Stolen Secrets

by Jerry B. Jenkins

I nodded. Was he spying on us? Sam always seemed to know a lot more than we thought.

  “Be careful.”

  The cool air felt good in my hair as I sped along. The biggest adventure most kids have before school is brushing their teeth, but I was going into the teeth of mountain lion country.

  I slowed when I came to the back of the rock formation, looking carefully right and left. We’d left the helmets on the plateau. I swallowed hard, then accelerated to the path. Something sparkling in the golden sunlight caught my eye. There’s nothing like a Colorado sunrise.

  I drove left and couldn’t believe my eyes.

  Our helmets.

  Someone had placed them on the rocks.

  Chapter 57

  Things weren’t going well with my candle sales—other than Mom and Mrs. Watson, they were zilch—but I had a lot on my mind. We had tests coming up in math and English, but with a dance lesson the next day, I had to do more selling.

  Mom said I could go after school, but only if Bryce went with me.

  We drove our ATVs across the railroad tracks to my friend Hayley’s, where I was sure her mom would buy something. But Hayley’s mom wasn’t home.

  “Try Cammy’s house,” Hayley said, smirking and pointing down the street.

  I looked at Bryce. “Maybe we will.”

  We left our ATVs and walked up the street. Cammy’s house is older than most around it. The roof looked like it was falling apart. Most of the front yard was small rocks. Scraggly bushes poked through weeds and cedar chips. Brown patches of grass spread around the edges of the house. Old newspapers lay in the driveway, turning yellow from the sun.

  “What are you doing?” Bryce said.

  “Seeing if we can talk with Cammy’s mom,” I said, smiling. “Maybe she’ll buy a candle.”

  The doorbell had wires sticking out of it, so I knocked and took a step back. A dog barked and someone shouted at it.

  Finally, Mrs. Michaels came to the door with a cigarette in one hand and a phone in the other. Her wet hair dripped onto her robe. “Thought you were Cammy,” she said. “Can I help you?”

  I held out the catalog.

  “I’ve got somebody at the door,” she said into the phone.

  I pointed to several inexpensive candles on the back cover.

  “Wish I could help you, but I’m getting ready for work, and anyway, I really can’t afford anything.”

  I took the catalog back. “It’s okay. I was thinking you might buy one for Cammy, you know, to cheer her up.”

  “She’d probably burn the house down,” Mrs. Michaels said, sneering. “You seen her? She’s supposed to watch her brother so I can go to work.”

  I shook my head. “We go to school with her. We heard what happened.”

  She rolled her eyes. “You and everybody in town. I told her if she made me late for work one more time I was going to—”

  A group of kids approached, Cammy in the middle, puffing a cigarette.

  Her mother yelled at her, then closed the door.

  Bryce and I walked down the cracked driveway and skirted the group.

  Cammy glared at me. “What are you doing here?”

  We didn’t answer.

  Chapter 58

  After Ashley and I got home from not selling candles, I went to the barn before dinner. When I got to the top of the stairs, I went into Sam’s office. I knew it was wrong to snoop, but I was dying for more information about him.

  Mail littered the top of his desk, but it looked like just a bunch of bills. I opened the desk drawer and found files listed: Invoices, Insurance, Tax docs, Utilities, Car repair, S-Corp Current.

  Then I came to a file that simply said Letters. I pulled it from the drawer and sat in Sam’s leather chair. The letter on the top was on official letterhead from Washington D.C. I flipped through and found more letters from the same office.

  One was addressed to Sam Timberline at our address. The date showed it was before we moved to Colorado.

  Dear Mr. Timberline,

  I am pleased to hear that you have settled into your new home. I trust things are going well in this difficult transition. Rest assured many here are aware of the sacrifice you have made for your country.

  If there is anything we can do for you and your daughter, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’m hoping one day you’ll be able to return to Washington when we apprehend the perpetrators of this heinous crime.

