez stopped and eyed the car then turned to Jacque for clarification.
“No idea what did that. Neither do they. Better have your medical team check them over.” He just wanted to get the coffee passed out so he could have his cup. Warming his hands was a waste of time. He needed the caffeine to think straight.
The couple was led to the ambulance truck and checked out while Perez took a stroll around the camp. By now, floodlights had been set up, and the area resembled the middle of the day. Jacque followed and observed how she zeroed in on the smallest detail, like a sna
pped branch or rock. But for the life of him, he didn’t see any footprints. He retold the couple’s story of what came into camp and wondered why there were no footprints.
“Bears are big, curious, and disrespectful of property. Until recently, the season has been pretty dry. Might not have left a print. I’ll have forensics out in the morning to go over the car and other things in the camp.”
“Morning?” he fumed. “Dew, wind, anything could compromise this place.”
Perez stopped and turned to level a hard stare at him as she put her hands on her hips. “This ain’t Chicago, Detective Marquette. We have one guy working several counties. I’m not about to get on his bad side in the middle of the night when nothing can be done anyway. Our primary concern right now is the little boy. All this”—she faced the campsite— “can wait.”
“You’re right,” he huffed.
“Where’s your sidekick?” She pivoted as if trying to locate him.
Jacque avoided the question. “By the way, the little guy has Down syndrome.”
“Well, that could be a good thing.The first report of a missing person in these parts was a forty-year-old man who was mentally challenged. Went hiking with his parents and two other siblings. He twisted his ankle and couldn’t walk. The brother and sister returned to the car to get a first aid kit. When they got back, the parents said the man had disappeared.”
“Disappeared? You mean like before-their-very-eyes kind of thing?”
“Not exactly.” Perez took a deep breath and focused on the couple moving toward the fire again. “There was a scenic overlook. They went to see where they might be in relation to where they were staying. Maybe twenty feet or less from their son. Turned around, and he was gone.”
“Maybe he wandered off.” Jacque could feel the hair stand up on his neck.
“Not according to the parents or the siblings. Even if he could, it would have been only a few steps.”
“Did you find him?”
Dark Side of Noon (Wind Dancer Book 2) Page 4