Jacque eyed the one biscuit left and decided he’d better save it for one of the rescue team members going out on the search. The powdered donut would have to do for now. Of course, it was stale, and the taste resembled chalk.
“These responders are in great shape. Probably don’t eat this crap,” he said, wiping the powdered sugar from the corner of his mouth.
Perez grinned. “These guys eat like Marines and work it off to stay fit.” She gave him an interested once-over. “You look pretty fit yourself. Do you always eat this crap, as you call it?”
He wanted to puff out his chest and flex his muscles but noticed coffee had sloshed on the spanking-new tee shirt he’d bought for the trip, and spots of butter from the biscuit had dripped on his camo hunter vest he’d picked up at an Army surplus store near Fort Leonardwood, Missouri. He set the cup down and tried to dust away the mess.
“Nope. Usually a protein shake for breakfast, a quick run, and lots of coffee.” It wasn’t a total lie. He did run to the coffee shop across from his apartment building each morning. Diverting the subject to the problem at hand felt like a safer topic. “Any traces of the boy or Tonya?”
She took a slow drink of her coffee. The fact she hadn’t loaded it up with milk and sugar said a lot about her resolve as far as he was concerned.
“You make a good cup of coffee. But no, there’s nothing so far. Does Wind Dancer have any way to contact you?”
Jacque came close to saying something inappropriate about smoke signals but decided it would be too politically incorrect even for him. “He’s not really up on modern communication. He’ll find a way.” The fact remained he didn’t like that they had been out of touch for this long. The Pawnee came across as a badass, but, in truth, he was equal to a five-year-old when it came to the twenty-first century. The guy still couldn’t handle riding in a car in downtown Chicago for very long. He preferred to walk. Light switches, microwave ovens, air-conditioning, and flush toilets amused him for hours. Then a litany of why and how questions followed. More times than not, Jacque would make up an answer.
He smiled to himself remembering one such instance.
“How does this work, Jacque?” he asked, turning the lights on and off dozens of times in his office, until the captain came by and told him to tell his friend to knock it off.
“Once a year, we set rocks out in the sun for two or three days. Then we hook these wires up to the rocks and it makes electricity.”
“Oh,” would be the response. He would then move on to the next oddity.
If Cleo got wind of the deception, she did her own war dance, another term he wasn’t allowed to use.
The truth of the matter was that he admired the Pawnee and trusted him more than anyone he’d ever met. Not only was he a good man but brave and trustworthy. Their friendship bonded over a difficult time in his city and without the Pawnee’s help, things would be a mess, not only in Chicago but the entire US. The enormity of what he’d done never registered with Wind Dancer.
“I did what was right.” He didn’t say much else concerning the matter and didn’t care to talk about those days.
Because of Wind Dancer’s actions, he and Cleo had been separated for a year. Jacque agreed to take on the responsibility of loyal guard dog, thinking he’d never see the Pawnee again. Cleo had never given up hope he’d return.
During that time, he’d come to admire her more than he wanted to admit. She worked hard and was eternally optimistic. The care and attention she gave to her patients inspired him to be a better person. They butted heads constantly over how to be proactive in being safe in a place like Chicago. But their friendship grew in spite of the conflict and, although he was relieved when the Pawnee returned, there was a part of him that missed being the protector of the pretty doctor.
He was jabbed to the present when Perez elbowed him and pointed toward the woods.
“We got company.”
Two men dressed more like cowboys than first responders, emerged from the woods. The Kendals moved closer. They held hands, and he couldn’t help but feel compassion for their pain and worry.
“Anything?” Perez called.
“Found where your guys stopped last night.” Cowboy One took out a kerchief with the Sunset Rock logo then a ballcap. “No sign of the kid, Tonya, or the dog.”
“You been out since dawn. Grab some food. Coffee over there.”
They nodded and moved toward the table set up for refreshments.
The walkie-talkie crackled to life, causing Perez to take notice of the Kendals who had turned toward the table to serve the first responders. She moved farther away, and Jacque followed.
“Come back,” she said. “Come back.”
“Problem?” he asked.
“Not sure.”
“Found a little blood on a rock,” the voice was a static reply. “Could have been the dog. A few paw prints headed up to higher ground then disappeared. No trace after that. Others are pretty spread out. Those on horseback took another section of the park. They parked up on the ridge on the east side near Culver Pass, almost into Carson National Forest.”
“Copy that. Keep me informed.” She clicked off.
“I need to find Wind Dancer.” Jacque took in the surrounding area and twisted to evaluate the condition of the parents of Liam. “We both know finding the kid unharmed is unlikely the longer this goes. The more people out there, the better the chances.”
Perez cocked her head and frowned. “You’re not going anywhere. I don’t want anyone else getting lost or taken. I figure you couldn’t find your way out of a paper bag in this environment. You might be the best thing since sliced bread in a concrete jungle, but out here, Mother Nature has a warped sense of humor when it comes to city slickers.”
“Are you always so domineering this early in the morning, because you might have thought I asked your permission to go search for my friend?” Jacque strode away, Perez on his heels.
