by CJ Murphy
“No, I figured I’d save that for the meeting he invited me to. I don’t want to be in charge of anything back here. I miss the days of being a spoke in the wheel. Being in charge kept me off the horses and in the command post most of the time. Enough of that. I see you’ve loaded up some boxes. Need help with anything else?”
Marty shook his head. “No, I started going through things and realized most of my material is really outdated. I’ve kept up with new techniques, but unless it was a special situation, what I was doing was working. I don’t think any animal suffered under my care because I wasn’t trying the latest or greatest. I know you’ve been practicing a long time and the way you do things will help so many animals. I’m over eighty, honey. It’s time to turn it all over to you and spend time doing things I enjoy, like fishing. What I’ve left behind you can throw away, donate, or use as you see fit. This place is yours to do with as you will. I want you to be happy here and enjoy your practice. From what we’ve talked about, I don’t think you ever enjoyed what you built out there.”
Jax kicked at the dirt with the tip of her boot. “No, I didn’t. It was high-pressure and high-priced veterinary service for people who saw their animals as trinkets and investments. Don’t get me wrong; I had the privilege of working with some incredible horses. The stable workers were the ones who did most of the work. They were the only people who showed many of those animals any affection. This place will give me a chance to get back to the kind of medicine I wanted to practice.”
“Did you get everything squared away out there?”
She took a deep breath. She and her uncle had always been able to talk. He’d known she was gay before the rest of her family had. He knew about Lacey and was the first person she called when she’d found out about the last affair.
“Lacey and I finalized the divorce and the dissolution of our business partnership. She bought me out of the practice and the house. Don’t worry Uncle Marty, I didn’t lose out. Her grandmother made sure of that. Madeline Montgomery was unhappy with the way her granddaughter treated me. In the end, she was one of the few Montgomerys on my side. I still talk to her. She was very supportive of me coming back here and being the kind of vet I’d always dreamed of.”
He hugged her. “Well, you’ve got your whole life in front of you and plenty of time to figure it all out. I’m going home to unload these boxes into my office and grab my fishing pole. I hear they stocked Red Run.” He climbed in his truck. “Will I see you for dinner?”
“I’ll be home in time to cook whatever trout you catch, and I’ll patty out some burgers in case you don’t.” Jax leaned in his truck window and kissed the grizzled cheek. “I love you, Uncle Marty.”
“Love you too, kitten. Don’t work too hard. Tomorrow’s another day.”
“Be careful and keep your phone on you.”
He waved as he drove out of the lot. Jax walked through the door of the clinic and looked around. The place was neat and tidy, but she needed to clear away all the things she wouldn’t be needing in order for the contractor do the renovations. The computer technician was due any minute.
“Well Jax, it’s not going to get done by itself. Time to get cracking.”
Chapter Six
CHANCE WHISTLED LOUDLY IN order for the president of the Tucker County Search and Rescue Squad to call the meeting to order. The business side of the operation never interested Chance, unless it came to applying for grants. She’d become good at wording the narratives to key in on their unique terrain and frequency of visitors getting themselves into trouble. It probably didn’t hurt that many state and federal bigwigs owned vacation homes up in the valley. They donated to the local causes as goodwill tax deductions.
After the business of the squad had been dealt with, the meeting agenda listed an operational debrief of the rescue. Chance stepped up to a white board and rolled a dry erase marker back and forth between her hands.
“First of all, I want to tell you all what an awesome job you did.” Zeus barked his approval. “Thank you for that ringing endorsement, partner.” She drew the incident scene and turned around when she heard a few snickers. “I never claimed to be an artist. Use your imagination.” With all the pertinent details drawn in, Chance went on to describe her initial actions. “We were close to having a second rescue. If I’d had arrived a few minutes later, Cassie’s dad would have been down on that ledge where we lost that guy a few years ago. He was near panicked. Those situations are going to continue to happen out there. Even with the warning signs, people still go over onto those boulders.”
