The sounds of Jack stirring caught her attention. She peered over the sofa. He smiled up at her.
“I’ll get you some coffee.”
When she returned, he’d pushed himself up and gladly accepted the cup and downed it in record time. She took and refilled his along with hers.
“What time is it?” he asked, looking around for his phone. He groaned. “It’s almost nine. I’d hoped we’d be up and running by seven.”
Cassie laughed. “We were.”
He pulled on his sweats and grabbed his coffee; standing bare-chested. His hair was slightly spiky and his beard scruffy. Many words came to mind staring at him, but all she was able to do was swallow. Cassie wasn’t sure what he was thinking about, but she sure knew what she was. And then he smiled slowly.
“Yes we were.”
Jack headed to the shower, and she got breakfast ready. When he returned, his ear was glued to the phone. She loaded up the plates and motioned where to sit. He finished the call and briefed her on what he anticipated for the day.
“So what you’re saying is, when we leave, we might not be back until late. At some point, we have to get those sleeping bags washed.”
“That’s what you’re thinking about?”
“Just one of many things.” Cassie decided not to explain. Guys were a different creature.
They locked up and headed out. When Jack reached the entrance of their drive, he floored the Tahoe, zooming by everything, only stopping at the road.
“Imagine you’re on your bike. Tell me when you think you might be at the trail, heading into the woods.”
She sat in the back, right behind Jack, looking out the windows. Since no one was behind them, Jack kept the truck speed close to what Cassie thought she pedaled.
“Stop.”
Jack hit the brakes.
“I think it’s here.”
She scrambled out of the truck and jogged across the road to the hillside. She closed her eyes and let the memories flow. From where she stood, Cassie could still see Blue Heron Lane; that part hadn’t changed. But where was the large boulder with the trail that started to the left of it? She studied the hillside and moved a few more feet down. Melted into the hillside was a large boulder that had a madrona tree growing out of the top. She had to look close, but a deer trail made its way up the hill.
“Found it,” she yelled to Jack.
He made a U-turn, coming around next to her, handing her a backpack. “It’s not that far from the lane. Wait here and duck down if anyone comes.”
Before she could say anything, he’d hit the gas and flew down the road. Within minutes, he jogged back toward her.
The hillside seemed steeper than Cassie remembered, but she’d been fourteen, not thirty-six. Jack helped a couple of times when the path narrowed to nothing as they made their way through the wooded thicket. They reached the top and discovered a fence that hadn’t existed before, a tall chain-linked fence with barbed-wire across the top that stopped them.
Jack positioned them below the fence level, out of view on the wooded hillside.
“Stay here while I look around.” He took off quietly through the thicket and returned a short time later. “I found a spot we can take photos.” He led the way to an area that jutted out and pointed to a sturdy thick fir tree. “Can you climb that?”
By now she knew he was serious. “If you give me a boost up, sure.”
The next thing she knew, her butt was being pushed up into the tree. Cassie grabbed the lowest branch and pulled up, straddling it like a horse. Jack swung up on the branch facing the fence and proceeded to climb higher. She had the binoculars, and he had the camera.
What she saw through the binoculars made her cringe. No longer was it the cottage of her childhood memories but a fortress. If this was a religious compound, it was the oddest one she’d ever seen, and California had quite a few of them.
Jack scaled down the tree and reached the ground first and then helped her. She held his hand tight. He guided them down the bankside through the brush until they met up with the deer path. Coming out of the woods, Jack checked for vehicles and gave the okay for Cassie. The terrain was steep, but she took it slow. Twice, she slid on her butt with Jack catching her in the end. He took off down the road while she sat in the ditch and caught her breath.
Cassie climbed out of the ditch when he pulled up. “My jeans are dirty. Your seats are going to get ruined. Do you have a towel?”
“No. They’re leather. Get in the truck.”
She did, and he hit the gas hard.
“That place looked creepy. Who are they trying to keep out?”
“Not out, but in,” replied Jack. “Did you see how the barbed wire was pointed in and not out?”
“Oh, God.” Her voice faded away in disgust. “That’s what it was, a prison. Jack, you have to do something. This is very wrong.”
“We will get them. Unfortunately, these things take time.”
Lost in thought, Cassie stared out the window. The road followed the bay and then veered inland approaching town. Jack headed north up the east side of the island to Eagle’s Nest Lodge. Even though sun glistened across Whinsome Bay, it didn’t lift her spirits. Awful little reminders of Sergei kept appearing, igniting her anger.
The Tahoe bounced down the dirt drive to the lodge. Jack parked next to Kip’s truck. He turned to Cassie. “Look at me.”
She did.
He took her face and held it gently. His eyes narrowed, matching his determined expression. “I promise you I’ll get them, but in doing so, there can’t be one stone unturned. That’s where you come in with your computer skills. We need you. I need you.”
Cassie sucked in her breath and nodded.
“Take your anger and fuel it toward catching these assholes…with me.” His eyes bored into hers, and she felt his force. Jack leaned in and kissed her until her stiffness disappeared.
