“You might be right. Let’s just call to see if whoever pulled in got a chewing out and ordered to move along.” Farrentino tried the radio with no luck. “I’ll try her cell.” He handed the radio to Jacque. “You try this again.”
Both men did with no luck. Then the radio crackled alive with a deep male voice.
“Hello. Trooper Higgins here.”
“Trooper Higgins, this is Detective Jacque Marquette. Can I speak to Chief Perez please?”
There was a pause.
“Trooper Higgins? Are you still there?”
“Yes, Detective. Chief Perez isn’t here. I found the radio on the ground. No one else around.”
~ ~ ~ ~
Fear gripped Cleo once more as she struggled to pull the hand off her mouth. She dug her nails into the hand and tried to avoid the arm that wrapped around her body before he jerked her hard against his chest. Moving was now impossible. His mouth came down next to her ear.
“Cleopatra. It is me. Be calm.”
Cleo froze and twisted around to stare up into the dark eyes of Wind Dancer before melting against him. The struggle evaporated as her arms went around his waist. With a slow gentleness, he removed his hand and rocked her, sliding his hand down the back of her head which was now buried against his chest. Her body shook with sobs.
“You are safe now.” He pushed her to arm’s length before using his large, dark hands to wipe away the tears. Next, he ran his hands down her arms and checked her ripped clothes. “Are you injured?”
She shook her head and sniffed. “Just scratches, I think. A few bumps and bruises.”
He lifted her chin with one finger. “Cleopatra, were you—”
“No. I wasn’t raped, Wind Dancer.” She again stepped into his arms. “I knew you would find me.”
“I heard you call my name.” He kissed the top of her head. “I was afraid, Cleopatra.”
The warmth of his body surged through her fingers. “I love you so much, Wind Dancer. I thought I might never see you again.”
“We must go. The Chaveyo walks near. I couldn’t see him, but I felt him.”
“The Chaveyo took me. He is terrifying, Wind Dancer. I don’t know why he didn’t hurt me. I think I made him understand I am a healer.”
“Native people have a great respect for medicine healers. For some reason I cannot smell or hear him. I only sense his presence. I’m not sure of that now. Come. We should find Jacque and the FBI man.”
“Farrentino is here? And I thought Jacque wouldn’t be able to be out here after the attack last night then the accident. That can’t be good for his leg,” she whispered, knowing their voices might very well carry on the wind. “And you weren’t hurt in the accident?”
“I am sore today. Bruised. But okay. I kid Jacque about being weak, but he really strong and wanted to help find you. Worried.”
“I’m glad you’re okay,” she said, adding an embrace. “I worried you might be dead.”
They headed down the trail. Wind Dancer took her hand, tugging to keep her moving when she hesitated. “The animals will alert us to the Chaveyo’s movements if he comes close. I can trust this. And yes, Jacque is with the FBI man now. They were going to search for you, too.”
“Wind Dancer, do you have anything sharp to protect us during the eclipse? It is custom to wear it to protect us. We have to find a place to shelter.”
“The moon is halfway across the sun from the way the darkness now moves across the forest. The birds are going silent. We are near a ravine where the trees have grown sideways, like a bridge. We can hide under this. I looked there for you. It remains dry and dark enough to protect us from Chaveyo finding us.”
They had to take a slight detour off the trail and then another slippery trek down beds of pine needles to reach it. Once there, Wind Dancer removed a pocket-size flashlight from his vest pocket and smashed it against a rock. He picked up the shards of glass from the globe and stuffed them into his pocket. Gathering Cleo into his arms, he held her tight as an ominous wind swept through the ravine. It lifted debris from the forest floor to swirl upward like a giant ghost hunting for souls to harvest.
Without warning, an avalanche of wildlife thundered down the hillside, crossing the tree bridge, and down into the ravine with a blur of speed. Wind Dancer pulled her as far under their refuge as possible to avoid the animals. Amazed, Cleo clung to him and witnessed all manner of beasts trying to escape, but from what?