A list of the equipment they’d used lined the right-hand side of the board. “Inevitably, we end up using the tripod to gain some elevation to bring us all out. At our next drill night, I’d like to practice using a gin pole set up and see if we could stage something like that out there. If not, I’d like to find a way to leave a cache of equipment somewhere near that overlook. That alone would save us a great deal of time shuttling equipment out to the site. The Saddleback Equestrian team does a fantastic job of getting personnel out there, don’t get me wrong. The problem is, it’s time consuming to load those pack animals down and trudge through the woods with the equipment. That works against us if an incident occurs late in the day. If all we needed to do was transport personnel, we could get operations started much quicker. We were racing the sun on this operation, and time was of the essence.”
Sarah spoke up. “That’s happened to us a few times. People get a late start and then have to make their way back out to call for help when something goes wrong.”
Chance looked around, and all heads were shaking in agreement. “Dave, you work for the state park. Do you think there’s a chance they’d let us build some kind of small structure out there? Maybe we could camouflage whatever we come up with to store some of our larger equipment.”
Dave Searles, a beanpole shy of thirty years old, pushed his ball cap back on his head. “We could talk to the superintendent. We’d need to get permission to put anything on state owned land. I’d like to leave things close to how God created them. That death out there with that guy you mentioned shook them up pretty good. I’d say with this rescue coming out as successful as it did, it might be the right time to ask. I’ll see if we can get a meeting with them.”
“Great. Give me enough leeway to be able to configure something aesthetically pleasing that will be serviceable enough to protect our equipment. We can use a push-button locking system so keys won’t be needed. That would also allow us to change the code as often as we want.” Chance made a mental note to do some research on options.
“Sure thing, Sheriff.”
Chance went back to her white board. “I’d like to have a joint drill with the Saddlebacks. Several of us own horses, and it’s always good to train together to make things seamless when we’re working a scene. I’ll try to set something up with them later next month. Okay, as well as it went, there are always lessons we can learn. Let’s discuss what we could have done better.”
For the next forty minutes, the squad dissected the operation. Everything from the callout procedures to the tactical operation were examined. Chance assured everyone that she would not have gone down into the crevice without having another team member on scene. She was a doer, but she respected the margins of safety and the need for backup in technical situations. It was important for her to show her younger members accountability for their own actions. She bore the scars on her body for what happened when something went wrong.
“Okay, are there any more questions?” Chance scanned the room filled with fifteen skilled team members. Heads were shaking. “Then, I would say thank you for coming. I’ll let you know about details for our next drill night.” Zeus barked on cue, and the sound of chairs being folded and stowed away filled the room.
Sarah walked to the front of the room. “How’s your arm?”
Chance bent her arm at the elbow. “Hell, I forget about it most of the time, until I drag some piece of clothing acr
oss it.
“Did you fill out the injury form?”
Chance smiled. “That’s on my list to do before I leave tonight. No workers’ comp claim to file, I let my insurance cover the treatment at the clinic.”
Sarah shook her head. “Let me guess, my sister sewed you up?”
“She did. I managed to get out of there with just a stern warning from Faith.”
“If you’re going to tell me my sister let you get out of there without a tetanus shot, I’m going to call bullshit. I know her better than that.”
“There was discussion of a booster. My records show I’m up to date. That rusty nail I jammed under my fingernail two months ago sealed the deal on me not baring my backside.”
Sarah stared at the ground. “I’m sure Maggie’s taking care of you, while Dee’s probably trying to convince you to let her take out the stitches.”
Chance put a finger under Sarah’s chin and raised it so their eyes met. “I’m okay, Sarah. I’ve got enough keepers watching out for me. How’s Kristi?”
“She’s at home, hanging out with Daniel. He’s grown six inches since you last saw him. It’s nice having him home from college. You know you are welcome at our house any time. Breaking up with Faith doesn’t mean you have to stay away from us.”
