“Nah, this is a small private airport. The plane would be on the runway, and the truck would be parked out front. Neither are here. This doesn't make sense. Where is the guard and where is the truck?” TC was glad Graham was here, being a pilot, he was familiar with the airport and the normal routines of the staff and guards. “Would the guard leave to use the bathroom after the girls left?”
Graham nodded at TC. “Sure, but he would lock the door to the guard shed and put up a sign that said back in 5 minutes. Something happened.” TC slammed the truck into park and Graham opened the door quickly. “Let’s check the hangers and see if we can find anyone. At least we can find out how long ago they left.”
“You go ahead, I'm going to call Ryley again.” TC watched Graham walk into the hanger and pulled out his phone. He mumbled to himself as he listened to it ring. After the second ring, he realized he heard the ringing on the phone and at the airport. He jumped out of the truck and yelled out. “Graham, I hear Ryley's phone out here, come help me look for it.”
“I found the guard tied up in the back of the hanger. He’s out cold. I called the sheriff.”
They started walking around the hanger, taking turns calling Ryley's phone as soon as it went to voicemail.
“TC, I found it, it was on the ground here. The screen is cracked, was it before today?”
“I don't think so, she must have dropped it. Dammit, what do you think happened?”
“I don't know, but the sheriff is on his way, we will find out.”
Twenty
Ryley said, “Kat, are you awake?”
“Hmm… What? Yes, I'm. What happened?”
Ryley looked around “I’m not sure, I remember talking to the guard at the gate after we watched Gerri take off.”
“Right, I remember his asking us to step out of the truck for a moment.” Kat paused.
“Yes! Then what?” Ryley asked urgently.
“I don’t know….” Kat looked scared when she said it.
“Me either.” Ryley looked around the room they were sitting in. It was small, big enough for one twin bed, and a small table with two chairs. There were no windows, so she couldn't tell if it was still daytime or if night had fallen. “Kat, how long do you think we were out?”
“I’m not sure, but I really have to pee.”
“I’m sure the door is locked, but I have to check. It would be stupid to not attempt the obvious, right?” Ryley got off the bed and walked over to the door. “Of course, it’s locked, they aren’t that stupid.”
“Not to get caught up in details but how come you got the bed, and they put me on the floor?”
“You really need help. We are locked in a room, we don't know how we got here, or why we are here, and you are worried why you got put on the floor?”
“Well, yeah… Maybe whoever carried you in here got in first, so they put you on the bed, and the second person by default just set me down on the floor. That would be a good reason, right?”
Ryley didn’t even bother responding to Kat, she let her ramble on, maybe it was keeping her calm. She pounded on the door and yelled. Hopefully, someone would come to explain why they were there. The waiting was torture in itself. Kat was still mumbling about being on the floor, so Ryley went to the table and sat down in one of the chairs.
Kat got off the floor and sat in the other, then reached out to grab Ryley's hands. “I’m sorry, love, I’m scared. I was just trying to keep my mind off our situation. Do you think it’s the person, or group or whoever that sent the letters?”
“Gerri was sure they weren’t actually dangerous, so I have no idea. TC said he has enemies because of the horses he takes in. Maybe someone is using us to get to him. I really don’t know.” Ryley wished they hadn't assumed the letters were harmless and the threat was over. They should have been more cautious.
From the doorway, Ryley heard a voice. “Maybe I should introduce myself then. I’d say, sorry for scaring you but I saw no other way to get what my kind needed. You didn’t answer my letter or any of the others I sent so I took matters into my own hands. I'm Filton Monroe.”
He paused as if Ryley should know him. She shot a look to Kat to see if she understood. Kat looked as clueless as Ryley felt. “Should I know who you are?”
“Well, toots, I sent you a letter asking for you to help my kind find some female friends. You ignored me, so I took matters into my own hands.”
It only took a moment for Ryley to recall the letter from the rodent shifter who wanted her to share his need for female companionship. “If this is how you treat women, no wonder you can't find one. Though you really didn’t give me time to reply either. I got your letter a few days ago. How did you find me here anyways?”
