Perilous

by Tamara Hart Heiner

  “I’m so sorry,” Amanda said. “It’s my fault, Ricky.”

  Ricky looked at Sara. “What’s she talking about?”

  “Amanda tried to pull him from the river. But the current was too strong. It ripped Neal’s hand from hers,” Sara explained.

  He shook his head. “It’s my fault. I should’ve come back, like I said I would.”

  Jaci moved over to a bare spot of ground by a half-finished fire circle and sat. She picked up a rock, noting how her hand shook.

  She was exhausted and wanted to cry. “Sara,” she said, “come sit with me.”

  Sara obliged. Jaci gave her a quick hug, then pulled Sara’s hair back and played with the ends. “You look like you haven’t eaten in days.”

  Sara leaned forward, arching her shoulders. “Don’t touch my hair. It’s gross.”

  “Oh, who cares,” Jaci chided. “You always liked me to braid your hair.” It soothed her as well, a touch of normalcy in this insanity.

  Ricky joined them, crouching to go through the orange bag. “Sara, tell me where you and Amanda looked for Neal.”

  “We just followed the river downstream until it split. We didn’t go in it. Maybe we can help you. We could follow one stream and you the other. But you’d have to find a way to cross it.”

  “Crossing it’s not a problem. You need supplies. What can I take with me?”

  “Whatever you want.” Sara pulled her chin up. “We’re coming with you. Don’t leave us behind.”

  Ricky picked up the orange bag. “Give me a day to find Neal. Just one day.”

  “No,” Sara pleaded. “Let us come with you. Don’t leave us.”

  Ricky looked at Jaci, his eyes imploring her for help. “I can do this better alone. Just stay hidden. Stay quiet, like you did.”

  Jaci swallowed back her protests and nodded, rubbing Sara’s shoulder. “We’ll be okay. We did just fine before we met you.”

  He gave her a smile. “Yeah. That’s right.”

  Sara helped him load up the orange bag with bottles of water. That was really all they had. No bandages, medicine, stretchers. A box of raisins. He didn’t need the matches.

  There was a scream. Jaci jumped, recognizing Amanda’s voice. “Where’s Amanda?”

  Ricky dropped the bag. “Stay here. I’ll find her.”

  The shriek came from just down the ravine. Ricky took off in that direction.

  Jaci and Sara stood paralyzed, waiting.

  “Should we go?” asked Sara.

  “Yes.” The word came out in a strangled whisper.

  A few minutes later Ricky and Amanda stumbled through the ferns and trees, carrying a limp figure between them. Sara let out a small cry and hurried forward. “It’s Neal!”

  Ricky lowered him to the ground at their feet.

  “Is he okay?” said Jaci.

  Ricky nodded. “He’s breathing.”

  Sara knelt over him. “Where did you find him?”

  Amanda pulled on her hair, looking pleased with herself. “I was chasing a rabbit, and I stumbled across him.”

  Neal stirred. “Oh,” he moaned.

  “Get water,” ordered Ricky.

  “Here.” Jaci tossed a water bottle to him.

  Neal opened his eyes. He tried to sit up but winced and fell back down.

  “Where’ve you been?” Tears welled up in Sara’s eyes. “We’ve looked for you for days! Why didn’t you come back to the camp?”

  Neal pushed himself up on one arm, flinching a little. “I fell in. I couldn’t get my feet on the ground, and I blacked out. When I came to, I was stuck on a log. On the wrong side of the river.”

  Ricky brushed his hands on his pants and stood up. “You need to rest.”

  “When did you become responsible?” Neal closed his eyes and leaned back. “Okay. I’ll rest.”

  October 13

  Little Falls, New York

  “Here you go.” The receptionist at the Little Falls courthouse placed a file on the counter. “These are the court proceedings for the legal adoption of Neal and Richard Collins.”

  Carl opened up the file and began scanning the first document, wondering what exactly he hoped to find. There were no living relatives. The boys had been living with a grandmother, surviving off the government’s mercy.

  The first page listed the facts: date of hearing, those present, who presided. It was the second page that began to get interesting.

