The Dying Season
Page 13
Relieved to see Nora unharmed, Wade picked up a pack. "Sleeping bags in here?"
Nora nodded. "Where they usually are. Tent on the other side along with coffee makin's."
Wade took the pack out, lifted it to the horse, and tied it securely. He knew Nora would do her best to secret something he could use. Her sleeping pills, maybe? His little two-shot derringer could be slipped into his sleeping bag.
When he returned to the kitchen, Nora packed food into a large duffel. "You'll need your heavy coat," she said.
"You got a nylon rope out in the barn," Carl said. "Go get it."
Wade trudged to the barn for the third time. He used the nylon rope during children's trail rides. What’s he want rope for? Gonna tie me up?
Back in the kitchen, Nora handed him another duffel. "I put your coat in it," she said.
"I'll need a heavy coat, too," Carl said.
Wade shrugged. "We ain't got one that'd fit you."
"What about that old serape?" Nora said.
Wade nodded. "Better than nothing. I'll get it."
The tool room off the kitchen contained not only tools but tack needing repair during the long winter months and shelves of liniment, linseed oil, and various horse medicines. Pegs along one wall held old coats and hats with boots lined up below them. Wade shoved a small pick into his inside jacket pocket and took down the serape.
In the kitchen, Carl cut the nylon rope and wound up half of it. The other section lay on the table. He pointed to a chair with his gun. "Pull that chair to the middle of the kitchen."
Nora followed his instructions.
"Now sit in it."
Nora sat.
"Put your hands over the chair's back."
Nora did so.
Carl tossed the rope to Wade. "Tie her hands."
Wade looked at him blankly, his jaws clenched. Think I’ll tie up my own wife? Won’t.
"You can lead me out of here with a bullet in your leg." Carl aimed the gun at Wade's leg. "Now tie her hands."
Wade knelt behind the chair. "Sorry, Honey." He looped the long nylon rope twice around her hands and pulled it tight.
Carl watched carefully. "Now down over the rung. Loop it and pull."
Nora gasped.
"Now bring it to the front." Carl moved to see better as Wade slid to the front of the chair.
"Twice around the leg. No, not like that, old man Wade. Tie her leg to the chair. That's right. Now the other. Tie it off tightly."
Wade finished. He patted Nora's thigh. "They'll miss us. Someone will come," he said softly.
"Get up." Carl motioned with his gun. "Get that pack on the horse."
Wade stood and rubbed his knees. He picked up the duffel, heavy with food and water. "Bye, Nora."
TWENTY-TWO
The black and blue of Andy’s arm alarmed Nick, and though they’d done the best they could for Darren, he worried it hadn’t been good enough. As Darren suffered considerable pain, Nick gave him Tylenol before he left, kicking himself for not collecting medicines from Hardin's and Striker's. Even over-the-counter meds helped in a crisis, and being cut off from civilization for four days was a crisis, especially with patients needing specialized medical attention. He determined to search the ruined buildings during the morning; and a beautiful morning it was, with a clear blue sky and no wind.
Gossip at breakfast circulated around the shooting. Though Chuck maintained he thought Darren was the murderer and he shot him accidentally, many suspected Darren's interest in Dana was Chuck's motive. Adding fuel to this speculation, Dana was absent from breakfast. In spite of all the talk, Nick organized his daily crews to inspect houses, checked on Frank Fleener, and took the ATV to Hardin’s.
He sorted through the debris finding plastic, undamaged bottles of aspirin, cold and flu medicines, antacids, and cans of pet food. A far-away whomping noise grew louder, and he stood in the open side of the building, looking up the valley. A helicopter appeared, a small dot following the river. Nick leaned as far out as he could and waved frantically. The helicopter hovered over the remnants of the bridge and then came toward the village. Thank you, God. I’ve got to get his attention. Nick scrambled to the parking lot as the helicopter banked over the highway. He received an answering wave from the passenger beside the pilot. The helicopter veered inland and disappeared over the treetops. Help has finally arrived, Nick thought. His poorly-served patients would get the medical attention they needed. He wanted to dance with relief.
