by Joan Rylen
The hill offered eight route options. Vivian and Kate had picked the one with the most humps. Lucy and Wendy went for the one with fewer, but bigger, humps. None of them wanted to go down the lazy river.
When it came her turn, Vivian asked the muscular, buzz-cut tube pusher if she and Kate could go together. He said yes and helped them settle into their tubes, then he gave Vivian Kate’s tube leash and vice versa.
“Don’t let go,” he told them as he gave a push. “And once on the bottom look out for people coming downhill as you cross the lanes.”
“SPIN US!” Kate yelled right as he was about to give a final shove. He did and they flew over the humps, going round and round, laughing and squealing the entire time. The wind whistled in Vivian’s ears, and bits of snow and ice flew into her face.
At the end of the run, they bumped along what looked like an industrial-sized rubber kitchen mat, then went halfway up an incline that slowed them down. At the tip of the incline, orange plastic safety netting pinned across metal stakes kept them from zooming off the hill.
“That was awesome!” Kate said, hopping up easily out of her tube.
“Woo-hoooo!” Vivian yelled. Her shoes slipped on the snow and she flopped out of her tube on her hands and knees. Kate helped her up.
They stood at the bottom of the hill and watched as Lucy and Wendy churned their way down the path next to them. They, too, went about halfway up the incline toward the plastic netting.
“I told you!” Lucy said. “That rocks, right?”
“I loved that,” Wendy said, getting up. She slipped in the snow, too, and landed back in her tube. “My hiking boots really aren’t cutting it out here, but it’s worth it!”
Vivian gave her a high-five and all of them made their way across the lanes, back to the magic carpet, and loaded up, one at a time. As Vivian rode uphill, she looked at the parts of Frisco that lay beyond the adventure park.
It was a quaint town, not too big, not too small, with numerous family-owned businesses. She scanned the windows of those stores but couldn’t see Craig. No rifles pointing out any windows, no crazed man behind the glass. She knew that was extreme, but couldn’t help it. Or was it? He could be hiding anywhere.
“Let’s see if they’ll let all four of us go together,” Kate said as they stepped off the magic carpet at the top.
They went to a different lane, one with medium moguls, and asked the tube pusher if they could go as one. He glanced around and shrugged. “Not a problem.”
Kate got out her camera while they waited their turn and took pictures of the girls with their tubes and the snow-covered Rocky Mountains in the background. A lady tuber offered to take the four of them together, so they playfully posed.
Vivian pretended her tube was a big donut and took a bite. Lucy held hers up like a giant halo, and Wendy and Kate stood back to back, holding theirs out in front as they kicked their legs like drill team girls.
“Have fun and be safe,” the lady said as she handed over the camera to Kate.
“Is she…” Wendy said and took a few steps forward in line.
“Probably,” Vivian answered.
When it was their turn to go, Kate flipped the camera to video. They loaded into their tubes, everyone taking the leash of the person to her right.
“Spin or no spin?” tube guy asked.
“Spin!” they all yelled.
He shoved them off, sending them down the giant snow hill swirling and twirling. Kate got all of the action and the screams on video.
When they neared the end, their momentum kept them going right up to the orange netting, too close for Vivian’s comfort. “How far’s the drop on the other side?” she asked the girls as they slid down the incline and came to a stop at the bottom of the lane.
“Ehhh, not that far.” Lucy waved her off. “Plus, you’re on a giant air cushion. Couldn’t hurt that bad!”
Right. I’m not sure my back would agree with that.
They gathered up their tubes and hit the slopes several more times, once each individually, but going down together was faster and more fun. Other tubers from their igloo video class rode the slopes time and again, too.
An announcement blared through the slopes saying that time would be up after one more run. The girls went back to their original foursome slope and told the tube pusher to spin ’em with all his might.
“Go get ’em,” he said and let out a grunt as he released their tubes and they flew down the hill spinning as wild as a Texas twister. At the end of the run they hit the orange netting, and Kate and Lucy teetered on the edge before coming back down the incline.
