by Lisa Harris
Her phone rang as they headed toward the car with Bart. She paused for a moment on the sidewalk.
“I just received information that Bart has been blackmailing the mayor,” Michaels said as soon as she’d answered.
“Yes,” Madison said. She waved Jonas forward so he could help Bart into the back seat. “Our bank robbers found out and decided to use it as leverage.”
“Does his wife know?”
Madison turned back toward the large house. “I don’t think so, but she will soon.”
“I’ll be honest,” Michaels said. “I never really liked the man, but made allowances because of Glenda’s friendship with Trudy. But it always seemed like he married her for her money and as a way to follow his political aspirations. I’ve heard him joke more than once that he had his eyes on the White House.”
“Let’s just say, I don’t think he was joking,” Madison said. “We’ve got bigger problems than that though. We know Jesse and Nadia flew to Orcas Island this morning, but beyond that we have no way to track them.”
“Bring Bart here for further questioning, and we’ll plan our next move.”
Madison didn’t even attempt to hide her irritation. “Unless he talks, narrowing down their location’s going to be almost impossible.”
“Maybe not,” a female voice added.
“Piper?” Madison asked at the sound of the intern’s voice.
“Chief Deputy Michaels asked me to listen in on the call,” Piper said. “I think I might be able to find them.”
TWENTY-FIVE
Madison strode into Michaels’s office with Jonas. She was anxious to hear Piper’s theory.
“You’re just in time,” Piper said, walking into the office behind them, carrying a laptop. “I found what I was looking for.”
“I think you’ll both like this,” Michaels said.
Jonas grabbed a chair across from Michaels’s desk and sat down. “Our interest is definitely piqued.”
“Actually,” Piper said as she turned to Madison, “this came from your idea to go through the fugitives’ social media accounts. Now I’m hoping that digging into their backgrounds is about to pay off.”
“So what have you got?” Madison asked.
Piper turned back to her laptop and started typing. “First of all, I couldn’t find any connection between the Wellses and the Islands, so I kept asking myself, with over a hundred border crossings between the US and Canada, why would these two choose to go to Orcas Island when they could have gone anywhere?”
“Good question,” Madison said.
“When I was going through their friends’ profiles, I remembered seeing photos on Nadia’s site from a trip a couple years ago where they drove to Anacortes, then took a ferry to one of the islands.” Piper turned the laptop around so they could all see the website she’d pulled up. “This is Reisner Island. Fifteen acres with water frontage and views of Mount Baker and other islands. There’s a four thousand-square-foot main house, a caretaker’s cottage, a deep-water dock.”
“Wow,” Madison said, as the website showcased an aerial photo of the island. “That’s stunning.”
“What’s even more stunning,” Michaels said from behind his desk, “is the fact that Nadia’s father’s company owns the island.”
Jonas folded his arms across his chest. “That’s interesting, but wouldn’t they assume we’d figure out the connection? It seems like it would be the last place they’d go.”
“Maybe, but as far as they know, we think they’re still in the city,” Piper said, setting her laptop on Michaels’s desk.
“She’s right.” Madison stared at the photo on the website. “All they need is a few days at most until their passports are ready and they can disappear for real. It’s a logical place for us to look.”
“I agree.” Michaels stood up and moved around his desk. “Which is why I’ve already reached out to the San Juans’s sheriff’s department. They’ve distributed photos of our fugitives, but I want the two of you there, in person. Check out that island first. If they’re not there, we’ll expand the search, but it will be harder to find them once they cross the border.”
“When do we leave?” Jonas asked.
“I’ve already got you both booked on a private plane out of here.”
Madison stared out the window of the small plane as she and Jonas left Seattle behind. Scores of waterways with miniature boats dotted the earth beneath them, while the Olympic Mountains loomed in the background. If she stared out long enough, she could almost convince herself she was returning to the chain of tree-covered islands for vacation like she’d done with her father growing up. But letting down her guard today wasn’t an option.
“You do remember the first time we flew together?” Jonas said.
Madison caught his amused expression. “The thought might have crossed my mind.”
“Can we agree to no repeats?”
Madison laughed. “It’s a deal.”
Three months ago, the two of them had been called on to transport two prisoners across the country on a private plane. Engine trouble en route had caused their plane to crash into the forest. Not a situation she wanted repeated today.