  Carl read the minutes. There had been somewhat of a fight to get the boys. The grandmother begged the court not to separate the four-year-old twins. The minutes even stated she would rather have neither if it meant keeping them together.

  The judge awarded her custody of both boys. He granted her a government stipend of ten thousand dollars a year, as well as government housing, provided she continued to work. If she lost her job, she was in danger of losing the boys to the foster care system.

  A fairly generous verdict, Carl thought. Judge Acuff had bent over backwards to keep those boys together.

  There was no mention of any other relatives. He finished up the final verdict and one sentence leapt out at him: “Custody of Abigail Collins: Not granted.”

  His mind went on rewind. He flipped back to the first page of the file. Somehow he had skipped over the name of the case.

  “Jocelyn Bennett vs. the state of New York. Deciding legal custody for Neal, Richard, and Abigail Collins.” Abigail Collins. There had been another child.

  “Ma’am? Can you copy all of these court records for me, please?”

  She eyed him. “I’ll need a photocopy of your badge.”

  He tossed it on the counter. “There.”

  She disappeared with the file. Carl would wait until he had those copies before he made his next request.

  She came back with his badge and the papers.

  “Also, Ma’am, I’d like to see the file on the adoption of Abigail Collins.”

  She examined the file, resting the folder in the crook of her elbow. “Was this not it?”

  He shook his head. “No, Ma’am. Jocelyn Bennett was denied custody of the girl. I need to know where she went.”

  “Let me see if I can find it.”

  She left, and Carl tapped his fingernails on the counter.

  Finally, she returned. “I’m sorry, but I can’t show you that file. It’s a closed adoption.”

  “I’m a detective. I need this for a case.”

  She shook her head. “I’ll need a court order from the judge, or a search warrant. His secretary’s office is on the third floor. If he thinks you need the information, he might give you a court order before the end of the week.”

  “Is it still Judge Acuff?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Thank you very much.”

  It was Monday. He wasn’t leaving Little Falls until he had that file.

  Chapter 26

  Ricky returned from the water after dark. “I’m sorry. The water’s too slow now for me to get anything.”

  Neal shook his head. “We need to figure out a better plan for food. We can’t be dependent on just catching fish.”

  “Maybe some of these plants are edible,” Amanda said.

  “What about animals?” said Jaci. “Could we hunt?”

  Amanda snapped her fingers. “There was a rabbit yesterday. I was chasing it when I found Neal.”

  A spark of hope warmed Jaci. “If we can catch it, I think I can prepare it.” It couldn’t be much harder than skinning fish, could it?

  “But how do you catch a rabbit?” said Amanda, kicking the dirt with her toe.

  “We have to make a trap,” Ricky said. “Anyone know how?”

  “I think I can build one,” Sara said. “I did it once in Girl Scouts.”

  They gathered vines and twigs for making a square trap, following Sara’s instructions.

  “Try to mask your smell,” Neal said. “The animal will smell us and stay away.” He picked up some dirt, rubbing it on his hands.

 
; “Should we risk a fire?” asked Ricky.

  Neal shook his head. “We better keep a low profile. We still don’t know who’s out there looking for the girls.”

  Sara and Neal finished wrapping some vine around a few twigs, tying it in places to make it tight.

  Neal gave the trap a test, then smiled and held it up. “Done!”

  They completed four more before they were too hungry and tired to do anything else. Together they marched into the woods and laid out the traps.

  “Now we sleep,” Neal said. “And hope that tomorrow, we have rabbits.”

  Jaci shivered in the light wind, hugging herself. They were starving and freezing. And there was somebody out there, close by, who could be a danger to them. They wouldn’t survive much longer.

  She felt the knowledge enter her heart like a lead rock. They were going to die out here.

  Neal glanced at her. “We’re going to get you girls out of this. I promise.”

  “Thanks,” Jaci said. She moved closer to Sara and buried her face in the younger girl’s hair.