“That was a close one!” Kate yelled. “We almost went over!”
“Nah…not with me as an anchor,” Vivian said. “Y’all weren’t going anywhere!”
They returned the tubes to the drop-off and went inside to warm up. They got their stuff out of the locker and pretended not to know Shick, who stood close by doing a good job of being incognito.
“I’m soaked,” Vivian said, looking down at her jeans.
“Yeah, we really needed to wear ski pants,” Lucy said, putting on her scarf. “Next time!”
Kate bought everyone a hot chocolate and they huddled near the fire. Vivian checked her phone. She had a message from Nelson.
No indications of Craig’s whereabouts.
Proceed to Phase 2.
Will maintain surveillance at restaurant.
They sat for a few minutes, drying off before going back into the chilly air. Finally warm inside and out, they grabbed their stuff and headed to the car.
Lucy drove to the Hail-Yeah and lucked out with a spot by the entrance. The parking lot was packed.
“Okay, remember what Wa— uh, Agent Nelson said,” Wendy stammered, rosy-cheeked. “We go in and ask to sit upstairs.”
“Ten-four,” Lucy said and opened her door.
They shuffled inside and Kate followed Nelson’s instructions. The hostess grabbed four laminated menus and sets of silverware.
“Follow me.”
As they were halfway up the stairs, something crashed at the top. Vivian ducked, shielding herself behind the wooden handrail.
Kate gently grabbed Vivian by the shoulders. “It’s okay, Viv. It was just a waiter dropping a tray of plates.”
Vivian’s eyes watered. “Jeeeesus hell. I’m a nervous wreck. I need this to be OVER.”
47
I need another cup of hot chocolate with a little sumthin’ sumthin’ mixed in,” Vivian said as she scanned the menu. “Damn, maybe a double.” Her hands still shook from the scare on the stairs.
“It was really loud,” Kate said. “I jumped, too.”
“Yeah, but you didn’t duck and cover,” Vivian said, hanging her head.
“I almost did, though,” Lucy confessed. “And for good reason. I mean, it’s not often you’re stalked by a man who’s wanted by the FBI. He has tried to kill you, Viv. And us. You have every right to be on edge.”
A waitress walked up in a Scottish plaid short skirt and tight button-down white shirt, boobs busting out of it.
“Hey there, welcome to the Hail-Yeah,” she said in a high, cutesy voice. “My name is Barbie. What can I get you to drink? We have our house-brewed draft beer on special today, $3 pints.”
“Do y’all have a hefeweizen?” Wendy asked.
“Sure do,” she chirped.
“I’ll take that.”
Kate ordered a glass of tea, Lucy a soda and Vivian a hot chocolate spiked with amaretto and crème de cocoa.
Barbie bounced off.
“I think she’s supposed to be a trashy little schoolgirl,” Vivian giggled.
“At least she can pull it off,” Kate said. “I couldn’t fill that shirt out if my life depended on it.”
“Reminds me of our good ol’ Flying Dutchman days, Viv,” Wendy said. “But we were sailors, not schoolgirls. And way cuter.”
“And those outfits weren’t nearly as trashy,” Lucy said. “Y’all
didn’t have your boobs poppin’ out like Barbie doll, there.”
“True, but we did show some tummy,” Vivian said, playing with the salt shaker. “Can’t do that anymore, compliments of the twins.”
“They’re worth it,” Kate said.
“I know, but it does suck having twin-skin. Maybe one day I can have plastic surgery and get it nipped and tucked.”
“Do it,” Lucy said.
“You can’t do that,” Kate said. “It’s like a badge of honor.”
“Screw that. If I could afford it, hell yeah, I’d do it. Hey, I just used the name of the restaurant in a sentence. Wonder if I get a discount?”
Barbie flounced back with their drinks and took their order, then flitted off to a table of guys, sticking all her humps and bumps out a little extra.