“Have you ever been up to the Islands?” she asked, switching her thoughts away from memories of that assignment.
“I’ve always wanted to, but for some reason I never have.”
“You need to take some time to explore here one day,” she said. “San Juan holds one of my favorite spots. Lime Kiln Point is this rocky bluff with views of the water where you can catch pods of humpback and minke whales and incredible sunsets.”
“Sounds amazing.”
“It is. My dad and I used to come up here back when my uncle owned land on one of the islands. We’d go camping every year, though this is my first time to fly in.”
She studied the blue water sparkling beneath them. Four of the islands nestled between Washington State and British Columbia were accessible by ferry for both cars and pedestrians, making it fairly easy to get there from the mainland, though flying was definitely the quickest option. And the view from the sky was a definite bonus.
“I can see why you loved it here. It’s stunning. I think I’d like to book a house one summer and stay a couple weeks and do nothing. Especially after this week.”
“The only drawback is little or no cell reception or Wi-Fi in a lot of places. You could be pretty much completely cut off from the rest of the world.”
“And that’s a problem?” He leaned back in his seat, a smile spreading over his face. “Trust me, I could handle no internet. A couple weeks just reading, sitting in a hammock, and grilling out over a campfire. I’m all in.”
The pilot’s voice came over the cabin speaker as the plane started its descent over the heavily forested island. “We’ve just been cleared to land, so please check to ensure your seat belt is securely fastened. We’ll be on the ground in just a few minutes.”
As arranged, once they’d disembarked, one of the local sheriff’s deputies met the marshals at the small airport on the north side of the island.
Madison shook the older man’s hand as they made introductions. “We appreciate you picking us up, Deputy McBride.”
“I’m assuming you received the information on our fugitives?” Jonas asked.
Deputy McBride nodded. “I’ve been in contact with the sheriff and will be your liaison. We’ve made sure every law enforcement officer in the area, as well as every ferry and boat rental place, has been notified. If your guys are out there, we’ll find them.”
“That’s what we want to hear,” Jonas said.
The three started walking toward the parking area. “I understand you need to get to Reisner Island,” the deputy said.
“We do,” Madison answered, following him to his car.
“You’ve got two choices. I can have one of our men take you out in a patrol boat, or I can drive you to a nearby marina and you can take a boat out yourself.”
“Th
at’s not a problem,” Madison said. “I spent my summers on the water. I can get us there and not tie up one of your men.”
“Good. I’ve got a boat you’re welcome to use.”
“We appreciate the help.”
Madison paused on the tarmac for a moment while a turboprop plane made a smooth landing on the airstrip. Mount Constitution and its forested peaks rose in the distance almost half a mile above the island. “Do you ever get tired of these views?”
McBride chuckled. “Never, and I was born and raised here.”
She spent another moment taking in the exhilarating view before getting into the car. “What can you tell us about the property?” she asked after he slipped into the driver’s seat.
“I haven’t seen anyone matching the description of the couple you’re after, but we’ll keep looking. As for Reisner Island, there shouldn’t be anyone on it right now. Ray Harper is the caretaker, but his mother’s sick so he’s back in Ohio for a few weeks. We’ve been keeping an eye on the property for him, but so far it’s been quiet.”
“Sounds like you stay busy,” Jonas said from the back seat.
“Our county has more shoreline than any other county in the state, so between land and water, we definitely do.” Deputy McBride turned the key in the ignition. “As for the island you’re wanting to go to, there’s no electricity or internet, but there is a wood stove and limited solar power in the main house. Phone service is also very sketchy, but you can use the radio on the boat if you need to contact us.”
Madison turned her gaze back to the mountain. So far the island sounded like the perfect hideout.
“And just in case you need it, Ray always leaves a key under one of the pots on the front porch,” McBride said, putting the car into drive. “Are the two of you planning on heading back to Seattle today?”
“It’s probably going to be too late,” she said, “though it will depend on what we find here. We’ll keep you in the loop.”
An hour later, Madison was breathing in a lungful of fresh air as the fifteen-foot rigid hull of the inflatable boat they’d borrowed skimmed across the water in the direction of Reisner Island. The temperature was perfect, with blue skies, a few wispy clouds, and low winds out of the north. But even the amazing views weren’t enough to break her focus. Two people were dead. That was something she couldn’t forget.
