Rock Harbor Series - 03 - Into the Deep

by Colleen Coble

  Ah, there it was. He pulled the vines off the door and revealed the small entrance. It might not even be usable anymore. Sometimes these old mines caved in along some of the veins, though he’d always heard this one was in good shape.

  The door didn’t budge when he yanked on it. Probably locked from the inside. “Cassie!” he pounded on the door. Maybe she would hear him. “It’s Ranger Matthews.” He continued to jiggle the knob.

  Nothing. He pressed his ear against the door but could hear no sound on the other side. He kicked it a few times, then turned to go. But a slight scraping sound stopped him. He paused and put his hand on the door handle. “Hello? Anyone in there? It’s Ranger Matthews. I’m here to help.”

  He winced at the screeching sound. Then the door creaked open a few inches. He saw Yancy Coppler’s round face peering out at him. “It’s me, Yancy. Let me in.”

  The door swung fully open. The rest of the crew crowded behind Yancy. Kade caught a whiff of smoke and gun powder. “Are you all right?”

  Cassie stepped out from behind Yancy. “Yeah, but my plants aren’t.” Her red eyes and quivering lips told their own tale of the day’s trauma.

  “What happened?”

  “Someone set off a bomb in the plant room. All the tobacco plants are destroyed. I’ll have to start all over again.” Her eyes brimmed with tears, and she ran her hand over her eyes. “You’d better get in here before they see you. They’re a bunch of kooks.”

  He slipped inside and shut the door behind him. Yancy threw the bolt into place. The acrid odor of smoke burned Kade’s throat and he coughed. “Help is on the way. Show me what happened.”

  Cassie led him to the door of the plant room. Piles of rock and rubble barred his entrance into the room.

  “It’s not safe,” he told her when she started to step over the rocks. He peered into the room but couldn’t see much for the haze of smoke and ash. “How did they get in?”

  “I have no idea. We thought our security was airtight.” She gave a bitter laugh. “They claimed no security was safe enough to keep these plants from escaping. I guess this proves their point about the danger. If they can get in, someone could transport the plants out. I’m going to have to see what I can do to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

  “You’re continuing?”

  Her face was grim. “Of course.”

  Nodding, he took her elbow and led them all back to the reception area. “Have a seat.” He sat on the edge of the receptionist’s desk while the lab personnel gathered around.

  “Someone tell me exactly what happened today.”

  Cassie sighed and told him.

  “So no one was inside as far as you know?”

  “We didn’t see anyone.”

  “Could they have gotten in and planted the bomb last night?”

  “I would imagine that’s what happened.”

  The older guard shook his mane of white hair. “We was here all night, missy. It was real quiet. I don’t see how anyone could have got in without us knowing about it.”

  “Has everyone been through a security check?”

  Cassie nodded. “Extensive security check. And we all get one yearly.”

  “When was the last?”

  “About ten months ago.”

  Someone here could have developed connections with the organization outside since then, but to what purpose? Kade stared at the faces turned up to his. He didn’t really know any of them well. “Any of you know Marika Fleming?”

  The blank faces didn’t change at first, then Salome nodded. “She’s our neighbor.”

  Would Salome blow up the lab? Kade didn’t think so. He frowned, and his gaze lingered on Salome’s face. It was pale and set, and he wanted to dismiss his suspicions. She was Cassie’s friend; she couldn’t be guilty. But the suspicion wouldn’t die.

  “Who does your computer work?” he asked abruptly.

  “Phil used to do most of it. Now I do,” Salome said. “Why?”

  “Just thinking.” Maybe he was barking up the wrong tree, but something didn’t feel right about it. How could anyone get into the mine without help? But why would Salome or any of them want to destroy their own work?

  The security measures here rivaled Fort Knox. His gaze met Cassie’s, and he saw the same confusion in her eyes. If there was an internal problem, it was her worry.

  And he had a feeling Bree would be right in the middle of it as well.