An abrupt halt to the stampede and wind brought the awareness of a slow cracking of limbs and the gentle tumble of disturbed rocks.
“Something is out there,” Cleo whispered.
Wind Dancer held her so tightly, she thought the glass in his pocket might cut her. Then the appearance of long legs and a saber with a large hand gripping the hilt as it touched the ground appeared in the middle of the ravine. The Chaveyo stopped a few feet from where they hid in the darkness. In slow motion, the feet turned toward them, and the saber lifted out of sight.
Chapter 34
Jacque exchanged a bewildered expression with Farrentino before continuing with Trooper Higgins. Tightness settled in his chest.
“She said a car pulled in when we disconnected. Wanted to get them moving. See any signs that someone was there?”
There was a pause again. “Well, there are several search and rescue vehicles here, along with a Sunset Rock police car.”
“That belongs to Perez. Should see another one with Colorado plates. Anything else?”
“Hard to say. I was notified there had been an accident here last night, and there are certainly traces of oil on the ground, out near the pavement, along with broken glass. Anyone find that?”
Farrentino shrugged when Jacque locked eyes with him. “No. But the chief did say she had an idea or lead on a murder suspect. Are you up to speed on that?”
“Yes, sir. I am. A lot going on with the eclipse happening. It’s almost complete. People get weird during these things. Looks like some of your rescue team is returning. Maybe they know where Chief Perez got to. I’ll radio you if they have more info or have seen her. If not, then I’ll start a search on this end.”
“Check her vehicle. Maybe she left information there. She wouldn’t go off half-cocked. Doesn’t smell right.”
The conversation came to an end, and both men adjusted their backpacks after holstering their weapons. Jacque thought checking on the chief might put Cleo’s life in jeopardy if Wind Dancer hadn’t found her. Besides, there were now plenty of people there who would know how to sort through the new problems, provided it needed clarification. Troopers were good at that kind of thing and could be counted on to take charge and make sense out of chaos. Maybe it was nothing, but then again, his gut said she was in trouble.
The day turned toward darkness as they pressed on. Jacque didn’t like this eclipse nonsense. No wonder a plethora of superstitions revolved around these kinds of events. Should they be taking precautions? Shelter? Do a dance or stand naked in a creek? What? Right now, he’d do almost anything, considering the things he’d seen over the last couple of years.
With coming face-to-face with a living Chupacabra, the night before, he realized it could have easily killed him. Thankfully, Wind Dancer had been able to pull it off him then stab it several times. He thanked his lucky stars, once again, knowing how lucky he’d been Wind Dancer was his partner. Jacque had managed to pull his weapon and shoot the Chupacabra between the eyes when it lunged for his friend, only to have it turn on him. Wind Dancer rolled it off Jacque. It appeared dead as several of the rescue team came on scene, but the beast rallied. That time, they got off several more shots to put it down once and for all.
Were there any more of those beasts lurking about? Did it have a connection to the Chaveyo? He quickly told Farrentino about the beast.
“I thought you were hurt in the accident.” He made a sign of the cross. “So, we’re out here with not much more than a couple of peashooters against creatures from Hell running rampant
in this park. I can tell you this much, nothing like that has been connected with what I’ve been chasing. If the disappearances I’ve been studying had been a victim of such an animal, there would be blood splatter and body parts left behind.”
“Agreed. From what the locals said last night, rumors of those things have been around forever. Kind of like in the Great Smokey Mountain Park where people go missing from giant wild boars dragging them off. You don’t find any blood splatter there.”
Farrentino stopped and pulled out a pair of binoculars since they’d reached a scenic overlook area. “Well about that,” he said, lifting them to his eyes, “the FBI thinks it’s more cases like this one, where people disappear without a trace or are found with no recollection of what happened. More often than not—”
“Let me guess. Found near a body of water. Can’t determine the cause of death. Found in an area searched before. No tracks of animals and no sign of being mauled. How am I doing so far?”
Farrentino handed him the binoculars and directed his attention out across a valley. “Sounds like you’ve run across this before.”
“Not until I got here. This place gives me the creeps.” He focused through the binoculars.