“I know what you’re doing,” she murmured. “By the way, it’s working.”
He pulled his mouth away. “That’s good because I don’t have a damn clue.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
He kissed her one last time.
“Thanks,” she said.
“For what?” Jack grinned. Many things came to mind.
“The gentle kick you just gave me. I needed it.”
“We all do occasionally.”
Before he could comment further, Ray’s Jeep pulled in next to him. Ray and Montana exited. Whatever Montana was chattering about, she clammed up when Jack and Cassie joined them. Jack gave a quick nod to Ray, and he shrugged. Cassie walked ahead with Montana.
Ray said, “I heard you had an interesting night.”
“I think the hornet’s nest is disturbed. What did you come across?”
“People being transported out of the county park in a hybrid. My guess? Young women, but it was too dark to tell, and everyone was dressed in black. I missed how they got there, that too was silent. We could probably get a search warrant, but the problem is, what if there isn’t anything there? These shitheads need to be caught in the act. We’re close.”
Jeannie greeted them in the big room and motioned to the table. “Coffee is still brewing. I’m keeping cinnamon buns hot until coffee is ready.”
Kip was on the phone by the big window. Jack looked around to see where Cassie was. She, Montana, and Jeannie were now in a deep conversation. Jack guessed it was about dirt because Cassie kept pointing to her jeans. He really did want to yell back at them that there were more important things than smelly sleeping bags and dirty jeans. They disappeared into the kitchen.
“So what was Montana talking about? She clammed up quick.”
Ray shook his head. “She doesn’t understand why we can’t stake a person out by the Black’s house,
the ferry, and a person in the woods watching the entrance to the compound. I’m talking budget cuts and lack of manpower, and she’s talking energy and vibrations.”
Jack laughed. “You have it worse than I do. Cassie’s big issues are smelly sleeping bags and dirty jeans. That I can solve.”
Kip finished his call and joined them. “The GPS indicates that Zodiac is parked at a marina in Victoria. Here are the coordinates. I MapQuested and this is the marina.” He handed Jack the slip of paper.
“I’ll go call Dan Williams at Canadian Border Services right now.”
“So what’s going on, Ray? You look more than a little frustrated.” Kip glanced back at the kitchen. “You know she’s actually quite good at snooping.”
Ray reiterated to Kip what he just told Jack. Kip smiled. “Montana does have a point. Other than watching the compound, they’d be safe, those are harmless spots. It would give them something to do. By this afternoon, all three of them will be bored. Jeannie can go with them. I think she felt a little left out last night, even though she won’t admit it.”
“Ah, Christ.” Ray blew out a deep breath. “Nothing is ever simple.”
“Are you talking about Montana or the situation?”
“Both,” barked Ray.
Kip grinned. “Yeah, that seems to be the way sometimes.”
Jeannie came through the door with a pot of coffee. Montana and Cassie trailed behind her, each with a tray. The enticing aromas wafted to them, and the men gathered at the table. Kip took over duty of pouring coffee while everyone got comfortable with their full plates. Jack noticed Cassie had cut one of the rolls in half and left it on the tray. He put it on his plate.
“Are you not eating this morning?” Jack asked Kip.
“No, I’ve eaten. Besides, my jeans are getting a little tight.” He made a face.
“See,” Cassie said quietly, “I’m not the only one who worries about weight.”
“Are you going back to Los Angeles?” He gave her a look.
“No.”
“Then quit worrying about it and enjoy the food.”
Kip pulled the white board and easel over so it was directly in front of the group. “Let’s make a list of what we know now.” At the top, he listed Victoria, British Columbia, and then half way down religious compound - Hartz Island, leaving space to be filled in.
Jack’s phone rang, and he excused himself, returning a few minutes later. “That was Dan Williams. The Zodiac is sitting on the back of a large fishing boat registered to a corporation. Canadian Border Services are watching it like a hawk.”
“A corporation?” Cassie said looking puzzled. “What kind of corporation?”
Jack handed her the note with the information and his iPad on top of his laptop, along with a yellow legal pad. “That’s where you’re going to do your magic and tell us.”
Smiling, she pushed away from the conference table, picked up the electronics, and headed back into the kitchen. Jeannie and Montana followed.
Kip continued to jot down notes on the board from Jack and Ray. When they finished, both Ray and Jack felt they had enough evidence to request a search warrant and additional manpower. However, they all agreed they needed to catch everyone in the act.
When Cassie returned, Jack felt her anger immediately, her eyes flashed and her mouth was clamped tight. The men stopped talking.
“What did you find out?” Jack asked.
“That fishing boat is registered to a Korean company that is also the name of an import business. The company claims an educational training program to teach people how to fish. If you trace back the Korean company and the executives, you notice there is a Russian and a Chinese listed along with a minister. The minister is active in recruiting to ‘save’ young women. The fishing boat might fish, but my guess is it’s an illegal front. I searched newspapers in Asia looking for ads to come to work in Canada. Found them and a number to call. I backtracked the number and found it listed to a woman in British Columbia, a Mrs. Bong-cha Kim. That same name is also listed on the import business. That’s how they’re getting the women: employment in Canada.” She handed Jack the pad. “You need to slice their balls off.” With that, she stomped back into the kitchen.