  Godspeed and success in your new business. Maybe one of these days you can fly my family and me to one of the ski resorts out there.

  It was signed by the director of the Department of Homeland Security. I felt guilty about going through Sam’s stuff, so I put the letter back in the file and tried to return it to the drawer. But the file was too full. I rearranged the letters and pulled the drawer out all the way. It slipped off its rollers and thudded to the floor.

  I knelt, pushed the file in, then tried to get the drawer back onto its rollers. Something caught my eye at the back of the desk—a smushed envelope wedged in the corner. I grabbed it.

  The postmark was smudged so I couldn’t read the date, but it looked pretty old. The return address said it was from Marshall Faulkner somewhere in Germany. It was addressed to Lynn Vickers.

  A door banged downstairs and my heart jumped. Sam’s not supposed to be back yet!

  I picked up the drawer, got it back on track, and shoved it closed. I stashed the letter in my pocket and tiptoed to the exercise room.

  Chapter 59

  Mom showed me two articles in the newspaper after dinner. The first included an interview with Tracy and Cammy. The headline read, “Local Girls Talk about Safety.”

  The article began:

  Cammy Michaels, 14, and Tracy Elliot, 13, know what it’s like to be scared. Since last week’s alleged assault in Red Rock, the girls have used their terrifying experience to teach younger children about protecting themselves.

  Tracy said in an interview from her home, “When they hear about us getting tied up and threatened, their eyes go wide and some of them start to cry. We want them to imagine what it was like so it won’t happen to them.”

  The article went on to name the suspect.

  “We still have the tape he used to remind us of what happened,” Cammy said. “I’ll never forget that day.”

  I took the whole section to my room to read. Something bothered me, and not just because Cammy had been so mean to me. Something was not right.

  An inside page carried an interview with Mr. Ingram and a picture of him. He held a picture of his son and looked sad.

  There was nothing in the story about Danny’s accident, but it did call him “troubled.”

  The reporter asked Mr. Ingram if he believed his son had hurt the two girls.

  “I can’t imagine that, but I have to believe their story,” Mr. Ingram said. “But if you knew my son a few years ago, if you would have seen how hard he worked and how kind he was, you wouldn’t believe he could do this. He was a wonderful student. He was creative and enjoyed sports. He climbed mountains and once won a contest for imitating animal calls. I just hope we get him home before something happens to him.”

  Chapter 60

  After dinner I went to my room and closed the door. The letter felt like a nuclear bomb. I was afraid Sam would empty my pockets and say he knew I was going through his stuff. He seemed to know everything.

  The brown envelope smelled musty. A weird stamp in the corner had foreign writing—it must have been German. I didn’t know Lynn Vickers or Marshall Faulkner, so I wondered if Sam had bought the desk used and the letter wasn’t even his.

  I opened the letter carefully and pulled out a card. On the outside was a picture of a cute puppy with its head low to the ground. Beside him was somebody holding a gun.

  The card read, “Have a happy birthday or I shoot the dog.”

  I laughed. Then I read the note inside.

  Dear Lynn,

  Just sitting here thinking of you and how much I wish I
could be there to help you celebrate. I’m X-ing the days off my calendar for when I return stateside.

  I still can’t believe we’re getting married. That you would have me as your husband makes me the happiest man in the world. I hope you haven’t had second thoughts. :)

  Training is almost over and I can’t wait to see you. I carry your picture with me every minute of the day. (The other guys are jealous when they see it, by the way.)

  I’ll toast you on the morning of your birthday.

  All my love,

  Marshall

  I put the card back in the envelope and slipped it into my pocket. The writing looked like Sam’s. Could Marshall be his nickname? Or was it someone else? And who was Lynn?

  Worse, what if Mom found out about this?

  Chapter 61

  After helping Mom get Dylan to bed—he was wearing one of Leigh’s hats and Bryce’s basketball shorts—I went back to my room. The full moon shone on the red rocks, looking creepy and beautiful at the same time.

