Ray pointed to the spot on the map where the car was found.
An officer named Howard Reynolds yawned into his closed fist. “Macy, after what happened to you it’s good to see you up and about. Ray was just telling us how you decided that it was best that you sit today’s operation out. It’s a shame, but he said you were adamant.”
Macy concentrated on the map, tracing her eyes across the pathways and focusing in on every contour. There was a rushing noise in her ears. She imagined this was what it sounded like when someone’s blood boiled. Her expression didn’t change though. The years of being Ray’s subordinate kicked in instinctively. She was grateful. No matter how loud she wanted to scream, she wouldn’t question his authority in front of a group of senior police officers. This wasn’t the time or the place. She swallowed. Out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of Ray raising his freshly poured cup of coffee to his lips. It took all her self-control not to throw it in his face. She saw herself point at the map. Her voice sounded wooden.
“Tell me again where you found the car?”
Howard’s stubby finger followed the thin thread of a tertiary road to where it forked and then headed south. “It was parked here.”
“Was it hidden?”
“It was parked off the road. That’s all I know so far.”
“And how far is that from the property?”
Ray spoke this time. “It’s a seven-mile hike in, but it’s over fairly rough terrain.” He sighed like he meant it. “We’ll miss you today, but you made the right call. It’s going to be pretty hard going.”
Macy followed a trail that wove through the landscape toward the house on the ridge. It crossed a stream before heading uphill. “What’s this cross marked here?”
Howard talked through a mouthful of scrambled eggs. “That’s where the dogs lost Lana’s scent.”
A waitress handed Macy a menu, but she shook her head. She’d lost her appetite. “Why do you suppose that happened?”
Ray started to get up and the others at the table followed his lead.
Howard put his crumpled napkin next to his plate. “We can’t really say. Sometimes it happens.”
“And sometimes suspects double back.”
“They thought of that, but came up with nothing. A team is heading up to the property now, so we’ll know for sure soon enough.”
“Not necessarily. The compound is pretty well fortified. It may be a while before you can establish whether he’s there.”
Ray grumbled. “He’s got a hostage and he’s highly visible. There aren’t many places he can go.”
“You’re forgetting about Sarah Reed. She might be helping him.” Macy addressed Howard. “Can I keep this?”
“I don’t see why not. We have lots of copies.”
“We’re heading over to the operations briefing,” said Ray. “You should come along in case there are any questions. You’ve had direct contact with Tyler Locke.”
Macy picked up the map. Her hands were starting to shake. She turned away and grabbed her bag.
“I’ve just got to stop by Alden’s office first. I want to get my notes.”
Howard gave her a pat on the back. “You’ve done fantastic work getting us this far. We’ll bring it home for you.”
Keeping her eyes low, Macy darted down the covered walkway. All around her, SWAT team members were clinking about in their heavy gear. Farther on, local law enforcement loitered around their vehicles, talking in low voices, some smoking cigarettes, most drinking from takeaway coffee cups the size of Big Gulps. The sun was just coming up as she opened the front doors to the police station and headed past the empty desks in the main room. She slammed Aiden’s office door behind her and threw her bag on the nearest chair. A larger version of the same map they’d been looking at in the restaurant was tacked to the wall above Aiden’s desk. She focused in on the point where the dog handlers had lost Lana Clark’s scent. The door opened and she was relieved to hear Aiden’s voice.
“Hey,” he said, catching hold of her arm as she started to move away. “Everything okay? Ray said you were unwell.”
She didn’t look at him. “There’s nothing wrong with my health, Aiden.”
“Then why are you staying behind today?”
“That was Ray’s decision, not mine. Last night I told him it was over between us. This morning he effectively took me off the case.”
“He can’t do that.”
“He just did.”
“Does that mean you’re heading back to Helena?”
“I don’t know. I don’t like leaving things unfinished.”
“What are you going to do about Ray?”
“I’m not sure what I can do without ruining my career. He’s a powerful man and I was stupid to get involved with him. And don’t even get me started on the way he’s handling this.” She glanced up at the map. “As far as I can tell, they’re about to create a hostage situation that we won’t be able to get out of. Tyler isn’t the type to negotiate.”
“The owner has a month of supplies stockpiled up there. This could go on for a long time.” He reached for the door handle. “We’d better get moving. The briefing starts in a couple of minutes.”
“I’m not going. I can’t be in the same room as Ray right now. I might say or do something I’ll regret later on.”
“I’ll tell them you aren’t feeling well. Given what he’s telling everyone, no one will question it.”
“Thank you.”
“You’ll stick around?”
She kept her eyes on the map. “I might go for a drive.”
The door to the office closed and Macy stepped around the desk so she could study the map more closely. Unlike the printout, this one comprised the whole western area of the valley south of Darby Lake. She traced her finger along the highlighted path, from where they’d lost Lana’s scent to where they’d found Charlie Lott’s car. It was a distance of three miles and crossed a stream at about the midpoint. The stream originated in the higher elevations and flowed east toward the valley floor, eventually following the course of a well-marked trail. She tracked its progress to where it met the Flathead River. Tyler and Lana would have had to cover a distance of approximately six miles to get there. She checked the time. It was coming up on twenty to six. She gathered her things and made sure her gun was loaded before stepping outside. Aside from a sleepy-eyed receptionist, the office was completely empty.