“I know that. I’ve honestly been busy. Faith and I parted as friends, and I’ve known Theresa for years through the basketball team. She’s good for her. Faith needed someone who was less adrenaline driven. Theresa is a teacher and home every night. She doesn’t get called away at the drop of a hat or shot at.”
Sarah crossed her arms. “I’m well aware of all of that. None of it means you are absolved from being Daniel’s godmother. We’re family, Chance, regardless of my sister. We grew up together, and you got me into this crazy world of search and rescue. You’ve got obligations, and I’m holding you to them. It’s been over a month since you’ve been to the house. We’re cooking steaks tomorrow night. How about you come by?”
“Uh, I sort of have plans.”
Sarah peaked an eyebrow. “Plans?”
Chance reached up and nervously pulled on her earlobe. “Dinner plans. The new vet, Jacqueline St. Claire, is back to take over Doc Hendricks’s practice, and I invited her over for dinner.”
Sarah bugged her eyes out. “Jax St. Claire from all those summers ago? That Jax?”
“How in the hell did you remember that? You were too busy sucking face with Kristi to know what in the hell I was doing.”
“How in the world do you think I could forget? She and Kristi became friends when we all ran around together our senior year. Remember that float trip where you tipped out of your inner tube and pulled her out of hers? Then there was a missing red, white, and blue bikini top we had trouble finding the next morning when we camped down on the riverbank in the truck beds. Don’t tell me I don’t remember who Jacqueline St. Claire is.”
“I certainly remember how she lost it. Best birthday ever.” Chance couldn’t help but laugh, as the pair made their way out of the fire hall, Zeus on her heels.
Sarah leaned against her Jeep. “I also remember someone moping around like a lost puppy for six months after Jax went off to school. So, she’s back?”
“She is, and I did not mope.”
“Bullshit. Even Mags and Dee had started to worry, then the basketball season started and you snapped out of it.”
“We won the championship, didn’t we?”
“Yeah we did, and you ended up with your jaw wired shut. Hard to pine away for someone when you’re busy drowning yourself in chicken broth and milkshakes.”
Chance shoved Sarah’s shoulder. “Shut up or I’ll arrest you. You know I can’t even smell chicken broth to this day.”
“So Jax St. Claire’s back and you’re cooking her dinner?”
Chance loaded Zeus in the vehicle and climbed in the front seat, grinning from ear to ear. “She is, and I’m grilling out for her tomorrow night.”
“She still hot?”
“Smoking hot. The old saying some things get better with age. She proves it. Tell Daniel to come by the department tomorrow, and I’ll take him to lunch.”
“I will. Don’t be surprised when he starts asking you when the test for Deputy Sheriff is.”
“I can always use another good man on the force. Good night Sarah.”
Chance drove away thinking of the boy who was like a nephew to her. She’d made him promise to finish college before he applied for a law enforcement position. He’d recently graduated and was ready to go. When she was with Fish and Wildlife, he’d sworn that’s what his goal was. Now that she was retired from there and holding the position of sheriff, he’d changed his mind about being a federal officer. He called once a month wanting to know when the application period would open up. She had one officer close to retirement. Daniel’s intelligence assured that he’d test high, and his physical abilities should propel him to the top of the list. His desire to become an officer concerned her, but she’d rather have him working for her than learning from someone she didn’t know or trust. Sarah and Kristi were like sisters to her. I’ll call him tomorrow. Sarah’s right, breaking up with Faith doesn’t mean I broke up with them.
***
Mist saturated the air, and the grass at the edges of the trail was heavy with dew. Chance’s shoes were wet, and Zeus’s belly dripped with moisture when they reached the Yukon in the parking lot. She’d reported in from T7, a trail off of Cortland Road through the nature preserve. There were no other cars at the trailhead. She pulled a water bottle and a towel from the seat. She poured most of it into a collapsible bowl for Zeus, then drank the remainder.