  The crowd’s roar seemed to soften, and Kade looked toward the door. “I’m going to see what’s going on out there,” he said.

  “I’ll back you up,” Chito said.

  From his tone, Kade knew Chito was hoping for the opportunity to fight. Clenching his teeth, Kade went to the door and peered out. He almost didn’t believe what he was seeing.

  Marika Fleming stood at the head of the crowd. “You’re not helping matters,” she shouted. “This is wrong! All of you go home. I’ll handle things. I’m with NAWG, and I can tell you this lab is harmless. I’ve called the sheriff, and he’ll be here any minute. If you don’t want to go to jail, get out of here.”

  The crowd muttered and complained, but it was slowly beginning to disperse. Kade heard the distant sound of sirens, and the mob began to move faster.

  Bree rubbed her throbbing head. Two weeks without her dog. She didn’t think she could stand another minute of it. Sitting in the Suomi, she saw the sympathetic glances diners threw her way. It was all she could do to stay seated with Naomi and Anu gone. Glancing at her watch, she saw it was almost time to meet the team. Naomi had run home to change clothes.

  Molly brought her another cup of coffee. She wiped her streaming eyes. “I about can’t work for worrying about Samson. I’ve been saving him a soup bone. You bring him in as soon as you find him, eh?”

  “I will,” Bree choked out. When she found him. Not if.

  Mason came through the door and saw her. His face grim, he joined her. “Those men still aren’t talking,” he said.

  “What can we do?” she whispered.

  “We’re doing all we can.” He ordered coffee and breakfast. “Even Hilary went out to look with me last night. How’s Davy?”

  “Too quiet. Anu has been keeping him busy.” She desperately wanted to hear good news of some kind. “Hilary must be doing better.”

  His gaze flickered to her, then away. “She still cries most every night.” He ran his hand through his hair. “She tries to cry softly, but I still hear her. I don’t know what to do. I feel so guilty. If she had another husband, she could probably get pregnant again. As it is, the doctor says it’s doubtful.”

  “What about adoption? I mentioned it to Hilary a little while ago, but she got mad.”

  “Don’t take it personal. She gets mad at most everything these days.”

  The weariness in Mason’s voice tugged at Bree’s heart. “Did you know Lauri needs to find adoptive parents?”

  His eyes widened and his mouth went slack. “Lauri’s baby,” he said as if he’d never heard the words. “Naomi’s not taking it?”

  “Nope. She and Donovan have enough on their plates right now. Do you think Hilary would consider it?”

  A dawning hope transformed Mason’s face with color. “That’s a great idea, Bree! When is the baby due?”

  “Around Thanksgiving, I think. Let me call Kade and ask.” Any excuse to hear his voice. His calm manner helped still her terror of what could be happening to Samson. She punched his number on her cell phone.

  “Ranger Matthews.”

  Her heart went into overdrive at the sound of his deep voice. “Hi, it’s me.”

  “Bree?” The surge in his voice told her he was glad she’d called. “Out on your afternoon search yet?”

  She gulped. “No. I’m meeting the group in an hour to search some more. Listen, I’m talking to Mason. When is Lauri due?”

  “November fifteenth. You need to get out here to the lab. Mason too. There’s been an explosion. Can you get him?”


  “He’s right here. I’ll tell him. Is Cassie all right?” Bree asked, urgency raising her voice.

  “Everyone is fine. But we need to figure out who did this.” He paused. “Why are you asking about the baby?”

  “Mason wants to talk to Hilary about it.”

  “That would be great!”

  “Don’t get your hopes up,” she warned. “Hilary may shoot them down.”

  “Lauri has been depressed ever since she found out Naomi and Donovan wouldn’t take the baby. She’d be thrilled.”

  “Don’t say anything to her yet. I wouldn’t want her disappointed if Mason can’t talk Hilary into it.”

  “I won’t. Hey, I want to take Davy to ride go-carts, get his mind off Samson. How about it?”

