A squealing SUV made a U-turn almost in front of her. The back door flew open and Cassie leaned out yelling, “Hurry.” Cassie grabbed her arms and pulled her in. Jeannie gunned in.
“Which…way…did she go?” gasped Montana.
“I’m pretty sure straight ahead,” Jeannie said. “She went past us and didn’t turn in by Speedy Wash.”
Heading south down the main road, Montana leaned in next to Cassie and Jeannie, watching. They passed the church and the ranch-style house directly across from it.
“The outside light is still on. She’s not coming back until after dark,” stated Jeannie. She veered off, heading to the west side of the island. Far ahead, a gray sedan signaled and made a right on the road that hugged the water. “She’s either going to Armstrong’s or the compound.”
They came around the bend where Blue Heron Lane was, but Jeannie didn’t let up on the speed. Up ahead was the sedan.
“Compound,” yelled Montana.
Jeannie flew past the county park entrance and finally hit the brakes, slowing Kip’s truck down. The entrance gate to the compound slid open, with Margery Anne driving in.
“Oh, no,” said Jeannie. “I really didn’t think she was this involved. How can she not know?” Jeannie sighed. “She has to.”
“No, not necessarily.” Cassie shrugged. “I lived with a man for three years and didn’t know what he was up too. She is only seeing what she wants and has convinced herself it is all something else. In her mind, something other than trafficking of women is going on, though I can’t imagine what she thinks it is.”
“Something bad is going to happen. I can feel it.” Montana kept her eyes closed and shook her head. “I don’t know what it is but it is strong…evil.”
Jeannie drove into town and parked behind her café. “Montana, something bad is happening now.” She pulled off her wig and sighed again.
“I know that. This is something more.”
“Then you can tell us what it is while I bake us some cookies. This whole thing has made me depressed.” They followed Jeannie into her café kitchen. She pointed to the table and chairs, turned on the oven, and opened the refrigerator. “Chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin?”
“Both,” Montana and Cassie replied.
Montana opened the laptop on the table. “Is this thing working?”
“Yes. The Ferry Dock Café is now a Wi-Fi hot spot, courtesy of Kip.”
“I have an idea.” She handed the laptop to Cassie. “Pull up that earth map thing like you did before. We know there are two trails leading up to the compound. There has to be one coming in from the rear, or at least a deer trail.”
“Didn’t we promise Kip we’d stay away from the compound?” Jeannie spooned dough onto the sheet.
“No, what we promised was we’d stay away from the Ryan’s and the county park. This is neither.” Montana leaned over Cassie’s shoulder, watching the screen.
Jeannie put the cookies in the oven and joined them. Cassie zoomed into the compound and then the area around it. She stopped and studied the screen.
“What are you searching for?” Montana asked.
“I’m not sure. Something tells me I know this area.” Cassie zoomed into the far back property, zeroing in so close it was blurred. “Give me a minute to think.”
The summer of her fourteenth year. She and her friends had snuck up to the nudist colony many more times than they fessed up. They’d sneak around all the way to the back to a favorite spot. Cassie smiled thinking of it.
“There used to be a gigantic boulder around this area, not the one Jack found us on, but another one.” She pointed to the screen. “Vegetation is probably all grown up around it, but we used to climb up on top and look down into all the little cabins, hoping to see people walking around.”
Cassie highlighted the property that butted up from the back and keyed in for their longitude and latitude coordinates. She inputted those coordinates into a different website, which brought up county documents detailing who owned the property.
“Do either one of you know these people?” Cassie asked.
They did not. Jeannie wrote down their names and called Winnie, who knew everyone on the island. When she hung up, the timer buzzed. Montana and Cassie waited until she put the plate of hot cookies on the table.
“Well?” they asked, grabbing a cookie.
“Winnie knows one of them. She’s calling them and will call me back.” Jeannie took her cookie and pulled it apart, stuffing pieces in her mouth.
Like she promised, Winnie called back. Jeannie jotted down the notes, thanked her, and hung up.
“So?” Montana pushed back her chair.
“They are more than happy to let us go snoop. It’s an old farm house with an apple orchard. The last time the owners were up was Labor Day weekend. Their dog got loose and didn’t come back, so the husband went looking for him at the back of the property. He heard something that made his skin crawl, but he didn’t know what it was. They left the next day.”
“Then let’s go.” Montana jumped up and pulled on her jacket.
“Before we go helter-skelter, what’s our plan?” Jeannie did not budge. She took another cookie and pulled it apart, slowly stuffing pieces in her mouth. “We have to have a plan.”
Montana sat back down and sighed. “I suppose you’re right. What if we go check it out and depending on what we find, go from there.”
It didn’t seem like much of a plan to Cassie. She glanced at Jeannie, who nodded slightly.
“Sure. I’m going to text Kip that we’re still checking stuff out, and if we’re not back by five, to put the food in the oven.” Jeannie bagged up the rest of the cookies and locked up.
Heading back the way they’d come, Jeannie turned north just before passing the compound. Driving slowly, they scrutinized the culprit property. Several No Trespassing signs were posted, but they couldn’t see a barbed wire fence. It was very obvious where the property line ended—the signs and thick woods disappeared.