“Rodents aren't given enough credit, we are magnificent trackers. Once I had your scent, I could track you anywhere. Now, are you going to give me an interview, so we can find some ladies?”
“I don’t know about you, Ryley, but I need to pee. If you want her help, we need a few things. Like to know when you are going to let us go? Are we allowed out of this room to use the bathroom?”
“My friend and I aren’t going to hurt you, we just want your help. Of course, you can go to the bathroom, but I'm sure you understand why my friend will be taking you.” He gestured to the door where another small man appeared. He actually resembled the rodent they said they were.
“Fine, but you aren’t coming inside with me, rat.” Ryley tried not to snicker at that comment, but it really fit the guy's looks, and he seemed proud she called him a rat. His chest rose, he got a huge smile on his face... Yep, happy. So odd!
Ryley watched Kat and Rat walk out of the room, then turned her attention back to Filton. “Why would I help you after you kidnapped us? Did you honestly think this would work? If I do the interview now, will you let me go... What makes you think I'll actually have it published?”
As soon as Ryley said it, she realized she probably shouldn’t have, but she was honestly curious what he was thinking. Maybe his brain was the size of a rat's. It would make sense at least.
“I’ll worry about that later. Are you going to do the interview or not?”
Ryley knew then he hadn’t thought this through. Which meant they had a way to escape. If he didn’t plan on anything past the interview, how well hidden could they be? Maybe they weren’t in a really secluded place, or a site meant to keep people inside easily.
“Fine, I'll do the interview with you and Rat, having both of you gives the piece more information to work with. Do you have paper and a pen I can write on, I assume you don't want me using a laptop, right?”
“Yeah, no computer. I’ll get paper and a pen. We can do the interview here. We can sit on the bed, and you ladies can sit at the table. No funny business though, got it?”
Twenty-One
TC paced with his phone pressed to his ear. “Come on, Gerri, answer the phone.” Every time TC stalked by Graham he could see his friend fidgeting in place.
“Do you think Gerri can answer? Maybe she hasn’t landed yet.”
TC put his hand up in a stop motion. “Gerri, do you know where Ryley and Kat were going when they left the airport? Ryley’s phone is smashed on the ground and Kat isn't answering. I'm worried.” TC grew more agitated as he listened to Gerri talk. TC couldn’t keep still and walked as he talked to Gerri.
TC watched Graham as he headed over to the gate. In the distance, he could see cars coming down the road. He hoped it was the Sheriff.
Just as the Sheriff reached the guard station, TC hung up the phone with Gerri and walked over to meet them.
“Thanks for coming out so quick, Sheriff Brown.” TC reached out and shook the large man’s hand.
“No problem, catch me up on what you know and what you think happened, please.”
“My mate, Ryley, and her friend drove Gerri Wilder to the airport and disappeared. As for what we think... well several theories come to mind. Someone who hates what we do could have kidnapped them. Ry
ley just did an interview with Great Adventurer Magazine about shifters, so it could be someone took her because they didn't like her bringing exposure to shifters or so many other possibilities. I don’t care why they took them, I just want them back.”
Sheriff Brown nodded at TC and walked over to his deputies. TC could hear him telling them to search the premises, to retrieve the files on the incoming and outgoing planes and to search the guard house to determine if any locals had come through. They may have seen something and could help.
“TC, what did Gerri say on the phone?” Graham was fidgeting again. When they found the girls, he was going to have to talk to Graham about that bad habit.
“Gerri wasn't far yet, so she is turning around and coming back. She didn’t recall seeing anything out of the ordinary but wasn’t looking for it either. She said she was going to call in help and they would meet us here.” TC shrugged at Graham. “No idea what that means but I'll take any help we can get.”
“TC, Graham, we found something.” TC took off running to where the Sheriff was standing. Graham was hot on his heels.
“What did you find Sheriff?” TC demanded.