Nick hopped into the ATV and sped up the hill following the helicopter's course. When he arrived at the school's parking lot, he found children pouring out to greet the helicopter sitting there and knew the whole village would soon arrive. Two men alit, crouched below the dying blades, and hurried to the crowd. Nick parked at the school's front door and joined Cooper who spoke to a man with a briefcase.
"Oh, Nick," Cooper said. "Glad you're here." He turned to the man. "Nick's sort of our unelected leader. Tex Lake, Nick Woodburn."
"Glad to meet you." Nick shook his hand heartily.
"We're only a—"
Chuck grabbed Tex's arm. "Where have you been?"
"We're looking for—"
"Can I sit in the helicopter?" a kid asked.
More children surrounded Tex asking questions.
Tex held up a hand for silence. He looked down at the expectant faces. "My bird holds only me and the pilot. The Army is sending a big one. Then you can get in it and fly."
After expressing their disappointment, the children ran back to the parking lot to inspect the helicopter from a distance with the teachers standing guard.
"What took you so long?" Chuck said.
“We’ve been waiting for days,” Cooper said.
“Now hold on here,” Tex grunted. “I get tired of this damned where-have-you-been attitude. We’re doing the best we can under these extreme conditions. We’ve got four thousand square miles to cover. Thousands to air lift out. Everybody thinks they’re the only important ones. Demand immediate response. You got to wait your turn.”
“We’re just relieved you’re here,” Nick said to calm the man.
“We tried your police radio.”
“It went downstream.”
“We’ve been grounded for days by low cloud cover,” Tex said. “Finally getting patients out of the Two Rivers hospital today.”
“Let’s go in and talk,” Nick said, leading the way.
“We’ve called in help from Kansas and Wyoming,” Tex said. “Flooding from the Wyoming border down to Denver. A hundred bridges gone. Roads and rail lines destroyed. Communications out.”
Nick opened the cafeteria door. “We weren’t aware it was so extensive.”
“Six dead that we know of.” Tex put his briefcase on a table. “Lots of injuries.”
“Have a seat,” Nick said. “How can we help you?”
Tex opened his briefcase. "We're an exploratory team, checking not only road damage but the needs of people like you. You're completely cut off here and obviously we'll airlift you out. But we have priorities. Any injured?"
"An elderly man suffered a stroke. We have a nine-year-old with a broken arm—compound fracture—and . . ." Nick glanced at Chuck. “. . . a young man with a gunshot wound in his shoulder."
"We'll get a medical helicopter in here."
"Today?"
Tex nodded. "Sometime this afternoon. We have them on standby. If you could have the patients here at the school, it would help."
“One of our residents was swept away in his pickup. It’s caught on boulders downstream.”
Tex made a note. “We tend to the living first.”
"What about the rest of us?" Chuck said. "When will we get out?"
Looking at Nick, Tex ignored Chuck. "Any other problems?"
"We've had a murder," Nick said.
Tex sat up straight. "A murder?"
Nick nodded. "A young lady named Brook Strong. It's her son who has the broken arm. I’ve notified the she
riff’s department."
Tex wrote furiously. "I hadn’t heard of it. You'll need a crime scene unit, detectives. The guy with the gunshot wound did it?"
"We don't know who committed the crime," Nick said. "We know that he was a man driving a blue car and he's on the loose. There's evidence that he's still in this area."
"We'll get law enforcement in here ASAP," Tex said. "Any kids stranded without parents?"
"Here at school and at the daycare. Those kids should be reunited with their parents, and we've a mother with a newborn and another with toddlers."
"How many?" Tex held his pen ready.
Nick counted on his fingers. "Ten children under five with four adults at the daycare and about twenty school kids."
Tex noted the figure. “Any elderly?”