Like Winnie said, an old farm house with a barn sat back from the road. Jeannie parked by the barn. A slight breeze blew, and the late afternoon sun skirted around the fluffy clouds. Everyone pulled on a hat over their natural hair and zipped up their jackets. They stared across the acreage.
Jeannie handed Cassie the binoculars and asked, “So what are you thinking?”
“We never came this way, so I don’t remember this property. We walked far, but not this far. So my guess is it’s that way.” Pointing straight back, she moved her finger to the right and stopped. Focusing in with the binoculars, she studied the property, but she didn’t see the big boulder.
Just behind the barn, they found a mowed track in the middle of the property. With Cassie in the lead, they made their way to the edge of the orchard where fir trees, salal, and Oregon grape took over. Turning right, they walked until Cassie found a small clearing with a narrow path. It led into the woods and veered right, paralleling what they guessed to be the property line. Cassie focused on the terrain, searching for the boulder.
“Stop!”
Cassie did, and Jeannie bumped into her. They turned back to see what Montana wanted.
“Look.” She pointed into the woods.
About one hundred feet in, nailed to a tree, was a very large sign declaring No Trespassing and all the awful things that would happen if someone did.
“Is there any chance they’d have an invisible electrical fence to zap you, because my skin is tingling and telling me we are in a hot zone. Just like last night.”
Cassie wasn’t sure what to say and was glad when Jeannie took over. “If they did, I don’t know how we’d get zapped because we don’t have a collar on. But I trust you and your reactions. We’ll just make sure we stay on this little trail.” Jeannie reached for
Montana’s hand and tugged her along. “Keep going, Cassie.”
The path sloped downward, where it evened out to a small grassy patch surrounding an enormous boulder formation with a tall madrona tree growing next to it. The trail skirted around the boulder and disappeared.
“This is it. We nearly wrecked that tree climbing it. Look at it now.”
The two women joined Cassie and stared up at it.
“Okay then, let’s get going.” Montana pulled herself up on the lower branch and climbed higher and higher until she reached a branch that was even with the top of the boulder and hopped over. She looked down at them. “Are you coming?”
Jeannie frowned for a moment, and then shrugged. “I guess I’m next.”
She wasn’t agile like Montana, so Cassie gave her a leg up. Once Jeannie joined Montana, Cassie swung her leg up and started the climb. A large branch hung over the top of the rock formation, allowing for easy access. She joined the two other women at the edge peering out. Just like she remembered, Cassie could see into the compound. A tall barbed wire fence skirted the property as far as they could see.
Cassie handed Montana the binoculars. “I’m scooting back to the tree. If they have lookouts, I don’t want to be obvious.”
Jeannie agreed and did the same. Within minutes, Montana joined them. With her face pale, she just kept shaking her head and handed Jeannie the binoculars for her turn. She scooted forward and after a few minutes, back. Like Montana, she was visibly disturbed. Neither woman could speak, so Cassie took the binoculars and crawled forward and watched. Now she understood. It was so surrealistic she thought it couldn’t be happening. Dressed in white combat fatigues, Margery Anne marched a line of women around, who appeared to be dressed in white choir robes, wearing wedding veils of various lengths. What was going on?
Back at the tree, she joined Jeannie and Montana. “I think I know where that big box of cupcakes ended up. One of you needs to call one of the guys, like right now.”
They both groaned, but then pulled out their cellphones. They each called; two phones ringing at the same time would get someone’s attention.
Chapter Forty
Jack stood next to Ray and Kip when their phones rang. Kip barked, “What the hell!” Ray expressed his displeasure with several expletives.
“I stand corrected,” Kip said. He threw up his hands. “Ray, do you know this place?”
“I do. Jack, follow me. Bring your camera.”
“So where are they?” Jack asked Kip, walking out to his Tahoe.
Ray had already backed out and was waiting for them.
“A neighboring piece of property looking down in the compound.”
“Ah, shit,” he muttered. No wonder Ray was pissed. “I thought they promised to stay away.”
“Evidently, I forgot to include the word compound in the promise. I’ll fill you while you drive.”
Fifteen minutes later, Jack parked next to Ray, who parked next to Kip’s truck. He handed Kip the camera, secured his gun and badge, and stuffed a dark cap in his pocket.
“I’m forgetting something.”
“Humor.” Kip smiled. “And patience.”
All three trooped across the field and reached the edge where the woods started.
“Where the hell are they?” asked Ray looking around. They spotted the three women waving. “Thank God they had enough sense to stay together,” he groused, walking toward them. “These people are no different than drug traffickers. They’ll stop at nothing for money. Do they not understand this?”
Jack understood Ray’s frustration and worry. “This is your jurisdiction. I’m just a Fed snooping around, but do you want me to deal with this?” he asked quietly. “Your patience is stretched.”
“Yes.”
Jack took the lead, approaching Jeannie, Cassie, and Montana. All three started speaking. He held up his hand, and they stopped.