  October 14

  Little Falls, New York

  Carl stepped down from the Canal Side Inn, a wonderful bed and breakfast in Little Falls. He rubbed his protruding belly. Too many meals like the one he had just finished had increased his girth.

  A bicycle bell rang behind him, and Carl moved to the right. He watched the bike turn left, heading toward the Erie Canal. What a historic city. Full of charm and interest.

  He pulled out his phone. Judge Acuff had listened to his tale with interest and promised him a court order within two days. Judges were busy, though. Carl wanted to call and remind him, but he didn’t want to aggravate the man.

  He put his phone away. He itched to do something. Maybe he would take a stroll through the Historic Canal District. It might help clear his mind.

  A pleasant autumn breeze blew off the direction of the canal. The phone in Carl’s pocket vibrated. He stared at the caller ID for a brief moment before answering.

  “Detective Hamilton speaking.”

  “Detective, this is Ranger Lewis, checking in. I’m with the Adirondack Park Services for Area five, which includes—”

  “Yes, yes. Do you have word on the girls? Have they been spotted?” Carl leaned forward on the railing over the canal, watching a large barge drift downriver.

  There was a pause on the other end. “No, Sir.”

  “Thank you. Keep me informed.”

  Carl stood for a long moment after the call, cradling his phone in both hands. He dialed Idaho.

  “Idaho Falls police department, this is Monica. How may I direct your call?”

  “Hi, Monica. Detective Hamilton. No dispatch today?”

  “Nope. It’s Patty’s turn.”

  “Listen, I need to get a search party organized. A huge one. It’s going to take some work, but I’d like to get a lot of experienced hikers from the cities within and around the Adirondack park system. Can you pass me through to the chief? I’m going to need his help.”

  “Sure thing.”

  Carl waited for the call to transfer. He couldn’t expect a lot from a search party. They were most effective when undertaken days after a person went missing. And it had been over a month.

  Chapter 27

  Jaci woke up shivering. A thin sheen of crystalline frost covered everything—the trees, the bushes, the ground, even her arms and legs. She vigorously rubbed the frost off her jeans.

  So quiet. In the morning the birds usually chirped in the trees, or a lizard scurried in the underbrush. But today it seemed so still.

  “I’m starving.” Sara’s hazel eyes were opened just a little, peeking up at her.

  Food. She pushed herself to her feet. “The rabbits!”

  “Right.” Sara was up in an instant.

  Neal sat up, running his hands through his frosty brown hair.

  “You coming?” Jaci asked.

  “Of course.”

  They made their way to where they had left the traps. Neal picked one up. “Empty.”

  “Not this one!” Jaci grabbed a trap and held it up.

  The rabbit within the twig box scooted away from her, staring out with liquid black eyes. The large ears trembled in fear.

  Sara held up another. “Anyone want a mouse?”

  Out of the other three traps, two more had rabbits and the third was empty.

  Ricky eyed the trappings when they returned. “That’s it? Three rabbits and a mouse?”

  “All right, Jaci,” said Amanda. “You’re up.”

  Jaci stepped forward and took the traps. This would be far worse than skinning a fish.

  “I’ll help,” said Ricky.

  Amanda interrupted. “Oh, Ricky, I was hoping you’d try and catch fish again. Neal can help her.”

  “Sure,” Neal said.

  Ricky shrugged. “Fine. I’ll see if I can get a fish to top off our breakfast of rodents.” He started down the path to the water.

  “And I’ll come along,” Amanda said.

  “Come on, then. Maybe I’ll make a spear this time.”

  Neal sat next to Jaci. “I’ll kill them for you, okay?” he said. “Then we’ll skin them together.”

  “Who, Amanda and Ricky, or the rabbits?”

  He laughed. “The rabbits.”

  He took the small animals out of their traps one at a time. He turned sideways, out of Jaci’s sight, but she saw his arms wrench and heard the crack.

  It’s food, she reminded herself.

  Neal did the hard stuff, using the strength of his fingers to break the skin and rip it off. She looked away, not able to watch.

  Ricky came back from the river, empty-handed except for his spear. It proved unsuccessful at catching fish, but was perfect for lancing small animals and roasting them over a fire.