  I opened my diary, lit my candle, and pulled out my Bible. I try to have devotions at least once a day, reading from the Bible and writing my thoughts. Mom had given me a book of thoughts by a Christian singer, but I couldn’t relate to a lot of it. The singer talked about “trials” and “disappointments,” but when I read closer it was more about a dog that had surgery or a house addition that took too long. When your dad is killed in a plane crash, that’s a real trial.

  I glanced out the window and noticed something moving in the barn.

  A lone figure stepped out, closed the door, then started running toward the rocks.

  Chapter 62

  Ashley burst into my room and grabbed my arm. “Come on.”

  I followed as she raced downstairs.

  Mom stuck her head out of her office and asked where we were going.

  “Showing Bryce something,” Ashley said, then banged out the kitchen door.

  She ran toward the barn, and it took me a few seconds to catch up. “I don’t think he did it,” she said.

  “Who did what?”

  “Danny. I don’t think he attacked Tracy and Cammy.”

  “They’re lying?”

  She ran into the barn and hopped on the Ashleymobile. “Follow me.”

  Chapter 63

  I roared out of the barn, Bryce right behind me. We usually don’t drive much after dark, especially on the bumpy land behind us, but this was the only way we’d catch up with the guy. All the stuff missing from the freezer and Sam’s fridge—it made sense now.

  We drove almost all the way to the rocks before I stopped. Wind whistled around us, and I had to shield my face from the dust and sand.

  “What in the world—?” Bryce started.

  I held up a hand and told him what I had seen and read. “I think the guy’s holed up out here.”

  “What if you’re wrong?” Bryce said. “It could have been Sam. Or one of those gold robbers. Or a real mountain lion.”

  I had a sick feeling. What if the guy was waiting to jump us?

  Chapter 64

  I was excited about trying to find the intruder. But Ashley decided we should go home and call the police. We were headed back when something caught my eye. I saw a flash of white, then nothing. I slowed and pointed my ATV into the darkness.

  Nothing.

  A few minutes later we were back in the barn. We couldn’t find anything missing, but Ashley went to the freezer. Mom had stocked it the day before. Now it was empty.

  “That’s it,” I said. “Call the police.”

  “Wait,” Ashley said. “If this is Danny, he must be scared out of his mind. He’s just trying to survive.”

  “The guy is wanted by the police!”

  “But I don’t think he attacked those girls. And no one’s going to believe him. They’ll believe—” Ashley stopped and her eyes widened.

  I turned to see Sam, his hands on his hips. “What’s going on?” he said.

  Ashley gushed the story.

  Sam ran upstairs to his office, taking the steps three at a time. We found him rummaging through a closet. He pulled a weird-looking telescope from a box and went to the back window.

  “What’s that?” I said.

  “Night-vision scope.”

  Where did he get that?

  He stared into the distance, then handed the scope to Ashley. He pointed at the rocks and she gasped.

  “What?” I said.

  She passed me the scope, and I aimed it out the window. I couldn’t keep my hands steady at first. Then Sam pulled my left hand farther out on the scope, and it was easier.

  I could see like it was almost day, with a strange green tint to everything. A man walked across a ridge on the rocks.

  Sam picked up the phone.

  “Wait,” Ashley said. “I need to tell you something before you call the police.”

  I still had the scope pointed at the guy. He was holding his arms out. Then suddenly they flew over his head. He lost his balance and fell out of sight.

  Chapter 65

  I told Sam what I thought had happened to the food in the freezer and that I didn’t think Danny had actually hurt Cammy and Tracy.

  He didn’t ask me why. He just glanced at me funny, threw the phone on his leather chair, and raced down the stairs. He hopped in his four-wheel-drive truck, and Bryce and I jumped in beside him.

  When I told Sam about the mountain lion’s scream his mouth dropped open. “You came out here again, even though you heard a cougar last night?”