“The guard is awake, he says he never saw a car approach and has no idea where the guy that hit him came from. One of my deputies is looking for the last person to sign in. They might be able to tell us something.” Sheriff Brown patted TC on the shoulder and walked away.
“Dammit, Graham, that was a load of non-information. This doesn’t help at all! I don’t even know where to begin looking.”
“We know that means they didn’t drive up to the gate, so they had to have flown in?” Graham looked at TC for a response.
“That would make sense, I guess we have to check the log for incoming flights. But then they were just here at the right time to grab the girls? Would that mean it was random? Seems too much of a coincidence to me.”
“Come on TC, let’s go talk to Sheriff Brown again. Maybe he can tell us if they checked the flight logs or heard back from the last visitor. Gerri should be here soon I imagine.”
“Actually, I think I hear a plane now, it should be her. Let’s wait by the hangar, and maybe the sheriff will be there, so we can talk.”
Just as they reached the hangar door, the Sheriff walked out. “Hey, Sherriff, we wanted to talk to you.”
“Hold on, TC, we just checked the flight logs, and there was no plane coming or going except the one for Mrs. Wilder. I just received a call from my deputy. A Fred Mcpherson was working today and left just before the girls arrived apparently. He didn’t see anything at the airport, but he did see a car a couple of miles down the road that was empty. Did you see a car when you came down the road?”
TC shook his head. “Did you see anything, Graham?”
“I wasn’t paying attention honestly, but you would think we would have seen a car just sitting there.”
The Sheriff nodded. “I think it is safe to assume whoever took Ms. Ryley and Ms. Kat were in that car and approached the airport on foot. There has been no need to monitor the fence line, so they could have gained access anywhere by jumping over it.”
“It’s a good thing I came back then. I'm happy to offer my services to you.”
TC turned around to see Gerri standing behind him. “Thank you for coming back. Let me introduce you to Sheriff Landry Brown. Sheriff meet Gerri Wilder.”
TC found his first laugh of the afternoon when he noticed the big man blushing at Gerri Wilder.
“Hello Bear, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. When this is over, I think we need to talk. In the meantime, show me where the road is that the car was left on. I'll do my best to track it.”
Twenty-Two
Filton walked out of the room in search of the paper and pencil for the interview. Rat and Kat walked in, and he stopped looking around. Ryley assumed he was looking for Filton.
“Mr. Monroe went to get some paper for our interview. Do you think you could get me some water? My throat gets dry during interviews, you might want some for yourself as well.”
Ryley waited for him to leave the room, then quickly explained her plan to Kat. “This had to be a spur of the moment kidnapping. They didn't think this through at all. They want me to interview them, so they can find some lady friends. Why don’t we give them some “friendship”?”
The perk of having a best friend as close as Kat, she knew precisely what Ryley meant. “Brilliant, but I get Rat. He doesn't seem to talk and that makes him slightly less repulsive.”
Ryley shook her head. “Only you would pick out who you want in this type of situation. Filton said we could sit at the table and they would sit on the bed. That is too easy, you sit with Rat, and I'll get Filton up here. I can’t imagine this will take long at all.”
“I hope not. TC is probably going crazy looking for you. I kinda envy that connection.” Kat sighed and Ryley covered her hand and gave it a squeeze.
“What about the connection between you and Graham? The sparks fly when you are together.”
“True, but he’s a shifter... If I was his mate wouldn’t he have said something? I'm going to take Gerri up on her offer to meet other shifters after this is over. Maybe I can do some interviews for you while you are on your honeymoon.”
Ryley didn’t know what to say to that. Maybe shifters could be attracted to women other than their mates, and that was what they were seeing. “Either way I’m sure TC and Graham are looking for us. It goes against their male instincts not to. Right?”
Before Kat could reply Rat and Filton walked back in. “Alrighty toots and toots, I have the paper and pen. Let’s get this started.”