* * *
Macy drove past the patrol cars and SWAT vans parked along Main Street. At the elementary school, the last of the patrol officers were entering the auditorium.
Her eyes flicked up to the rearview mirror. Aiden had seen her. He’d been talking to Ray. Even from a distance Macy could tell it was a tense exchange. Seconds later her phone rang.
Aiden’s voice was muffled. “Where are you going?”
“The dog handlers lost Lana’s scent. It’s a long shot, but it’s possible Tyler doubled back and followed a stream heading east. A trail leads straight to the Flathead River.”
“He’d need someone to help him.”
Macy checked the wing mirror. “That’s where Sarah Reed comes in.”
“I want you to call me if you see anything suspicious.”
“Will do.”
“I don’t like the idea of you heading down there on your own.”
“Don’t worry, it’s probably nothing.”
“You thought that about Karen Walcott and look what happened.”
Macy turned south onto Route 93 and increased her speed.
“Keep this to yourself, okay? I don’t want to turn this into a circus.”
“I suppose you’d like to show Ray up.”
“To tell you the truth, I think that would just make matters worse. In a way, I’m hoping I’m wrong about this.”
* * *
Macy crossed over railway tracks before coming to a narrow bridge that sat low over the Flathead River. To the north the shoreline was choked with rock and dotted
with wildflowers. The view was hazy in the morning light. A thin mist hovered inches above the water and birds flitted above the deeper pools. The dirt road swung sharply to the north and she was instantly swallowed up by the quiet cool of a densely wooded area. Macy rolled down her window and cut her speed. The smell of fresh pine mingled with wood smoke. Shadowy pathways branched out in all directions. The truck bounced along for another few minutes before the trees suddenly vanished. The western slope was flattened out and the plant life was sparse. It looked as if there’d been a landslide at some point. She stopped at the trailhead and pulled out her binoculars. The path snaked upward in a series of tight switchbacks. There was no movement whatsoever, and she’d not seen a single car since leaving Route 93. She turned around where the track widened, and parked so she had a clear view of the area. She stepped outside. Other than birdsong and the flowing water it was silent.
If Tyler had decided to bring Lana here, there was no way of knowing how long they’d take to make the journey. It was seven miles. Depending on how much Lana slowed him down, that could take all day or less than a couple of hours. The ground near the trailhead was hard packed and dusty. There were traces of tire tracks everywhere, but it was impossible to tell if they were recent. Macy stepped down onto the boulders that lined the river. The water level was low enough that it could be traversed safely on foot. She climbed down onto the wash of bleached stone and walked to where the span was at its most narrow. There was a single footprint in the wet sand. She squatted down low. The heel was deep and rounded at the back. It could have been made by a cowboy boot.
The land on the opposite side of the river rose to the reinforced embankment that supported the railway line. From there it was only a matter of a few feet of open ground before you reached a densely planted stand of pine trees. Macy could see nothing in the deep shadows. It would be easy to conceal a car in there. She pulled out the map again. The area could be reached on a farm track that ran in a straight line from the secondary road she took from Route 93.
Macy followed the gravel farm track until it gave way to a deep-rutted road leading into the center of a stand of pine trees that covered at least three acres. A vehicle that had passed through recently had flattened the vegetation. She walked slowly with her weapon drawn. From a small clearing, the opposite shore of the Flathead River was almost visible through the trees. Some bark was scraped from a tree trunk. There were green flecks of paint embedded in the wood. She glanced back toward the river. She could have sworn she saw something move.
Macy kept low as she made her way west. The undergrowth was so thick it was difficult to find a path. Fallen branches crackled underfoot and above her restless birds flitted through the canopy. She found Sarah Reed standing on the edge of the railroad tracks. Her back was to Macy and she wore a long white wedding dress. Her arms hung limp at her sides and she was holding a gun in her right hand. There was an open suitcase on the ground next to her.
Macy brushed away a cloud of gnats. “Sarah Reed. My name is Detective Macy Greeley. I want you to drop your weapon and keep your hands where we can see them.”
Sarah didn’t move.
“Sarah, nod if you can hear me.”
She nodded.
“Drop the gun, Sarah.”
Sarah’s shoulders were shaking. She may have been crying.
“Sarah, did you come here to meet Tyler Locke?”
Sarah’s words escaped with a sob. “He lied to me.”
Macy fought the urge to lower her weapon. “He lied to everyone.”
“He was just going to leave me here.”
“Was Lana Clark with him?”
“She hates him. Even I could see that.”
“Sarah, you need to put your weapon down. I will shoot you if I have to.”
She glanced down at the gun in her hand and stared at it like she was noticing it for the first time. “He didn’t think I’d do it. Said I was a stupid bitch. Always had been.” She was laughing and crying at the same time. “So I shot him.”
“Do you know where is he now?”
“He left me here.”