“I don’t have the manpower to come search for you, Detective Marquette. Get over yourself and be a good boy. I would hate to have those two beefy guys chowing down on breakfast to restrain you.”
He halted and pivoted so fast, she ran into his chest then jumped sideways.
“You’d hate it worse than that if you tried such a stupid stunt.” He surveyed the area across the lake. “I’m starting over there since no one else seemed to think of it. When Wind Dancer returns, he will take a new route. I think I spotted a trail over there when I used my binoculars yesterday. And, if you remember, I told you he said we were being watched from there.”
“You said a lot of things that didn’t make sense.”
“If I head up the trail, he’ll be able to find me.”
“How?”
Jacque hesitated then thought what the heck. “He’ll smell me from a mile off.”
Perez threw up her hands. “And you wonder why I say you don’t make sense.”
“I’m taking that canoe and going to the other side. Come with me or stay. Makes no difference to me. If I get lost, Wind Dancer will find me. That is the one thing I know that makes sense.”
She leveled an inspection that would have melted butter. “I’m going with you.”
Chapter 10
Jacque checked behind him a couple of times to see if Perez still met with the two beefy guys who had returned. Together, they examined the maps spread out before them. From time to time, they smirked his way then shifted their focus on the woods. A lot of head bobbing and pinched expressions passed between them.
“I left those two in charge in case anyone else returns with information.” She handed him a radio. “If we get separated, we’ll be able to communicate. Let’s walk around the end of the lake to see if there are any signs of uninvited guests. I know it adds a little time to the hike, but maybe we’ll pick up something.”
He’d noticed a mule deer standing there right after they arrived the day before. The lake wasn’t very wide at that end, but he realized there wouldn’t
be any obvious clues if they paddled across.
“Let’s go,” he said in a gruff voice.
He grabbed his backpack, stuffed with protein snacks, first aid kit, and a couple bottles of water, one of the times when he’d come over to his camp. There was also a whistle, extra ammo, and a flare. Cleo had given him a crash course on being prepared when you camp or go hiking. Now he wished he’d gotten other items on her list.
Perez slipped a small knapsack onto her shoulders and began a brisk walk, leaving Jacque in his statue-like stance. He observed her for a few seconds, enjoying the way she moved. When she pulled on her hat, she tugged her ponytail through the opening. The morning light bounced off it, revealing its silkiness as it moved through the opening.
“Change your mind?” she called without stopping.
Jacque picked up the pace and soon overtook her, seeing the worn trail spread out before them. They were around the edge and directly across from their camp in a matter of minutes. Although it was debatable which method would have gotten them there sooner, the trail didn’t hold any clues as to if anyone had been moving through the area.
The trail wound through the wooded area. From time to time, large boulders jutted out far enough that they had to zigzag and climb over a downed tree. He could feel the burn as the trail narrowed and took a steep incline along a rock face. He estimated the drop off to be around thirty feet. A stream tunneled rapidly through outcroppings of smooth rocks leading to the lake where their campsite was located. Along with the periodic loose gravel under foot, several places narrowed enough, the two had to turn sideways and move cautiously.
They were nearing a wider section when Perez, in the lead, stepped on a loose piece of gravel, causing her to lose her balance. She threw her arms up then tried to grab at a tree root sticking out from between two boulders but couldn’t stop herself from slipping off the edge of the trail. A scream lifted above the roar of the rushing water.
~ ~ ~ ~
Before leaving the little town of Kewa Korner, Cleo stopped at the café to get an iced tea for the road.
The young waitress smiled when she came in and quickly took the order of a couple she’d met on the trail earlier, before taking her order.
“On the house.” She leaned over the counter and whispered, “Thanks for the big tip. I don’t get many.”
She decided to fill up her car with gas. The map she purchased revealed a lot of open country ahead, and she didn’t want to take a chance there would be a place to refuel. If her GPS decided not to cooperate, at least she’d have plenty of gas in the event she took a wrong turn. She folded the map and placed it on the passenger seat.
Before she could pull out, the RV she’d noticed earlier pulled in. The wife walked around the vehicle. “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry. We’ve blocked you in. I’ll have Allen move right now.”
Cleo leaned out the window. “No. It’s okay. I have to make a call anyway.”
Once more, she tried to reach Jacque. His phone rang, but all she got was that his voice mail was full. A wave of anger mixed with concern wafted over her. How could he be so irresponsible? One thing was for sure; when they returned to Chicago, she would get Wind Dancer a phone and insist he learn how to use it. She was well aware of why he still refused to let her buy him one.
“I do not want your little box to talk in, Cleopatra.” He’d crossed his arms across his chest and leaned against her breakfast bar. “It is dangerous for me to use it. I might call out evil ones.”
“Now that sounds a lot like something Jacque told you.” She shook a finger at him. “What nonsense has he been telling you again?”
Wind Dancer stiffened and pulled himself to his full height. “Not nonsense. He says I might call a person to come from other places. They would be angry and could put you in danger. I will always protect you.”