“You’re kind of a spook, you know that?” Farrentino grinned as he took the binoculars. “I bet you sleep with a nightlight, too.”
“And I wear garlic and keep plenty of crucifixes on hand.”
“I wondered what that smell was. I thought I’d just started craving my mother’s Italian cuisine.” He elbowed Jacque. “Maybe next time I’m in Chicago, I’ll invite you and your comic-relief team for Sunday dinner. She’ll expect you at Mass, however.”
“I can just see Wind Dancer trying to save Jesus from the cross.”
This drew a quiet chuckle from Farrentino. “Okay. Maybe skip Mass. Anyway, did you see movement over there? I think it empties into a ravine. I see a lot of crushed vegetation.”
“The stampede went that way?”
“Maybe. But look farther. What else do you see?”
Jacque took grabbed the binoculars then checked the darkening sky before he tried to find the location of the stampede again. “Definitely something down there. We’re not that far away.” He lowered the binoculars with a jerk then once more lifted them to his eyes. “Whatever that is, it’s tall. It’s bending down. Wait. People are coming out on the other side of some kind of natural bridge.” He looped the strap of the binoculars around his neck and pulled his weapon. “Come on. We’ve got to get down there.”
He was already hobbling down the trail at a speed he’d thought impossible a few minutes earlier. Farrentino caught up and grabbed his arm, pulling him behind him.
“Slow down. You want to injure that leg permanently? What did you see?”
“Wind Dancer and Cleo. The Chaveyo found them.”
Chapter 35
The noise of feet twisting in gravel moved closer as Wind Dancer and Cleo tried to take cover among moss-covered rocks and fallen tree branches under the natural bridge. The damp smell clung to the air as did the dry debris that constantly shifted in and out from under the bridge. Between the dust and dampness, Cleo could feel her eyes burn, knowing she didn’t fare well with mildew. She fought off a sneeze, but it came out anyway, and she buried her face in Wind Dancer’s chest.
The Chaveyo bent down to peer under the lopsided nature bridge. When he tilted his head and rolled his eyes, she felt Wind Dancer suck in his breath. She remembered screaming when he came out of the woods and to the car accident, only to be scooped up. He’d tossed her over his shoulder before bending down and picking up his ax and saber with one hand. Now, Wind Dancer’s heart raced, along with tightening his grip on her shoulder.
A growl rumbled out the mouth that opened and shut, revealing sharp teeth. They eased backward when he jabbed the saber toward them. Cleo could see the ax dangling from the other hand and wondered if he would use it against them. Emerging from the other side of the bridge prevented the Chaveyo from ramming the saber into their bodies. Outmaneuvering the ogre felt like a better option than outrunning him.
The idea was eliminated when he tossed a few of the smaller logs aside and entered beneath the bridge. Although he hunkered over to navigate through the awkward space, the Chaveyo remained focused on what they were doing. His stare penetrated to her very soul.
Wind Dancer pulled her after him up the bank of the ravine and around the bridge. Maybe they could keep the ogre moving in circles to disorient it. By the time they’d reached the other side, the Chaveyo had figured it out and slipped around to emerge in front of them.
This time he stood close enough he touched the tip of his saber to the ground in front of them. He motioned with the ax for Cleo to move away from Wind Dancer, but he continued to hold onto her.
“No,” Cleo yelled as she pulled free of Wind Dancer and held out her hands. “My friend,” she said as she pointed to the Pawnee then her heart. She stepped away from Wind Dancer so fast, he couldn’t grab her arm. “Please, Wind Dancer,” she said through tears rolling down her cheek. “Let me protect you. The kiva is not far from where you found me. I’m sure he wants me to return there.”
“I will not leave you.” Wind Dancer kept focused on the ogre and stood his ground.
Before he could do anything stupid, Cleo slid down the embankment toward the Chaveyo, catching the wooden hilt of his saber and barely missing impaling herself on the blade. She heard Wind Dancer yell “No,” when she pushed at the saber.