The ground started to tremble. At first it was so slight that Macy thought she was imagining it, but then a metallic shudder ran through the steel rails. A train was approaching from the north, and it was coming fast.
Sarah raised her eyes. She was shivering in her long dress. There were brambles caught in the lace. Her feet were bare.
A warning whistle blew.
“Sarah, I want you to come over here where it’s safer.”
The gun slipped from Sarah’s hand and tumbled down the gravel embankment. She turned to face Macy with her arms half raised, but she didn’t move away from the tracks. A fan of fine wrinkles fishtailed her eyes. The DMV photo they had pulled didn’t do her justice. She may have been an older woman, but Sarah Reed was fiercely attractive. There was a second high-pitched whistle, louder and more frantic than the first.
Macy had to raise her voice to be heard. “Please, Sarah, step away from the tracks.”
The earth shuddered. The metal rails ticked and hissed. Brakes screamed. Sarah jumped just as the train blew past. Macy stared at the spot where Sarah had once stood. Despite her best efforts to hold it in, Macy started crying.
The last train carriage was at least fifty yards to the south. It had taken a long time to stop. Aside from the crackle of her police radio the woods were quiet. Macy had difficulty making herself understood. Instead of slowing down and speaking clearly, she raised her voice. The woman working dispatch told her to take her time.
“Tyler Locke is driving a green F-150 pickup truck registered to Sarah Reed. He was last seen in the company of Lana Clark, twelve miles south of Wilmington Creek near the Devil’s Canyon trailhead. He might have a gunshot wound.”
She requested assistance. “No, an ambulance will not be necessary.”
Macy walked along the empty tracks until she reached the northern edge of the stand of trees. The air was so clear she could see all the way to Canada. She took a deep breath. Tyler Locke could be anywhere. She didn’t like the odds. She turned around and started heading back to the train. The driver was walking toward her. His shoulders were slumped and a baseball cap shaded his face. He wore heavy work gloves and inspected the track as he made his way north. He was twenty feet from where Sarah had stood when he stopped and stared out in the direction of the river. His shoulders slumped further. He looked like he was carrying the weight of the world.
* * *
Macy pulled up in front of the truck stop’s diner and cut the engine. The parking area was almost empty. Three mobile homes sat on a patch of bare earth at the far end of the lot. One was now a burnt-out shell and another one’s middle had caved in. The third home appeared to be occupied. Every so often the curtains shifted. Macy felt as if she was being watched. As a professional courtesy, she’d put in a call to Ray. She’d been relieved when he didn’t pick up. According to his personal assistant, he was already on his way back to Helena. She had to admit that it was unsettling to be cut loose so suddenly.
Macy couldn’t stop thinking about Sarah Reed. She blew her nose and tilted up her sunglasses so she could look in the mirror. It was obvious she’d been crying. She rooted around the glove compartment for a bottle of eyedrops, but came up with a wreath-shaped Christmas ornament she’d been given by someone at the office. There was a picture of Luke in the center. She slipped it into her bag. She had to stay focused. The sooner she found Tyler, the sooner she could go home.
Her cell phone rang and she put Aiden on speakerphone. Macy had been relieved when he’d insisted on going on his own to speak to Dylan. She pictured Sarah’s white satin dress crumpled, torn, and covered in blood on the opposite side of the tracks. Her body had flown all the way to the river’s edge. She was lying on her front. It looked as if she’d crawled there. Macy couldn’t help but feel she’d failed them both.
“Hey Aiden, how are you holding up?”
“I’m
on my way to see Dylan now.”
“I am sorry.”
“Me too.”
“I let his therapist know what happened.”
“That was probably wise. I’ve arranged for Jessie to meet me there, and for a family support officer to see him as well. Have you had a chance to interview Sarah’s colleagues?”
“I just pulled up at the diner.”
“You’ll have to get started without me.”
“Ray is on his way back to Helena.”
“Have you spoken to him?”
“He didn’t answer my call.”
“He’s telling everyone that you discussed your plans with him before heading out this morning.” He paused. “I don’t think anyone’s buying it.”
“Howard Reynolds called to compliment me on my swift recovery. I’m pretty sure he realized something wasn’t right about what went down at breakfast. He told me to give him a call later.”
“What are you going to say?”
“I don’t know. It’s tricky. I really don’t want to speak ill of Ray professionally.”
“I don’t think you have to. It’s obvious to everyone that’s paying attention that he’s made some bad calls over the past few days.”
“Ray doesn’t usually get involved on an operational level. I really don’t know why he’s been all over this case.”
“Could it have something to do with what’s going on between the two of you?”
“God, I hope not. He’s a professional. He wouldn’t let our situation affect his judgment.”
“That’s not how it looks from the outside.”
“I think you’re connecting dots that aren’t there.”
“Anyway, he’s gone now. You can breathe again.”
“And Wilmington Creek can go back to being the sleepy ranching community it’s always been.”
“Traffic has definitely thinned, but I don’t think anyone will rest easy until Tyler is in custody.”
“We need to take a look at Sarah’s financial records. It’s likely she withdrew a lot of cash in the last couple of days.”
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