“Well, don’t you think I might do the same thing?”
“No. Jacque says you have special powers and need it to heal the sick and wounded.”
“Jacque is full of it.”
“Full of what?” These kinds of comments always led to either laughter on her part or frustration on his. “I think he is never full. He eats all the time. What does that have to do with the talking box?”
Cleo remembered him wrapping his arms around her, followed by a passionate kiss. Things spiraled out of control after that, and the cell phone conversation never came up again. Now she wished there was one more person she could call. Hindsight was always 20/20. Not alerting them that she was on her way was proving to be a big mistake. Other than a couple of friends from the conference, no one knew where she was headed.
The RV couple came over and gave her a gift card for the convenience store.
“What’s this? No.” She tried to hand it to them through the window.
“I insist,” the older gentleman said, waving his hand in rejection at her. “You were too sweet not to make us move and didn’t complain when we took too long.” His eyes went to the phone she held against the steering wheel. “You’ll get better reception a couple of miles out of town. It’s a little higher than here.”
“That’s a relief. I’m trying to reach friends at Kewa National Park.” She shoved the gift card into her jeans pocket.
“On the other side of Sunset Rock?”
Cleo pulled out her map and noticed she’d circled the town. “Yes. That’s it. How far is it from here? I mean time wise. I know the map says roughly twenty miles. Maybe less.”
The wife leaned down to speak. “That sounds right. Of course, with our big clunker, driving around those curves takes a lot longer. But you should make it okay.”
The man nodded. “Thirty minutes maybe to the town. Kewa is a ways on the other side though. Parked our RV at the Carson National Forest for a few days then went on to Kewa. Lots of hiking trails.”
The woman grimaced. “Unfortunately, I turned my ankle, and we headed to Sunset Rock this morning to their little medical center. That turned out to be a waste. Everyone was on high alert. Said it would be three or four hours before I could get an X-ray. My injury wasn’t a big deal, so we left.”
“What was going on that they couldn’t help you? I’m actually a doctor. Would you like me to examine it?”
The couple smiled at each other.
“What luck!” she laughed. “Allen, can we park in that lot at that little picnic area over there? We’re blocking traffic.”
“I’ll meet you there.” Cleo was already getting her medical bag out of the trunk when the RV pulled in. They quickly joined her. The lady climbed up on the top of the picnic table to be able to rest her foot on the seat.
“You’re getting around pretty good,” Cleo said, wrapping an ace bandage around the ankle. “I’d get it checked out in a bigger town. Or if you’re on your way home, give your primary care doctor a call. You never know if there’s a fracture. I’ve seen a sprain be worse than a break.”
The lady extended her leg and admired her purple wrap. “Well, that is almost too pretty. Thank you. Sure hope they get things taken care of up at Kewa.”
“Yeah. I wanted to ask you about that. You said something was going on?”
The man shook his head. “Terrible. A family lost their little boy during the night. Not sure if it was an animal or a person. Police and first responders everywhere.”
A silent alarm went off inside Cleo. “This was in Kewa?”
“Yes,” said the lady. “I can only imagine what those parents are going through. The state troopers came by to ask us a few questions as we were leaving. Showed us a picture of the child. Said he had Down syndrome.” She laid her hand on her heart. “Prayers lifted for the little fella. I think besides us, there were only a couple of others in the park. Expected to fill up today because of the eclipse activities. We let them check our RV since we were leaving. Didn’t want to be labeled suspicious tourists.”
Allen assisted his wife when she tried to get off the picnic table. He reached for his wallet. “Let me pay
you.”
Cleo waved him off and hurried to her car. “Nope. Going to head on up there. Maybe I can help out.”
“Great idea,” they called as they headed toward their RV.
Pulling out on the road, Cleo wondered if the missing child had anything to do with Jacque not answering his phone. She imagined he was in the thick of it by now and probably didn’t consider checking his phone. Besides, she wasn’t supposed to be here for another day.
The road curved a great deal but didn’t slow her down. As predicted, Sunset Rock appeared closer to twenty minutes than thirty. Since she was on the outskirts of the town, only one stoplight caused her to pause long enough to check the bars on her phone.
“Finally,” she mumbled, seeing that her phone had all its bars now.
When the light turned green, she continued down the road. The anticipation of a joyful surprise at her sudden appearance had been replaced with I hope I can make a difference if it’s not too late.
The Carson National Forest sign loomed ahead. There was a parking area, and it felt like a good time to pull off and try to call the guys to get an exact location to join them. The phone again went to a full voice mail box. She clicked off and turned the key in the ignition. It was dead.
Chapter 11
The police chief, Perez, pitched over the edge of the narrow path like a blow-up tube man outside a tire and lube business. Jacque grabbed the straps on her knapsack with one hand and still managed to catch a wayward branch protruding between rocks, with the other. Her weight and momentum still nearly pulled him in after her.
He steadied his feet and slowly turned loose of the branch.
“Don’t move,” he yelled as he managed to slip off his backpack that made him feel clumsy.
Dark Side of Noon (Wind Dancer Book 2) Page 7