"Another five at the B & B."
"We could include them with the first out," Tex said.
"Dana and I have a three-year-old," Chuck said.
"A three-year-old with both his parents," Cooper said.
"Alright." Tex looked at Nick. “What's that leave?"
"Let me think about that."
"When will they come?" Chuck said.
"We turn the information over to the Army," Tex said. "They do the schedule. Depends on the weather, too."
"How will we know? The phones are out," Cooper said.
Tex made a note. "You’ve got a radio?"
“Yes.”
“Here’s the call code.” Tex wrote on a slip of paper and handed it to Nick.
"Thanks. And that leaves ten men, twelve women, four kids approximately," Nick said. "That's if everyone wants to go."
Chuck sneered. "What idiot would want to stay?"
"I think the Murphys will stay," Nick said. "Brett too, maybe."
"Wade and Nora weren't at breakfast," Cooper said.
"All the talk going on, I didn't notice," Nick said. That’s unusual. Wonder if they’re okay.
“You’ve got electricity? Food? Water?”
“Yes, here at the school.”
“That’ll probably put you down the list a ways.” Tex rose and snapped his briefcase closed. "Okay, I'll turn this information in. Expect the medical team out of Estes Park this afternoon."
"You're leaving?" Chuck followed Tex.
"Someone will be in touch." The door closed behind him.
"Fine way to treat taxpayers," Chuck groused.
"I'll tell Lyn about the helicopter coming this afternoon.”
Nick sang the Stones’ Satisfaction as he drove home to give Lyn the news. He notified Frank Fleener then found Brett at his cabins.
“Wade and Nora weren’t at breakfast.”
“Probably made their own,” Brett said.
“Hop in. With this killer on the loose, we’d better see. Maybe use the radio again.”
At the Murphys’ place, Brett pointed to the horses milling around the barn. "That’s weird. Wade always tends them early and pumps water into the trough."
Nick stopped at the back door. "Maybe he's not feeling well."
Brett stepped to the ground. "I'll look in the barn. You do the house."
Nick knocked at the door.
"Come on in, for Pete's sake."
"Nora?" Nick opened the door.
"In the kitchen."
Nick stepped into the kitchen. "My God! Nora." He looked around. "What happened? Who did this? Where's a knife?" The morning’s euphoria vanished.
"Top drawer beside the refrigerator."
Nick quickly found a sharp knife and knelt to cut the rope.
"He has Wade." Nora kicked her legs free. "They left about seven. Oh, my arms." She tried to pull her arms over the chair's back.
Nick lifted her arms for her. The killer has Wade. "Where were they going?"
Nora tried to stand. "Brett will know."
Brett came through the door.
Nora slumped back into the chair. "You've gotta go after him."
"Law enforcement's coming," Nick said. "Could be this afternoon. They'll take over. Catch the guy."
"They don't know the territory like I do," Brett said.
"You can't go alone," Nick said.
Brett gave him a speculative glance. "I don't intend to. Jeff will come and I'm counting on you."
"Me?" Nick shook his head vigorously. "I haven’t ridden in ages. I’m no good with a gun. I'd just slow you down."
"We may need a doctor, Nick. That's you."
"He didn't even let me clean up after breakfast." Nora pumped water into a pan, sat it on the stove and added a chunk of wood to the fire.
"Where’s Wade taking him?" Brett said.
"He said they couldn't go east because of the rift. Had to go south over Jones Peak and then west through Rosburg Valley up where he hunts."
Brett chuckled. "Why that's totally the long way round. He's taking the guy for a ride, all right. We can catch up to them in two days, Nick."
“You know how to use the radio?” Nick asked.
Nora nodded.
“Let’s notify the sheriff,” Nick said.
TWENTY-THREE
Nick pushed his way through the crowd bombarding the life-flight pilot with questions. “We need help,” he said.
The pilot tried to avoid Nick. "That's what everyone's been saying."