“Keep your voices down. One at a time.” Jack saw Montana nudge Cassie forward.
She straightened herself and confidence vibrated. Very calmly and clearly, she outlined everything from Margery Anne going to the ferry dock to marching around the complex. Finally, he saw a glimpse of her old self.
“Okay,” said Jack. “Show us the rock.” He stepped forward with Cassie, and off they tromped through the woods. “Just out of curiosity, was this another nudist rock for you?”
“It might have been.” She smiled.
They stood at the base of the boulder and tree. Jack estimated it was a good twenty feet up. He glanced at Kip, who shook his head. Ray pulled up on the first branch and started the climb. Jack waited for him to jump over to the top of the formation before he started. Just like the women had done, they scooted forward on their stomachs to the edge.
“You have to admit, this is pretty ingenious of them to find this.” Jack clicked away with the camera.
Ray focused in with binoculars and sucked in his breath. “I am trying to imagine what Armstrong told the Black woman,” said Ray. “Watching her march a bunch of brides around, you might have to wonder if she really doesn’t know. Hopefully, she makes it out of this situation alive.”
Jack looked at Ray a little surprised.
“These shitheads are no different than drug lords. It’s just a different commodity. They kill when people get in the way.”
Jack had heard Ray’s background included the DEA. “You’re right. Are we finished?”
They scooted back and climbed down the tree. They filled Kip in on the details, and Jack clicked through the photos for him.
“Those photos should seal the deal on a search warrant with any judge,” said Kip. “The question becomes when. It’s Sunday. How fast do people work around here, Ray?”
“Honestly, I haven’t been here long enough to know.” Ray checked his watch. “I need to go let my dog out and make some phone calls. Why don’t we all meet back at the lodge at seven?”
“For dinner,” added Jeannie. “As repulsive this all is, we still need to eat.”
They all started walking back. Ray was in the lead, moving faster than the rest of them. He turned around and said, “Montana, are you coming?”
She sprinted forward.
“He can’t be too mad at her,” Jeannie said.
Ray and Montana trekked across the orchard before the others had reached the edge. The Jeep was long gone when they arrived back at the vehicles. Jeannie dangled Kip’s keys.
“Cassie’s stuff is still at Speedy Wash.”
“Then go. I’ll ride with Jack.”
They watched the women leave.
Jack turned around and stared out over the orchard. He raised his brows in question. “How agile are you these days?”
“Not like before, that’s for sure. Why?” Kip shifted his weight to the other leg.
“I thought I’d go check out that fence line. Do you want to come along?”
He grinned. “I thought you’d never ask. Wire cutters?”
“In the back of the truck.”
Kip and Jack skirted around the rock formation and cut through the thick undergrowth until they came to the fence, which butted up to the boulder. Hiding behind Douglas fir trees, they studied the terrain for any detection devices. They saw nothing, not even a trip wire.
“What are you thinking?” Jack asked.
“I say cut the fence and let’s see if they come running. Then, we will know.”
“So will they.”
“What we need is a rotted tree to fall on the fence.” Kip rechecked everything.
“Or some very large rocks to tumble down.”
Through the brush, they climbed back up the small incline to the boulder and the grassy meadow. Like Jack thought, other rocks were in the ground near the base of the large formation. He to
ok off his jacket, zipped it, and knotted the sleeves. They filled it with the largest stones they could find. After several trips up the tree to the boulder, Jack felt they had enough aggregate to tumble down and create a disturbance. He tossed the various sizes of rocks over the ledge and hoped a few might land on both sides of the fence.
Jack scrambled down the tree. He and Kip made their way through the thicket, back to the fence where they hid. The whine of dirt bikes pierced the air. Coming in fast, two bikers whipped around and stopped near the fence. Each had rifles strapped to their backs. They surveyed the debris and pointed up to the formation. Only one of the men examined the fence. Satisfied, they left.
“Holy shit,” said Kip. “That answers our question. Something more is going on in there. High stakes for this sort of security.”
“Did you hear the language?”
“No, not really. Korean maybe?”
“This is really pissing me off.”
Out of defiance, Jack found a rock and threw it with all his might at the fence before following behind Kip.
Chapter Forty-One
Jeannie and Cassie glanced up from baking and prepping for dinner when Kip and Jack entered the lodge kitchen. Cassie smiled at Jack and sighed quietly.
“What took you so long?” Jeannie asked.
“We were just checking some things out.” Kip kissed her on the cheek and aimed his finger for a scoop of dough. She slapped it away.
“Did that include climbing a tree?” Jeannie took two big spoons and scooped out chocolate chip dough. She handed each of them one.
Jack stuffed his in his mouth. His eyes settled and on Cassie, making goofy faces at her with his spoon tucked firmly in his mouth. She rolled her eyes at him, laughing. Had he always been such a goof ball?
“No. Both feet stayed on the ground at the same time, just like the doctor ordered. Didn’t they, Jack?”
Jeannie pointed to the outer room where voices boomed back. “You need to go check that out. We have a lot more for dinner than the six of us. Ray called in the troops.”
Deep Into The Night (Hartz Island Series) Page 26