The girls watched the videos Kate had taken on their snow tubing descents and laughed at themselves laughing. Lunch arrived and Vivian was surprised, but pleased. Barbie had gotten everything right, including making her burger plain and dry with cheese only. She had a thing about hot food touching cold food. Lettuce, tomatoes, onion or pickles (the worst) should never touch her meat and buns. Ick!
Vivian was enjoying being with her friends, secure in the fact that Nelson was on watch, keeping them safe. She was just about finished when Smith came through the heavy wooden restaurant doors. He was on the phone, serious look on his face.
He headed upstairs to their table and clicked off the phone. “The team is in place.”
“Where’s Nelson?” Vivian asked. “I assumed he’d be here.”
“That’s who I just got off the phone with. He felt like it was pertinent he be on the trail today so he’s up there already. Here’s the deal.” Smith pulled a chair up to the end of their booth and sat down. “You are to drive to the trailhead in Lucy’s SUV and park in one of the few spaces, then start up the trail. Officers with Vail PD will have the parking lot covered and will be posing as other hikers on the trail.”
“How will we know who are real hikers?” Wendy asked.
“You won’t.”
“But what if we get in trouble and need help?”
“I’ll be monitoring you from the back of a van in the parking lot. You will all have ear buds and microphones so that no one misses anything.”
“What if I have to take a trail pee?” Lucy asked. “It never fails; I always have to take a trail pee.”
The corner of Smith’s lip turned up. “Use the restroom here before you leave. Once you’re on that trail, there will be no privacy.”
“Where are these microphones going to be exactly?” Vivian asked.
Smith glanced fleetingly at her boobs before focusing on her face. “Agent Nelson called in Agent Cervantes to help with the operation. She’ll be here shortly and will connect the transmitters to your waists and tuck the wire here.” He indicated his breastbone. “Agent Finck is in one of the buildings from an old mining camp. Agents Nelson and Shick are at the cabin at the end of the trail.”
“Cabin?” Kate asked.
“The trail ends on private property, and the old homestead cabin is open year ‘round for skiers and hikers.”
“I’ve heard of that,” Lucy piped up. “It’s called the Bighorn Hilton.”
“Agents Hayes and Cervantes will hike up after you to cover the rear. Take your time but hike straight to the cabin. Don’t stop at the old mining camp or at Bighorn Falls. Don’t take the side trail to the cliff. Go to the cabin.”
Smith asked and looked at each of them. “Are you ready?”
“Heck yeah.”
“You know it.”
“Absolutely.”
“We’re takin’ this jerk-ola down today.”
48
AGENT Cervantes walked in and indicated the girls should meet her in the restroom, where she got them suited with ear buds and microphones. She called Smith in the parking lot and conducted a sound check.
Everyone could hear and be heard, so Smith took off to the trailhead.
The girls got into Lucy’s SUV.
“We need some rock,” Wendy said. “We gotta get pumped up!”
Lucy fiddled with her iPhone as she drove. “I have just the song. This band opened for Soundgarden recently and they were great!”
“Guilty Pleasure” by Gone For Days blasted through the speakers, and the girls rocked out on the short drive to the trail’s parking lot.
Lucy pulled into the last available space and Vivian had to carefully open her door to not hit the navy blue van parked beside them.
“The package has arrived.” Smith’s voice came over Vivian’s ear bud.
Vivian giggled. “He called us the package.”
The girls snickered.
“Come on up,” Nelson greeted them from 10,788 feet.
“We’re gettin’ to it,” Wendy said and grabbed her jacket and Lucy’s backpack full of supplies. Then they headed to the trail.
Kate stopped to read the map at the marquee.
“Way to use those taco skills Buck taught you,” Vivian said.
“It’s topos, Viv, you goofball. And I’m glad we had that course,” Kate said, still studying the map. “Those skills could come in handy today.”
“We have fresh water, thanks to Lucy,” Wendy said and took a sip out of the CamelBak Lucy had the foresight to pack. “No filters for us.”
“Just shared germs,” Vivian said and reached for the tube to take a sip, too.
“Eh, whatcha gonna do?” Lucy shrugged.
