Justice at Dawn

by Valerie Massey Goree

  Before he could respond, his phone rang, and he checked the screen. “It’s Caleb. I’ll put it on speaker. Hello. Any news of Sadie?”

  “Yes, she texted me thirty minutes ago. I was concerned by her message, so I called Bowen but spoke to Charlotte instead. She explained about her brother’s surgery.”

  “What did Sadie say?” Anxiety laced Coop’s words.

  “She said she was going to spend another day and night with her friend at the cabin.”

  KC shot her gaze to Coop. “Why is that a problem?”

  Caleb replied to her question, “We’re supposed to spend the day at the new theme park in our neighborhood tomorrow. Princess Palma’s Fantasy Palace. I know, it’s a mouthful, but the girls are wild about princesses. It’s not like Sadie to renege on her promise. She’s the one who arranged the visit for Hannah and Francesca.”

  “Did Charlotte tell you what Bowen asked us to do?”

  Coop used the pronoun us. KC grinned.

  “Yes. That’s why I called.”

  “Are you worried?”

  A brief hesitation. “No, but I am concerned. I’m glad you’re on her trail.”

  “Rest assured, we’ll find her and let you know what’s going on.” Coop ended the call and fired up the engine. “Gas then check the tire treads.”

  “Hold on to your crayon box, Hannah.” KC folded her arms.

  “What do you mean?”

  “You think she colored hard and bold before. Just wait until Mama tells her she won’t be going to Princess Palma’s tomorrow.”

  21

  Ice, bottled tea and water, fresh fruit, and sandwiches. Cooper closed the lid of the ice chest. “Good choices, KC. Hopefully, we’ll locate Sadie this morning and can head home before supper.”

  KC handed him the convenience store receipt. “I checked the map I printed. The last place we spotted one of Hannah’s pictures is about 10 miles west. Is that where we’ll start looking?”

  “I suggest we head that direction but check out any side road we find.” He set the ice chest on the backseat, and then climbed in the front. “Does the map show residences clearly?”

  She held the map between them. “The resolution is not that good, but you can see clusters of houses or cabins.”

  “Yeah, and then some roads seem to lead nowhere special.” He started the engine. “Well, looks as though we have a full day ahead of us. Keep the tire tread printouts handy.”

  KC withdrew them from her handbook.

  Drumming his thumbs on the steering wheel, Cooper whistled in time to his beat. All the while his gut muscles knotted. Was Sadie in danger? They had no proof, especially since she’d texted Caleb her change in plans. But what if someone else had her phone and sent the message? Then again, she could just be enjoying time with Barbara away from busy city life. But at some point, if he lost cell service again, he’d have to return to the restaurant. The answer to the request he’d sent Gabe would determine his course of action.

  “There’s a major road coming up on the right.” KC’s voice shooed his doubts from his mind.

  He slowed and turned onto the well-kept road. “We’ll go as far as we can. Keep watch for Sadie’s SUV or the sedan.”

  A cluster of cabins, some with vehicles out front, lined the road. Each short artery that branched off was tarred and populated with campsites or cabins. Smoke from a central fire pit wafted into the cab as Cooper drove down each road.

  “I don’t see a car that matches what we saw on the video, and all the SUVs are the wrong color.” KC craned her neck to look out the window.

  “Back to the highway then. How far to the next side road?”

  “Half a mile, I think. It’s right before the place we spent the night.”

  Cooper checked his phone. No service. Rats.

  The dirt road looked promising. Cooper pulled off onto the shoulder. “Tire treads are distinct. Good. See if you can match them to our pair. I need to get something from the back.”

  While KC tromped on the grassy verge, printouts in hand, Cooper flipped up the backseat where he had his weapons stashed in a custom-made safe. The tumblers of the combination lock whirred before it popped open. Cooper slipped his made-to-order ankle holster onto his right boot, added the handgun, and then straightened his pant leg.

  Now armed, Cooper’s gut relaxed a bit. They might find Sadie having a blast with her friend. On the other hand… He approached KC. “Anything interesting?”