  We bounced along. Bryce said, “Why would that guy be climbing on this side of the rocks if he’s staying in that big cave up there?”

  “Most people don’t know it,” Sam said, “but a ridge runs along this side that leads through the praying hands to the other side. If he’s climbed here, he probably knows that.”

  Sam grabbed a flashlight from the glove compartment, and we got out. Afraid we’d find Danny’s body, I hung back.

  A coyote yelped, and baby coyotes yipped in answer. They almost sounded human.

  Were they warning us?

  Chapter 66

  I kept up with Sam while Ashley lagged behind. The moon slipped behind a cloud, but the night was clear.

  “Danny!” Sam called. “Can you hear us?”

  A train whistle blew in the distance. Cars sped by on I-25, their headlights like orderly fireflies. Funny what you think of when you’re looking for somebody who’s dead.

  We stayed with Sam and moved up the ledge. He climbed like a gymnast, like he could run along a balance beam without breaking stride. The ledge was easy at first, but then it got narrow and Sam told us to stay where we were.

  But he has the flashlight.

  Before I could protest, Ashley pointed. “What’s that?”

  Sam shined the light below and something moved.

  “Hope it’s not a real cougar,” I whispered.

  We heard short breaths and moaning, and Sam motioned us back off the ledge. He led us down a steep part of the rock to another path.

  When we came around a huge rock, someone said, “Don’t come any closer!”

  Chapter 67

  Sam moved toward the big rock. All three of us looked around the edge. The man wore a green army jacket over a white shirt. His jeans were torn at the knee, and his hiking boots were dirty. They were so worn that he had duct taped them together.

  Duct tape! Cammy and Tracy had said he used duct tape on them. Maybe this guy wasn’t innocent after all.

  “Danny?” Sam said.

  His short beard made him look like a rock star. “Yeah.”

  “You hurt?” Sam said.

  “Lost my footing.” He tried to point but winced. “Landed funny on my arm, crawled over here.”

  “You been taking stuff from our barn?” Sam’s voice didn’t sound angry.

  “Vegetables, some corn dogs, and a few pizzas. Those were a real bear to cook. I’m going to pay you back as soon as I get a job.”

&
nbsp; “People are looking for you,” Sam said.

  “Your parents,” Bryce said.

  Danny stared at the ground. “What are people saying?”

  “That you hurt some girls,” Sam said.

  Danny shook his head. “I never touched anybody.”

  Sam pulled out his cell phone and dialed.

  Danny tried to stand. “You’re not taking me—” He fell back against the rock, holding his arm.

  Sam identified himself and gave our address. “We have an injured climber on the red rocks and need an ambulance. And we need an officer too. We’ve found the guy you’re looking for.”

  Sam hung up. “I want to call your family.”

  “I don’t want them involved.”

  Sam dialed information, but I knew the number was unlisted. Then I remembered my candle order form.

  Bryce and I ran toward the house, and Sam stayed with Danny. Bryce told Mom what was going on while I ran to my room and grabbed the order form. I dialed the Ingrams, and Danny’s mother answered.

  Chapter 68

  Ashley and I rode back to the rocks on our ATVs as the ambulance and police arrived. Sam sat on a rock a few feet from Danny, and we could tell they had been talking.

  Ashley said, “I have to know. Did you make that cougar sound?”

  Danny nodded. “Thought it would scare you off.”

  “Where’d you get the duct tape?” she said, pointing to his shoes.

  Danny cocked his head. “Mr. Crumpus. Why?”

  “Just wondering,” Ashley said.

  Sam helped Danny up. He wasn’t as tall as I thought he’d be. His face was covered with freckles and he was skinny. This guy didn’t seem like a monster at all.

  Ashley and I followed Sam’s truck back to the ambulance and police cruiser. Another car pulled in. Mr. Ingram.

  Danny looked at Ashley when he got out of the truck. “Your dad says you think I’m not guilty. You’re right, but no one will believe me.”