Satisfied, Kate turned from the map and caught up with them. “I just had to get my bearings.”
They hiked only a short distance before the trail became a steep incline. Vivian did okay at first, but after five minutes she had to stop to catch her breath.
“Wait up!” she called to Lucy, who was way ahead of the rest of them.
“Some of us aren’t used to the altitude,” Kate said, wheezing a little.
“Or the excursion,” Wendy said between deep breaths.
“Stick together at all times,” Nelson said into their ears.
Lucy walked back to them but marched in place. “Come on, girls, let’s go. You can do it. Gotta keep that heart rate up!”
“Oh no,” Vivian said, “drill instructor Lucy is back.”
“You know it. I’m in my element.” She kicked her right leg up on a boulder and stretched, then her left. “Your body will eventually figure out that you aren’t going to die from lack of oxygen and you’ll hit a groove. In the meantime, keep moving.”
Taking another deep breath, Vivian started back to it. The trail continued the incline, leveling out for only short jaunts between switchbacks.
Kate stopped and rested on a boulder. “I wasn’t,” she took a few breaths, “expecting it to be this difficult.”
“Geez,” Wendy said, panting. She stopped for a second and twirled each ankle in a circle. “Is it going to be like this the whole way? I’ll never make it. Ankle surgery, remember?”
Lucy accepted no excuses. “You finished your physical therapy didn’t you? Come on! Work those cleaned-up ligaments! You’re like the bionic woman now, right?”
Wendy gave her a look but pushed ahead.
Nelson beeped in their ears, “It becomes a gradual ascent in another quarter-mile. Hayes and Cervantes have you in sight. You need to keep moving to keep the distance.”
They followed his orders and made it through the first grueling half mile. The last switchback led into a grove of aspens where the girls stopped to rest and breathe. Each took a turn with the CamelBak before starting out again.
Vivian felt fairly safe as she walked through the trees but continually looked around now that she didn’t have to concentrate on each foot placement. “Checking in,” she said to Nelson. “Any news?”
“Negative. No reports from anyone.”
A couple in their twenties approached, each with a large backpack and bedroll, a German Shepherd trotting alongside. “Hi. Great day for a hike
,” the girl said as she passed them.
“Hey,” the girls called to her retreating back.
The aspens stopped at a creek with a waterfall in the distance. The girls took a few minutes to shoot pictures, then Lucy walked up and down, looking for the best place to cross.
“Looks like if we step on this log, then that one and then this rock,” she said, pointing, “we should be able to cross without getting wet.”
“And this is melted snow,” Kate said. “I’ve had enough of that for one trip.”
“I second that,” Vivian said as she took a tentative step on the first log. It didn’t budge so she placed a foot on the second log.
Lucy was at the rock and held out a hand, helping Vivian the rest of the way across. Kate went next and crossed the stream without incident.
Wendy didn’t have a problem on the first log, but once she had both feet on the next, the rock it had been on gave way and the log rolled out from under her. She landed in the creek with a splash and a yelp.
“What’s happening?” Nelson boomed.
“Wendy slipped on a log,” Vivian reported. “We’re okay.”
Lucy jumped in the creek and put an arm around Wendy’s waist. “I’ve got you.”
Wendy wiped water off her cheek. “I think I screwed up my non-bionic ankle.”
“Oh no,” Kate said, stepping onto the large rock she had used getting across.
Wendy hobbled across with Lucy and Kate’s help. Back on solid ground, they helped her to a butt-sized boulder and she eased down.
“Thanks, Lucy, for sacrificing your dry feet for me,” Wendy said.
Vivian carefully removed Wendy’s hiking boot and sock. “Doesn’t look too bad, yet.”
“Do you think you can keep hiking?” Nelson asked.
“Yes,” Wendy said and flexed her toes. “I think if I wrap it and take a couple of pain relievers I can keep going. I don’t want to turn back now.”
Lucy dug in the CamelBak and pulled out their first-aid kit. She handed Vivian an Ace bandage and tossed Wendy two ibuprofen pills and the tube for the CamelBak.