Nick grabbed his arm. "That's not the kind of help I mean. See, there's been a murder."
The pilot fixed his eyes on Nick. “Hadn’t heard that.”
"We’ve notified the sheriff," Nick said. “Any idea when he’s coming?”
The pilot shook his head.
"Now the murderer has taken Wade Murphy hostage to help him escape."
"You want me to tell the sheriff that?"
"Yes, and we're going after them tomorrow morning."
Lyn joined them. "All the patients are loaded and ready to go."
"I'll relay the message." The pilot returned to the helicopter.
"What message?" Lyn asked.
"Wade Murphy was taken hostage this morning. The killer's forcing him to help him get away on horseback."
"Oh, Nicky. The man's vicious. He'll kill Wade."
"We're going after him." Nick felt his eyelid twitch. Stress taking over again, he thought.
"You’re going?"
"Brett insists. Says a doctor might come in handy."
With the helicopter gone, the crowd began to disperse.
"I don't want you staying alone in the house," Nick said.
"Zenia and Logan are with me."
"Two women and a kid. Far away from everyone. The Fleeners left an empty room at the Lodge."
Brett and Jeff joined them.
"Listen, Nick." Brett scratched the day-old stubble on his chin. "We'll get the camping equipment together and take it up to Murphy's. Get your supplies and meet us there in a couple of hours."
"What's going on here?" Chuck elbowed in.
Nick glanced sideways at Brett. He’s not going to like this.
Jeff said, "Wade's been taken—"
"It's nothing, Chuck." Brett said quickly.
Chuck frowned. "I can tell you're planning something. What's this about Wade?"
"We'll take care of it, Chuck," Brett said.
"You can't keep a secret," Chuck said. "Seems that's what you said about telling everyone about the murder."
Brett sighed. "Well, I suppose you're right for once. Everyone will know by dinnertime." He explained the situation.
"Well, I've got to go, too." Chuck hitched up his jeans.
Brett shook his head. "We've all the help we need."
"I'm a good rider."
"But pretty poor with a gun," Brett pointed out.
"You know that was an accident." Chuck stuck out his jaw.
"I don't know what it was," Brett said. "I only know you shot Darren."
Chuck's eyes narrowed and he rolled his shoulders. "You doubt my word?"
"I know what you say and what others say," Brett said calmly. "Seems like they d
on't line up exactly."
"That doesn't mean a thing," Chuck said. "They couldn't know what was in my mind."
"I suppose that's true."
"I'll get ready." Chuck turned back. "What time are we heading out?"
"Seven sharp," Brett said.
"I'll be there." Chuck hurried off.
"Four of us now," Nick said.
"We'll leave before six," Brett said. "He'll never catch up."
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Nick said. “We’ve left him out from the start, and it’s only caused trouble, ill-feelings.”
“I’m leading this expedition,” Brett said, “and I don’t want him along.”
“And why wait until morning?” Nick said. “Let’s go now.”
Brett shook his head. “With morning, the timing’s perfect. We camp a few miles from Rosburg and meet Wade and the killer the next day.”
"I'll talk to the cafeteria ladies about fixing food for you," Lyn said. "How much?"
"Four days’ worth," Brett said. "Three of us going out. Five coming back."
Nick packed what few medical supplies he had at home into his bag. How will I carry this on a horse? Almost out of antibiotics. Couple shots of painkiller. He wished for a scalpel and packed Lyn’s knife instead. He shoved clothes into a canvas backpack. He felt inadequate and totally the tenderfoot he was. He returned to the school for Lyn and the food. At the stable, Brett and Jeff packed duffels with camping equipment and clothing. Nick found saddlebags for his meager supplies.
“I got a horse for you,” Brett said. "I'm taking Cruz, my usual ride."
"I'll be on Lightning Bug," Jeff said.
"And me?”
"This is your mount." Brett handed the horse's reins to Nick. "She's called Vanilla."