  “I’ll be out searching.”

  “We’ll go after dark.”

  She wanted to be looking for her dog every minute, but Davy needed her too. “Okay,” she said finally.

  “We can visit the bookstore in Houghton and go for pizza after-wards. How does that sound?”

  “I’ll tell Davy.”

  “How about I bring Lauri too? If she’ll come.”

  “She’ll come if you ask her nice.”

  “I can be nice.”

  “So I’m finding out.” She loved this teasing banter between them. She’d forgotten what it was like. A tingle started at her toes and finally settled in her stomach, warming the ice she’d been encased in ever since Samson was taken.

  “I’ll see you then. I love you.”

  He hung up before she could answer, but she sat there with her mouth open. So much for the words being hard for him to say. He’d sounded almost poetic.

  “There’s been an explosion at the lab. Kade needs us out there. He said they’re all okay though.”

  Mason sighed. “I’d like just one calm weekend.” He checked his cell phone. “Looks like I missed a call. Probably the lab.”

  I haven’t been on a go-cart since I was twelve,” Lauri said. “You quit taking me.”

  Kade grinned at the sulk in her voice. “I can always let you out at the movies.” He knew she wouldn’t miss this outing. She’d been talking about it ever since he got home.

  “You can ride with me if you forgot how,” Davy offered.

  In the backseat of Bree’s Jeep, Lauri leaned over and ruffled his hair. “I think I can remember.”

  Kade reached across the seat and linked his fingers with Bree’s. “Just one big, happy family,” he whispered.

  “Except for Samson,” Davy said sadly.

  Kade felt Bree’s fingers tighten, and he squeezed them reassuringly. “We’ll find him,” he whispered.

  She squeezed his hand in return.

  “Cassie seemed glad you came to help. Are you sure you’re up to this tonight? I’m sure you’re tired.”

  “I’m fine,” she told him. “I’m worried about her though. The level of violence keeps escalating. I’m not sure where it will stop.”

  “Mason is on it. Let’s not worry about anything tonight.”

  Bree nodded her agreement.

  “Hey, Davy,” Kade said, “I had to move a bear the other day.”

  In the rearview mirror, he saw Davy’s eyes go wide. “A bear?” the little boy squeaked.

  “Yep. A big black bear. I got to the campsite and he was just sitting there like he owned the place. He’d filched a sack of food from one of the cabins and was just munching away.”

  “Like Yogi,” Davy quipped.

  “Just like Yogi. Only we can’t let the bears do that. When they get used to taking food from people, they can get dangerous. So I called for help, got him tranquilized, and we had him taken to a remote part of Ottawa.”

  “Did he scratch you?” Davy swiped his hand like a bear paw and growled.

  “No, I was careful. But he was a big one.”

  “Samson can beat anything,” Davy declared. “We should find him so he can protect you from the bears.”

  “Samson doesn’t like to fight,” Bree said. “He’s a good dog.”

  Kade caught Lauri’s eye in the rearview mirror. She nodded when she understood his facial expression and turned to distract Davy.

  Bree turned the radio noise to the back and lowered her voice. “Have you seen any more sign of the dogfighting going on? I heard in town yesterday that another small dog came up missing. If we could maybe watch other dogs in town, they might lead us to Samson.”

  “I hadn’t heard that.” He shook his head. “I haven’t seen anything, but I’ve been watching. There’s no guarantee it’s a dog ring, Bree. You know that.”

  She moved restlessly. “I don’t know who else would have taken him.”

  “I’ve been driving around the woods, stopping at a few cabins and looking for dogs. If I find any other pit bulls, it would bear more investigation.”

  “Only pit bulls?”

  “They’re the most common dog used in these rings. They’ve been bred to fight to the death.”

  Bree shuddered. “We have to find Samson.”

  19

  We clean up the debris, and we’ll be back in business in no time.” Cassie knelt and tossed a handful of rubble into the Dumpster they’d hauled in this morning. She was unutterably weary. After yesterday’s violence, she’d lain awake in her bed watching the clock tick through every hour.