Filton put them down on the table and realized Kat was sitting on the bed. He had a look of confusion on his face. “I thought it would be easier to ask you questions one on one and then I'll ask Rat next. Is that okay with you?”
Filton appeared to be in deep thought for a moment. “I guess that makes sense. Rat keep the toots over there company. You're up next my friend.”
“Let’s start with who you are and why you wanted to do this interview?”
“Ok, like I said my name is Filton Monroe and we rodents want some women. You broads refuse to give us any love, like just because we ain’t big animals, we ain’t good enough for you?”
“Are you looking to find your mate then?”
“What? No! We just want some female companionship if you know what I mean.”
“You are just looking for sex and to hook up with women? Is that what you are telling me?”
“Well, yeah. That ain’t bad, right? I mean I'm being honest about it. Right, Rat? We tell it up front, we want sex with women, ain’t nothing to hide.”
Ryley looked over to see Rat’s reaction to Filton’s statement. She wasn’t sure he even heard anything Filton said though. He was staring at Kat, who was now sitting flush against him. Her hand was resting on his knee, and he was shaking.
“Mr. Monroe, tell me what type of woman you are looking for? Do you like a professional woman... like me?”
“Like you? Sure, you a classy broad. I would do you.”
“I have to admit, I have never thought about sleeping with a rodent shifter before, but I do like to ‘test’ out my interviewees.” She finger quoted the word ‘test’. “Makes the article a bit more authentic for the readers.”
“Are you shittin’ me? Hell, yeah!”
Ryley smiled. “Kat, would you keep Mr. Rat company in here while Filton and I find a more comfortable place to finish the interview?”
Kat leaned her head on Rat’s shoulder. “I'm happy to keep him company. I'm sure we can find something to do to keep us occupied.”
Ryley barely smothered a laugh as Rat kept shooting looks at Kat, then at Filton. He seemed really uncomfortable. “Come on Mr. Monroe, show me to a more secluded room, please.”
Twenty-Three
“Right here is where Fred McPherson said he saw the car. There are too many tire tracks to tell which ones belong to th
eir vehicle. I lost my ability to smell due to a skunk and a camping incident when I was young. Mrs. Wilder, I think you have the best sniffer out of us, do you mind doing the honors?”
Graham leaned close to TC. “I think that is the most I have ever heard the Sheriff say at one time.”
TC smirked. “I think he might have a small crush. I have never seen him so animated.”
“Well, this is an interesting development. Tell me, Sheriff, do you have a lot of rodent shifters in town or the surrounding areas?”
The Sheriff stared at Gerri for a minute. “I can’t think of a single one. It’s possible we have some new residents, but I haven’t heard of any rodents. Is that what you smell?”
“Let me make a phone call. Excuse me one moment please.” TC watched her walk a few steps away.
“Rodents? Really, that is who she thinks took Ryley? Why and how did they find her here?”
TC looked at Graham and the Sheriff as if they could help him find the answers he sought.
“My nephew is checking the apartment to see if any of the letters are left behind from the magazine. His mate is contacting the magazine to see if they are aware of any letters Ryley received from any rodent shifter. Hopefully, this will give us more information on who took her and maybe a why.”
“Gerri, how long between when you last saw Ryley and Kat and now? This might give us an idea of an area to search. Sheriff are there any empty houses or barns anywhere around here?” TC paced anxiously waiting for their answers.
It would make sense the girls were taken somewhere close, TC didn’t think it was too long between Gerri taking off and now.
“TC, I think it's been about forty-five minutes.” Gerri had a pensive look on her face.
“There are two places that I can think of, that they could have reached in that time frame. One about 15 miles southwest of here and the other about 25 miles southeast.” The sheriff paused and TC assumed he was thinking over possible locations.
“Okay, Sheriff, I don’t mean to take over, but that is my mate, and I'm not willing to wait. Let’s split up. Graham and I'll go to the property Southwest and then meet you at the Southeast location if we don't find anything. I assume you are talking about the Granger and Walker properties?”
Save A Horse Page 8