“Man, I wouldn’t want her mad at me,” said Ray.
Jack sucked in his breath. “Yeah.” He called Dan Williams.
“Do you mind if I direct their anger to something useful?” Kip asked Ray.
“Go for it.”
Kip entered the kitchen and papers were shuffled and tucked away. Jeannie fiddled with a cookie sheet. Montana had her hands on her hips, and Cassie crossed her arms. He smiled, figuring the ring leader out of the three would start.
“Kip, we feel we can help. Don’t you think you can utilize us better than sitting here?” Montana asked. “After all, Ray did say he was short of manpower.”
“I do,” replied Kip. As if he’d said the magic words the women’s demeanor changed. “What did you have in mind?”
Montana stepped forward and outlined a plan. Kip listened and had to agree they had some good points.
“Will you agree to stay away from the Ryan’s and the county park?” Kip asked all three.
“Oh, yeah,” they said, nodding their heads. He pulled his keys out of his pocket and handed them to Jeannie. She smiled and dangled them. Like he thought, she’d felt left out. After they left, he headed back out to the big room.
“Did they leave?” asked Ray.
Kip nodded.
“Even Cassie?” asked Jack.
“All three. They have a plan.” Kip motioned with his hands. “Or rather, I think Montana does.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
"Our first stop is my house,” proclaimed Montana. “We need disguises, then on to Speedy Wash ‘N Dry, where Cassie can load up the machines. From there, we’ll swing by the church, Margery Anne’s house, and the ferry. Are there any objections?”
There weren’t any, which pleased Montana. She liked being the spymaster.
They left Montana’s house wearing wigs and headed to the laundromat. Cassie and Montana leaped out and hurried in with their arms full and stuffed the machines.
Back in the truck, Montana said, “Next is spying on Margery Anne.”
The only church on the island was situated almost at midpoint where major roads crossed. A little community had sprung up around it all, including the home where the minister and Margery Anne lived.
“Do you know exactly which house it is?” Montana asked looking out the windows.
“No, not really,” replied Jeannie, “I just know it’s across from the church, but there’s more than one house on the road.” Jeannie slowed the SUV as she approached the community.
“Look, somebody is backing out of a driveway.” Cassie pointed to a tan sedan. “That house is almost directly across from it.”
“Can you park somewhere?” Montana asked. From the rear seat, she leaned between Jeannie and Cassie, looking out the window.
“I’ll go up to the little store.” Jeannie pulled into the small lot; the tan sedan passed, heading north. “Now what?” She looked at Cassie and Montana. “Did you see who was in it?”
“A man,” said Cassie.
“Maybe it was the minister?” Montana pointed back down the road. “You’re never going to believe this. Another car is pulling out from the same garage.”
A gray sedan passed.
“Margery Anne!” Jeannie and Montana said in unison.
Almost screeching the tires, Jeannie backed up and floored it, following the sedan from a distance. Bantering back and forth, Montana continued to speculate where she was headed. The closer they got to the north end of the island, the more obvious the destination.
“I think she’s getting on the ferry,�
� Montana said. “It leaves in thirty minutes.”
“But why? She was on it yesterday. Jack and I saw her. The minister picked her up.”
Jeannie pulled over to the side of the road and stopped. She turned around. “If I go down to the terminal, it will be obvious we’re not getting on the ferry. What do you want me to do?”
“Get closer. I’ll hop out and watch. U-turn and park by Speedy Wash. Cassie’s stuff must be ready for the dryer anyway. Then watch the road.”
Jeannie stopped by the day parking lot. Montana slipped out and ran for cover. She crouched between the first vehicles she came to: a green mini-van and a pick-up truck. The ferry had just arrived. Montana studied the cars lined up to board, and she noticed the minister’s car in line.
A gray sedan like Margery Anne’s swung around and backed in a few spaces away from where she hid. Montana felt certain it was Margery Anne but didn’t have a clear view.
“What was MAMW license plate?” she texted Jeannie.
“Love Thy Neighbor bumper sticker.”
Ah, yes, the bumper sticker. Staying low to the ground and out of sight, Montana scooted around where she could see the identifying bumper sticker. The driver was scrunched low in the seat, barely visible. Was she waiting for someone to get off the ferry or watching for someone to get on? Within minutes, Montana would have her answer.
Montana repositioned herself so she could watch the ferry traffic. With everyone off, they started loading. The first line of vehicles loaded, and the second line was cleared to go and did. Margery Anne started up her car but didn’t move. She sent Jeannie a text, Watch for MAMW. The minister drove onto the ferry, and Margery Anne peeled out of the parking lot. Montana did her best to sprint up the incline, but she knew MAMW was long gone.
Deep Into The Night (Hartz Island Series) Page 25