“We’ll need Duke.” Kane turned and headed back into the communications room returning seconds later with the bloodhound at his heels. “Zorro has turned into a statue. We’ll have to leave him behind.” He tossed Jenna her jacket and headed for the door pulling on his own. “We’ll suit up at the house.”
Jenna’s mind was running like a freight train. “We’ll need Rowley to take the kids to safety and contact their parents. They must be in town somewhere.”
“I’ll call him, you grab the supplies. There are four survival backpacks in the closet in your office, we’ll need them if we’re going into the forest.” Kane pulled out his phone and made the call.
Loaded for bear, they sprinted out the door and climbed into the Beast. Jenna didn’t have to say a word to Kane, she added the address to the GPS and he took off spinning his wheels. Siren wailing and blue and red lights flashing, they headed through tow
n. The Beast weaved through the Saturday night traffic. The town seemed to be packed to overflowing. Tourists standing in groups on the sidewalk watched in morbid interest as they flashed by. Jenna stared at them, hoping the white-water rapids or the camping and hiking had drawn them here, and not the hope they’d witness another serial killer wreaking havoc.
They hit Stanton doing ninety and a cold shiver went through Jenna as she stared into the forest. Her stomach cramped with anxiety. Sweet, fun-loving Julie could be trapped somewhere in the deep shadows with a murdering rapist. The Beast accelerated and the trees became a wall of darkness, streetlights flashed by blinking like a don’t walk sign. The vehicles they passed became flashes and as each minute went by, Jenna’s anxiety grew for the girl she regarded as a little sister. It seemed to be taking hours to get to the house but in truth it had been minutes since they left the office. She stared at the GPS on the screen. “Can’t you go any faster?”
“Not if you’re planning on surviving.” Kane slid between a truck and an eighteen-wheeler and then took off at breakneck speed and overtook a line of traffic. “It’s not far now.”
Pulling her mind back to the task she turned to look at Jo. “Anything from Julie? Can you hear anything at all? She’s wearing a pendant and you should be able to hear her speaking.”
“It was very loud at first but she hasn’t said anything else. She’s alive, I can hear her breathing, steady and even, and the sound of an engine. They’re still moving but slower this time.” Jo checked the tracker app on her phone. “They’ve headed into the forest toward the mountain.”
“She’s unconscious.” Kane glanced at her. “Or she’d be whispering. Those trackers can pick up a pin dropping and she knows it. If he takes her into the caves, we won’t be able to hear her. The mountains cut off all communication signals.” He left Stanton and drifted the Beast around the corner into Glacial Heights. “Give me directions, Jenna.”
Jenna stared at the screen. “Next left and then it’s the third house along.”
“You suit up.” Kane glanced at her as they hit the driveway. “I’ll go in and get the kids.”
Aghast, Jenna stared at him. “Oh sure, send a six-five man wearing black into a kids’ bedroom at night. Somehow, I think you’re going to have a problem. I’ll go. I’ve met Lucy, she came to Anna’s birthday party. You suit up and go see what explosive he fixed to the kitchen table. He doesn’t know we’re here. You should be okay.”
“Should be huh?” Kane flicked her a glance. “I’m not messing with anything that madman created. I figure we both go and get the kids and hightail it out of here. I’ve met Lucy as well. She’ll recognize me and you can’t carry both at the same time. Julie is getting farther away by the second and she is more important than this damn house. Rowley is right behind us. He was in town having dinner opposite the magistrate and his wife. He’ll be here soon. I told him not to allow them to come to the house.” He pulled up some distance from the front door.
They all tumbled out the door and pulled on liquid Kevlar vests and helmets. Jenna looked at Jo. “Wait here. Keep listening to Julie.”
“Okay.” Jo pulled on a helmet. “Go get the kids.”
As she ran toward the house with Kane, Jenna could make out Julie’s SUV parked outside and the front door standing wide open. She moved her flashlight over the front steps and all around the door. “I can’t see any trip wires.”
“Me either.” Kane moved ahead of her and took the stairs two at a time. “How do we do this without scaring the kids?”
Turning on lights as she went, Jenna looked at him. “Keep your voice low and reassuring.” She opened a door with the name “John” in alphabet block figures and as the light from the door flooded the room, she made out a little boy fast asleep. She turned on the bedside lamp, sat down and gave him a little shake. “Hey John, I’m Sheriff Alton, I’m going to take you to your mom and dad.” She picked the little boy up blankets, teddy bear and all and handed him to Kane. “This is Deputy Kane. He’s going to take you downstairs and we’ll take you and Lucy straight to Mommy and Daddy, okay?”
The little boy said nothing and just burst into tears. Kane looked helpless and made shushing noises as he carried him downstairs. Jenna went to the room marked “Lucy”. She turned on the light and the little girl sat up in bed and stared at her open-mouthed. “Hi Lucy, it’s Jenna, remember me, from Anna Wolfe’s party? You came to my ranch?”
“Yes.” Lucy stared behind her. “Has something happened to Mommy?”
Jenna shook her head. “No, your parents are fine and on their way. There’s a problem with the house and you need to leave.”
“Okay.” Lucy jumped from the bed, pulled on her dressing gown, slipped on her slippers, picked up a fluffy duck, and looked up at her. “I’m ready.”
By the time Jenna had gotten downstairs, she could hear a siren in the distance. Jo was sitting holding John in the back seat and Kane was behind the wheel of Emily’s SUV and rolling down the driveway. She pushed the little girl into the Beast, climbed behind the wheel and followed him. When Julie’s vehicle was outside the gate, Kane jumped out. She gave him an exasperated look. “You wanted to save that old wreck?”
“Rowley isn’t here yet, we had time.” Kane leaned into the window and looked at her. “It’s not an old wreck. It just needs a paint job is all. I’m planning on getting to Julie before he hurts her and she’ll need her ride. I found her sweater inside, Duke can use it to find her, if he has her holed up anywhere.” His eyes flashed with anger. “This guy has done enough damage, ruined enough lives. Whatever happens next, I’m going to take him down.”
Fifty-Seven
Trying to keep her mind three paces ahead of the speed things were happening wasn’t easy. Time was ticking by and they needed to get to Julie. Jenna ran crime scene tape across the driveway and had tied it off as Rowley arrived with Sandy and the Colemans close behind. They carried the children to their parents and she turned to Rowley. “Escort Mr. Coleman and his family to his parents’ home in Blackwater. Get the Blackwater deputies to stay with them until I give them the all clear. We believe the bomber is heading to the Whispering Caves with Julie.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Rowley frowned. “It’s pitch-black out there. Do you want me to call Atohi, he knows the forest better than anyone I know?”
Right now, Jenna would take all the help she could get. “Sure, I would welcome his help. Give him the details. I don’t want him walking into a trap.” She stared at the house. “Call the bomb squad from Helena, they’ll have to come by chopper. Tell them our specialist is on another case.”
“Copy that.” Rowley stepped away to make the call and then walked back to her. “Atohi and his grandfather were heading back to the res, they are about five minutes from the plateau. They’ll take the trail down and meet you at the caves.” He headed to speak to Mr. Coleman.