  “I don’t know, Cass, it looks pretty bad. Makes you wonder if we’re not supposed to be here. Maybe the environmentalists are right, and this is the wrong thing to do.” Salome knelt to help her.

  Yancy laughed. “You sure you didn’t help them, Salome?”

  Salome shot him a poisonous glare. “Don’t even joke about it, Yance. I’d like to kill whoever did this.”

  “Quit teasing her, Yancy,” Cassie said.

  Salome lowered her voice so Yancy wouldn’t overhear. “I’m scared, Cassie,” she said. “I’ve been thinking about looking for another job. This is just getting too dangerous.”

  Cassie blinked. “You can’t leave now, Salome. Our success here means more money than we can imagine! You’d lose your bonus. Besides, when this drug hits the market, you’ll be able to name your own price at any other pharmaceutical company.”

  “That won’t do me a bit of good if I’m dead,” her friend said. “We all survived it this time. But what about the next time? If I leave, I’ll be safe.”

  “Has someone been threatening you? I’ve never known you to quit anything.”

  Salome looked away. “Nora is scared too. We all are.”

  “So you’re all about to jump ship and leave me with no one?” Cassie grabbed a whisk broom and dustpan and brushed aimlessly at a clean spot on the floor. She didn’t trust herself to speak.

  “I’m sorry, Cassie.” Salome touched Cassie’s arm. “You should go too.”

  “I’m not leaving my job! This is my baby—our baby, Salome. You’ve been with me from the beginning. Please, we can’t let them win. This is our big chance to prove we’re somebody. If we quit now . . .” Her voice broke.

  “You care too much about what other people think,” Salome said softly. “Your life is more important than a new drug.”

  “It’s for my dad,” Cassie said. “It’s not just for the glory.”

  “That’s what you say. But I don’t think it’s true. For you, it’s always been about proving yourself. Grow up, Cassie. The world doesn’t revolve around you. I have plans for my life, plans that don’t include getting killed before I have a chance to marry and have a baby.”

  “I have this under control,” Cassie said through gritted teeth.

  “Do you? Or does it have you?” Salome flipped her hair out of her eyes and stooped to pick up debris.

  Cassie put her hands on her hips and sighed. Yancy was watching her. She cleared her throat. “I’ll get out my backup cuttings and we’ll get them transplanted once this mess is cleaned up.”

  “You have backups? When did you decide to do that?” Yancy leaned over his round belly a
nd picked up a large piece of debris. Huffing, he carried it to the Dumpster and heaved it in.

  “With the hoopla from the environmental group, I thought it might be a good idea.”

  “Where are they stored?” he asked. “You’re lucky they weren’t in here.”

  “No kidding! I have them in the refrigerator in my office.”

  “Hiding with the shriveled apples and the green cottage cheese,” Nora quipped.

  “Very funny. Get to work, you.” Cassie pushed her.

  Nora chuckled and joined the other workers cleaning the room. “Did anyone call Ian?”

  “I tried,” Lola said. “There was no answer. But I think he said something about going fishing on his day off. Maybe he went out for dinner after. I left a message on his machine.”

  “He might have gone out of town. He’ll be back tomorrow, but I’ll try to get hold of him again later today,” Cassie said.

  By noon most of the debris had been cleared away, leaving only one corner to be finished. All the lights had been destroyed, but they could continue to use the temporary ones for now. A local carpenter had promised to come today to build more plant tables, and Cassie was expecting a shipment of potting soil and containers tomorrow.

  The fanatics may have slowed them down, but they couldn’t stop their research. She would find a cure for Alzheimer’s if it killed her.

  She heard a sharp intake of breath from Chito Yamamoto. He backed away from the final corner where he’d been working. “Call the sheriff.” His voice was high and strained.

  “What is it?”

  “There’s a body. I think it’s Ian.”