Once they were back inside the vehicle, Chance reported into the communications center that she was clear and pulled out onto Cortland Road. Sunlight broke through the morning fog and reflected off the side mirror of a vehicle parked off the roadway and hidden by some scrub trees. Chance turned the Yukon around and pulled up behind the Toyota Camry with blacked-out windows. There was no exhaust steaming in the cool morning air.
The mic in her hand, she contacted dispatch. “SD-1 to Comm Center.”
“SD-1, go ahead.”
“I’m on scene with a vehicle off of Cortland Road near the orchard. Maryland registration—” Before Chance got the plate called in, a shot pierced her windshield. “Shots fired! Shots fired!” She rattled off the registration and threw the Yukon into reverse away from the vehicle. With the accelerator jammed to the floor, and her service weapon in her hand, Chance ducked low. The minute the tires bit on the pavement, she whipped the vehicle sideways and exited into a crouch. A slap to the hatch release button allowed her partner to join her, as she pointed her weapon in the direction the shot had come from. Zeus came to her side, blood pouring from a wound somewhere on his head. Immediately, she examined him before reaching in the vehicle and grabbing the mic.
“SD-1 to Comm Center, K9-1 is hit!” The sound of a revving engine made her drop the mic and grasp her weapon with both hands. The vehicle screamed out of the brush. “Stop. Police!” A green blur barreled directly at her, and she squeezed off four rounds into the front windshield before the impact threw her and Zeus across the road. The horrific sounds of crunching metal and breaking glass broke the early morning tranquility and hurled her into blackness.
***
Chance came to, hearing Taylor’s voice screaming, “Officer down.” She tried to dispel the queasiness and clear the confusion from her head. A memory of the blood she’d seen on her partner came roaring back. “Zeus! Where’s Zeus?”
Chance had no idea how long she’d been out, but a wet tongue hit her face. She raised an arm to assure herself that he was still with her.
Taylor put a hand on her shoulder. “Lay still, Chance. I’ve got help coming.”
“Asshole fired on me. Hit Zeus somewhere. Check him, Taylor.” Chance spit a mouthful of blood out and tried to clear her pounding head.
“He’s okay, Chance. It just nicked hi
s ear. Right now, I’m more worried about you.”
“The perp, did he get away?”
Taylor put both hands on her shoulders to keep her in place. “Perp’s dead. Another unit checked the car. I’ve got an ambulance on the way for you and Zeus. Boss, you need to lay still. You took a hell of a hit.”
“Why’d the fucker fire on me? I hadn’t even got out of the truck yet. I was calling in the plate.”
“Probably the drugs on the seat. The guy still has a tourniquet on and a needle on the floorboard.”
“What the fuck? God my head hurts. Check Zeus…he was bleeding.”
“Chance, listen to me.” The wail of the sirens nearly drowned out her voice. “The ambulance and two troopers just pulled up. Lay still and let them take care of you. Zeus is okay. You’re worse than him right now.”
Through a haze of red, Chance tried to focus, as white-hot pain shot through her body. She could make out fuzzy features that looked familiar.
“Chance, it’s Sarah. Lay still. I’m going to look you over. Where do you hurt?”
“Sarah, check on Zeus. He’s bleeding.”
“Taylor has him. Let me take care of you. You cracked your head on the pavement, and I’m pretty sure that left wrist is busted.”
“I have to check on Zeus. Let me up.” Chance struggled to get up off the ground and fell back in agony when she tried to push up with her hands.
Sarah pushed gently against Chance’s shoulder. “You stubborn ass. I told you it looks like your wrist is broken. Now lay down. I mean it.”
“The moms squared are going to kill me.”
“Can’t help you there. For now, let me try and fix you up so you’ll be in good shape when they do.”
Chance tried to laugh until she became aware of new pain so sharp and stabbing, it stole her breath on a gasp.