  “No. I don’t see a match.” She handed the printouts to him. “Take a look.”

  Squatting, Cooper examined the muddy tracks and compared them to the pictures. She was right. “I see three sets, but not the ones we want. How far is the next side road?”

  She consulted the map. “No more than a half-mile, on the right. It’s not very long.”

  “Hop in and let’s check it out.”

  Cooper had to wait for four trucks towing campers to pass before he could ease onto the highway. Vegetation had been cleared away from the entrance to the next dirt track. He parked well off the road. His partner met him beside the mailbox.

  “This looks promising.” She stooped and checked the treads in the mud. “I think we have a match.”

  Studying the printout, he nodded. “An SUV like Sadie’s drove down here recently. Great. There’s no sign of a sedan, but we’ll look anyway.” He stepped onto the mowed verge and followed the track away from the highway. For some reason, the mud here was still wet and squishy. “Stay close and keep watch.”

  Around a sharp curve, he spotted two cabins with well-maintained gardens. And parked in front, a red SUV, a motorbike, and a sports car. No sense going any farther.

  “Dead end, so to speak. Where’s the next side road?” He turned and KC followed.

  She placed the map on top of the tread pictures. “Not far. A hundred yards or less.”

  That driveway and the next one, with a padlocked gate, showed no recent tire tracks.

  “How many more?”

  “One about a mile to the left.” KC pointed. “The road leads way into the countryside, up the mountain.”

  “Good. Maybe we’ll be high enough to get cell reception.”

  They walked the short distance back to the highway, staying out of the mud as much as possible.

  Once buckled in, KC jabbed a finger at the map. “Ortega Falls is close. Have you ever been there?”

  “No. I believe it’s seasonal. Why?”

  “Just curious. The map’s not distinct enough to show any rivers. I hope we don’t…”

  Cooper shot a glance in her direction. Why the concern about a river? No time to question her. He almost missed the dirt road and slammed on his brakes before turning and parking on the grassy shoulder.

  They exited and stood next to the pickup. KC held the tread printouts and eyed the tire tracks in the mud. Even before Cooper bent closer, he could see that at least one track matched.

  It didn’t take long for KC to notice. “Look there. That one’s a perfect duplicate of the SUV.” She squatted and almost fell face-first into the mud. She righted herself. “Oops. And if I’m not mistaken, those three match the sedan.”

  Cooper joined her and glanced at the paper. “You’re right. So, rookie, what can you deduce from this evidence?”

  She stood and took a deep breath. “Um, Sadie, Barbara, and two other similar sedans drove down this road. After the rain. And they’re still here.” Nodding, she sent him a big grin. “How’s that?”

  Straightening, he rubbed his right knee. He hadn’t experienced such an ache in years. “You extracted the salient details but let me elaborate. First, we don’t know who drove the vehicles. All we know for sure is that the treads match the make of SUV and sedan we’re looking for.”

  “Of course. Other vehicles would also use those tires.”

  “Correct. There could have been three cars, but what if the sedan drove in, and then back out and later returned, all before the mud dried?”

  KC pur
sed her lips. “I took the clues too literally.”

  “No, you didn’t expand your analysis. Both scenarios are possible. What shall we do next?”

  Map in hand, she pointed to their location. “As I said before, this road goes quite a ways. We could follow it on foot until we come to a residence, but I don’t see any dwellings.”

  “Let me take a closer look.” Cooper held the sheet of paper and turned it to get a better view in the dappled sunlight shining through the trees. “According to the scale, we’ll have to hike about three miles to the road’s end. If we were on a real missing person’s case, I wouldn’t leave my vehicle exposed at the entrance. I’d hide it in the brush.”

  He scratched his head. Three miles. That was a long slog for a training exercise. “I’ve changed my mind. We’ll drive in.”

  KC folded all the papers and slipped them into her back pocket. “Over the tracks?”

  “Yes. We’ll stop every now and again to check, but unless there’s a side road the map doesn’t show, or we see where a vehicle might have plowed through the vegetation, it won’t be a problem.”