  “Thanks, Jaci,” Sara said as she pulled apart one of the rabbits. “This is great.”

  “Neal did it. That was an awful job.” She picked meat off the bones. “We’ll be out of this forest soon, won’t we, Sara?”

  Sara paused. “Well, I lost the map in the rainstorm. But if I remember right, I don’t think the park goes on much farther.”

  Ricky looked at them. “Then you’re going to the police?”

  Sara shrugged.

  Amanda said, “We have to, and we should call home. Our parents must be going nuts. It’s been, what, two months?”

  “It’s been about five weeks,” Sara snapped, her eyes narrowing. “Anyway, if the lines are tapped, they’ll know everything. What if they find us first?”

  “Then don’t go to the police,” said Ricky.

  “Not an option.” Amanda rose to her feet. “Let’s get moving.”

  After about two hours of walking, Sara came to a stop. “Listen.”

  Jaci drew up beside her, ears straining.

  A man was talking, not more than a hundred yards in front of them.

  Ricky grabbed both of the girls and pushed them against tree trunks. Then he dropped down to his knees and peered through the bushes.

  “I know they’re around here. I smelled their fire this morning. The girls picked up two hikers, two boys. Right, I’m trying to keep them out of this. I’m backtracking to the fire now. When I find the fire, I’ll follow their trail.”

  Jaci couldn’t hear the response, only static-like words that burst from the radio.

  Ricky stood up, pressing against Jaci and whispering in her ear, “I have to warn Neal and Amanda. Don’t move.”

  Jaci panicked, gripping the tree trunk. She watched Ricky slide to the ground and crawl away.

  Breathe, she told herself. Her face was hot, sweat beading along her hairline.

  “Sure, sure, my GPS is on. Find me at any moment. We have to hurry, though. There’s a search party in here looking for them, too.”

  Jaci closed her eyes, letting those words register. Then this man wasn’t part of the search party. He was with the other party.

  A branch cracked
behind her. She stiffened. Where was Ricky? She scanned the trail in front of them, but he had vanished.

  The bushes next to her trembled, and a man stepped between the trees she and Sara were pressed against. His camouflaged vest and green turtleneck helped him blend into the surrounding foliage.

  If he turned around, or even glanced over his shoulder, he would see her and Sara.

  Jaci sank against the tree, willing him to keep going forward. A hand touched her arm, and she jerked her head. Sara motioned around the tree.

  Jaci gave a slow nod. As quietly as she could, she moved to the opposite side of the tree. Sara did the same. They stayed that way, staring, motionless, until Jaci let her legs give out and sank to the ground.

  “What do we do?” whispered Sara. “Should we run?”

  “Let’s stay right here. Get down low, in the bushes. Ricky knows where we are. He’ll come back for us.”

  “Okay.” Sara dropped to the ground, nearly disappearing in the leafless brush.

  Jaci had no idea how long they sat there, nerves taut, when she heard someone approaching. She peered through the bushes, catching sight of dark green pants. Jaci drew back.

  Please don’t look down, please don’t look down, she prayed.

  Sara covered her face with her hands. It was a small movement, but it was enough. The man turned his feet in Sara’s direction. Sara tensed.

  Jaci knew at any moment the girl would try to run. Jaci’s hands dug around the twigs and roots, searching for a weapon. Her fingers closed on a heavy branch.

  “Ah-ha,” The man said, bending toward Sara’s bush. “Looks like I found something.”

  Jaci stood up and hit him over the neck as hard as she could. He turned to face her, surprise on his face, and she smashed the branch into his nose.

  He stumbled backwards, blood streaming. His hand fumbled in his pocket.

  She swung again. The man reached a hand up to block her, and she kicked his leg. He tripped over a stump behind him and fell backwards.

  She swung the branch down with all her might, again and again and again. Then strong arms gripped her shoulders and jerked her up.

  “Oh!” She gave a startled cry.

  Her captor spun her around. She stared at the man in front of her, at his snarling, angry face, the camo vest. There were two men.