“Go.” She extended her hand in the direction she thought was the kiva. The ogre let her slide down to the ravine but kept his saber aimed at Wind Dancer until she called to him. “Chaveyo. Come.”
When he didn’t move, she spoke in the Hopi language, unsure if the words were correct. But the strange words enticed him to turn away from Wind Dancer and follow Cleo who ran down the ravine and then up the side where they had first entered. She turned and glanced over her shoulder several times to reassure herself Chaveyo followed.
Thankfully, Wind Dancer didn’t try to intercede on her behalf. He wasn’t visible at first, but then she spotted him moving on the opposite side of the ravine and keeping his distance.
More movement from higher up on the ridge where a trail dipped sharply caught her attention. Two men were about to intercept Wind Dancer. One she recognized immediately, by the way he ran. Jacque. He halted and lifted his weapon.
There was no doubt he would hit Chaveyo at this distance. She had already noticed several holes in his body where a white syrupy substance oozed from the wound.
Cleo knew it was an ill-conceived idea, but she shoved Chaveyo behind a tree just as a bullet splintered bark. A growl and snapping teeth, followed by him grabbing her injured hand, drew a scream of pain from deep inside her. He jerked her in front of him. Although awkward, both hurried up to the debris-covered trail, parallel to where she’d spotted Jacque.
She thought he called her name. Tears again flooded her face, but she pressed on, away from the man she loved and the friend who’d go through fire for her.
Chaveyo moved faster than she thought possible. When she lagged behind, he slipped his ax into a sheath and the leather strap attached to the saber around his neck and shoulder. It gave her time to catch her breath. She heard the men moving closer. They would be no match for the ogre. He had no fear, and she doubted bullets slowed him down.
For a second time, he caught her by the bad arm. When she winced, he released it and took the other. She suddenly understood he was trying not to hurt her. Even so, he tugged her after him, and she didn’t fight it, fearing his attitude could quickly flip against her. She was buying time for her friends and, hopefully, for herself.
The fear grew that he might put her in the kiva and maybe try to force her into the sapapu. As curious as she was about such things, there was no way she’d survive it.
~ ~ ~ ~
Jacque and Agent Farrentino continued their descent until they met up with Wind Dancer. Ja
cque’s leg throbbed, but he shoved the pain aside until he stumbled and nearly fell. The Pawnee caught him in his arms and held on for a few seconds to make sure he steadied himself. The strength in those arms gave him reassurance. If things continued to go sideways, the Pawnee would be able to finish the job. After all, the man was more like a superhero every day he walked this parallel universe.
“Put your weapons away,” Wind Dancer demanded. “They are little use against him, I think. Besides, you might hit Cleopatra. She lured him away to protect me.” He shook his head in disbelief. “And he followed her when she called to him. She is in much danger. We must go to his kiva. These are magical places. If he reaches there before us, she might disappear into his world.” Even as he spoke, they slid awkwardly down to the bottom of the ravine.
Farrentino pulled out his phone and activated the GPS. “According to the coordinates, this ravine will intersect a trail about a half mile ahead. It’s a gradual elevation climb. Maybe we can outrun the creature going this way. It could give us some much-needed time.” He examined Jacque from head to toe. “How’s the leg? Can you do this?”
“Hell, yes,” he quipped then pivoted toward their new destination. He reached toward Wind Dancer who grasped his forearm. They locked gazes with a steely resolve. “We’ll get her back.”
Wind Dancer squeezed his friend’s arm and nodded before releasing him. In seconds, they were on their way again. Jacque set the pace. Although he had stitches in his leg, it didn’t keep him from trotting at a pretty good clip. His gait was off, but the stiffness had worked itself out from all the walking. After a few minutes, their speed picked up.
“I go ahead now. I can hear them move. The animals are running. If he takes her inside kiva, I not sure if I can stop the Chaveyo from pulling her to the other world.” Before either man could protest, he disappeared down the trail that gradually wound upward.
Jacque and Farrentino stopped for a few minutes to catch their breath.
Dark Side of Noon (Wind Dancer Book 2) Page 20