  “This is getting interesting.” KC jumped into the truck, her eyes sparkling.

  Cooper grinned. Trust her to find excitement in following tire tracks.

  He inserted the ignition key but didn’t start the engine. “Before we take off, let’s review procedure. We’re scouting the area where our victim might be. If we were on foot, how should we proceed?”

  “Don’t advertise your presence. Approach quietly. So walk if you can. Use what cover is available.” She glanced around. “We’re good as far as that goes. Lots of trees and bushes. Um, communicate with your partner so he knows where you’re going—”

  “If we were on a stakeout, we’d have our earpieces, but since we don’t, I would take the lead and use hand signals. What else?”

  She shrugged. “That’s all I can think of. Did I miss something?”

  He whipped out his phone.

  “Oh, yes. Silence our cells.” She withdrew her phone, swiped the screen and held down the volume button.

  Cooper did the same with his device after checking that he had no bars, therefore no service. One more hour, and he’d drive back to the restaurant to contact Gabe. A half-mile further in, he noticed a cleared section on the left. He stopped and studied the area. “I don’t think it’s significant. The brush is too thick for a car to penetrate.” Slowly continuing on the rutted road, Cooper held the steering wheel tighter as the truck bounced and shimmied. Good thing he had heavy-duty shocks.

  KC, who’d been unusually quiet, gasped and pointed. “Look there, to the right. A wisp of smoke. Could be from a cabin.”

  Sure enough, a long, thin, gray streak spiraled upward through the distant trees.

  “We’ll stop here and walk the rest of the way.” He reversed into the brush, going in as far as possible. “One more procedural item. Notice how I parked.”

  “You backed in, so you’ll have a quick get-away.”

  “Right. I also disabled the interior light, so it won’t come on every time I open a door. My headlights are never set on automatic. I want to control when to use them. What else?”

  Her gaze darted side to side. “I don’t know. It’s so much easier to read about than to put into practice.”

  “Hence the need for OJT. My truck is dark, so it blends in with the surroundings. If we were on a real case, we’d cover it with branches to camouflage it.”

  She giggled. “I’d have a hard time hiding my SUV.”

  “IRO doesn’t require agents to purchase vehicles of a certain color. But I have thought about that, too.” He opened his door, shoving hard to push back the brush. “Come out this way since I’ve already made a dent in the undergrowth.”

  As she scrambled over the center console, he was reminded of the time she accomplished the feat in a tight skirt. Heat rose up his neck. He rolled his eyes, pressed the automatic lock button, and shut the door.

  What had they been discussing? Her blue vehicle. “Did you request a special color when you purchased your SUV?”

  “Yes. I know major car brands are pretty much the same—”

  “You didn’t just say that? Oh, I’m appalled.” He swiped a hand across his forehead. Was the temperature rising? “You made a decision based on color alone?”

  “Sure. Why did you choose your truck?”

  “Off-road capabilities, horsepower, durability, towing capacity, torque ratio. Room for a person my height.”

  “Well, all of that sounds fine and dandy, but Dad said I made a sound purchase. And that’s good enough for me.” She walked ahead of him down the road.

  “Whoa, KC. No insult intended.”

  She pivoted. “None taken. I like teal, is all.” Her smile eased his conscience.

  When he caught up with her, he said, “All kidding aside, we need to follow protocol. Whispering only. Be aware of the surroundings. Stay behind me. Ready?”

  Smile gone, she nodded.

  They walked along the dirt track, climbing higher with each step. The flora changed. Taller, more sturdy trees, less undergrowth. A hint of an air freshener kind of smell floated in the cool air. Piney? He couldn’t tell one type of tree from another.

  Clear tire treads still etched in the mud. Good. They were headed in the right direction.

  Scanning the surroundings, Cooper noticed a structure high in a tree ahead. He pointed and stopped.

  KC removed her cap and ran a hand over her tight curls. “What do you think it is?”

  “Don’t know. Let’s stay on the road. See if it leads us there.”

  Fifty yards farther on, he stopped again and looked up. A treehouse, with a rope ladder. “Unusual. It looks small. Let’s keep watch for a while to see if anyone’s up there.”

  After fifteen minutes of no activity around the treehouse, Cooper stood and massaged his tight neck muscles.

  He checked his watch. More than two hours since he’d contacted Gabe. The computer guru would have information for him by now. Should they return to the truck and drive back to the restaurant? Cooper slowed as a zany notion buzzed in his head. What if…?

  “What’s wrong?” KC asked.

  “I wonder if the rope ladder will support me?”

  “Why?”

  Might as well tell her. “When we were in the restaurant, I contacted Gabe and asked him to ping Sadie’s cell phone. Not sure that will work if there’s no service, but it’s worth a try. He’s also going to check the location of her SUV via the satellite system. In a legitimate case, we might not have that luxury, and this is great experience for you. And I want peace of mind.”

  “We would utilize that method if we could, right?”

  “Yes. Although we are following treads that match her SUV and those of the sedan, this—”

  “How does the treehouse fit in?”

  “I might get cell service up there.”

  “We are at a higher elevation, and there’d be few trees to hinder the signal.”

  They crossed the track and pushed through the brush to the large tree.

  The rope appeared new. Cooper tested the ladder. Yes, it would hold him. “Stay hidden until I come down.”

  He reached the treehouse with no trouble, except scratches from the rough rope. Who would have thought he’d need his gloves? Sitting on the bare wooden floor, he scanned the small door-less enclosure. A tattered beige curtain fluttered at the lone window, and a 2003 calendar hung on a rusted nail below it. No signs of recent occupation, so why the new rope? And who would build a treehouse so far from any residence?

  Shrugging, Cooper slid out his phone. Two, no three bars flashed at the top. Service.

  He swiped the text icon. Three messages. First, from Charlotte.

  Bowen had a good night. Being prepped for surgery. Will update as warranted.

  Before he could check the next message, he lost service again. However, a minute or so later, he was able to read the first text from Gabe.r />
  Tracking device in Sadie’s vehicle not operational. Either it’s been disabled, or it’s faulty. Can’t determine which. No ping on phone. Must be turned off. Should I notify authorities?

  Cooper gazed across the treetops to the horizon. If the cops arrived, what could he tell them? Sadie changed her mind and chose to disappoint her daughter by staying with Barbara another day. What other information did he have to share? Gut instinct often proved valuable, but maybe not in this scenario. He tapped out his message.

  No. We’re on her 6. Possible location of friend’s cabin is on SR 74, 4 miles west of Cascade Café. Sporadic service up here. Let KC’s folks know she’s on assignment.

  He hit the send icon but received a message indicating the text failed. Biting his lip, he dialed Charlotte’s number. No service, but on his second attempt, the call went straight to voicemail and he left a brief message. Of course. She probably had her phone turned off in the hospital waiting room.

  Drumming fingers on the wooden floor, he stared at his phone. Come on. I need to make contact. Bars, at last. Reading the second text from Gabe took his breath away. “Oh, no.” How could he break that news to KC? Before he could dial Gabe’s number, he lost service again. “Drat.” However, if the text went through later, Gabe would know he and KC were tracking Sadie. Once on solid ground again, Cooper relayed information from the first two messages to KC.

  “That’s not good. I hope for Sadie’s sake the satellite system is faulty and not the other possibility.”

  “Agree. Onward to the cabin, or at least toward the smoke.” Although he didn’t doubt his reply to Gabe, Cooper’s stomach roiled. He should have retrieved another weapon, brought his backpack full of equipment. Oh, well. The truck wasn’t that far away.

  They trudged side by side, making next to no sound. KC matched him stride for stride and didn’t show any signs of fatigue. Good. He figured she’d have great endurance when it came to the physical side of the job.

  Next thing he knew, KC grabbed his arm and halted.

  “Well, I’ll be.” She plucked a piece of paper off a twig and held it up to him.

  Another of Hannah’s colored pictures.