She glanced at Jonas, who stood next to her at the helm. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
“I could get used to perks like this, until I remember why I’m here.”
“I was just thinking the same thing.”
She navigated their approach toward the rocky bank of the island and its forty-foot dock. There was an old fishing vessel tied up and a couple canoes, but no other watercrafts in sight.
She secured the boat, then followed Jonas away from the trail that led to the house, keeping cover just inside the tree line. Despite the calm setting surrounding them, they couldn’t forget that the fugitives they were after were both armed and desperate.
The house stood quiet as they slipped through the shadows, making the silence surrounding them seem almost deafening in comparison to the city. Except for the occasional chirping of birds and the ruffling of tree limbs in the wind, the only thing she could hear was the sound of their footsteps.
“I say we head to the house,” Jonas said. “We need to know if they’re here.”
Madison watched for movement as they made their way toward the front porch of the two-story, wood-framed house looming in front of them. But only an eerie stillness greeted them as they walked up the steps. She glanced around the small porch, then picked up one of the pots next to the front door, looking for the key.
“We won’t be needing that,” Jonas said, after turning the handle. “It’s unlocked.”
Madison frowned, then held up her weapon as they stepped into the spacious living room that opened to the dining area and kitchen. The floor-to-ceiling windows allowed beautiful views of the property and water while the interior walls were covered with knotty pine panels. The cozy space was filled with plenty of seating, throw pillows, and bookshelves.
Jonas signaled that he was headed toward the staircase and the second floor, while she started clearing the downstairs. She crossed the kitchen, then paused to touch the kettle on the stove.
It was warm.
The hair on the back of her neck prickled as she moved through the rest of the downstairs, room by room, but there were no other signs that someone had been here.
By the time she’d circled back to the living room, Jonas was coming down the stairs. “Anything?” he asked, holstering his gun.
“The kettle on the stove is still warm.”
“And it looks as if someone’s been in one of the bedrooms. We must have spooked them.”
It was possible. If Jesse and Nadia had been here, they would have heard a boat approaching. She turned to the back door that led out to a deck. “We need to keep searching.”
The large wooden deck had a few outside tables and chairs, along with a barbecue grill, but that wasn’t what caught her attention. Several chairs had been knocked over, and a large potted plant had been smashed. While they couldn’t dismiss the idea that this had simply been a wild animal, she doubted there was anything on the island that could do this much damage.
Something else caught her attention at the top of the stairs that led down to the backyard. She crouched next to a trail of blood leading down the stairs. She studied the open yard below. Beyond it was fifteen acres of forested land.
Jonas stepped up behind her as she stood and faced him. “I think our fugitives are still on the island.”
TWENTY-SIX
Madison walked beside Jonas through the spindly evergreen trees as the sun edged closer to the horizon along the water. Searching the heavily forested terrain of the island would be difficult in the daytime, but come nightfall, it would be impossible, especially when the trees blocked out most of the sunlight and the ground was full of brush. But something had happened on the back deck of the house, and they needed to find out what.
Brush crunched beneath her feet as they systematically searched the area extending out from the main house. She wished they could call the sheriff to send several deputies over to help them search, but she’d already checked her phone several times and there was no signal. If Nadia and Jesse were on this island, they had the advantage, and there was no time to run back to the boat. Madison had studied the aerial photo of the land during their flight. There were dozens of places their fugitives could hide across the acres of forested land, leaving her and Jonas on the defensive.
But so far, any signs of their presence on the island were inscrutable. Jonas held up his hand, motioning for her to stop. She froze at his side, then shifted slightly to follow his gaze.
“Did you see something?” she asked.
He aimed his flashlight into the darkness. A black-tailed deer scurried off into the forest. Madison let out a sharp sigh, her nerves still strung tight. Her foot snapped a branch as they started walking again. An owl hooted in the distance. Shadows shifted around them in the wind.
“Okay, I’m not normally one to get paranoid,” she said, keeping her voice low, “but this place is a bit creepy, especially now with darkness settling in.”
“And I’m guessing that the probability of two armed fugitives running around out here somewhere doesn’t help?”
“Definitely not,” she said. “Besides, we’re too vulnerable. If they’re here, they would have heard us arriving on the boat. It would be easy to set up an ambush.” She swept her flashlight to the side, surveying the woods. “Or maybe I read too many Agatha Christie novels growing up.”
“I have noticed the stack of classic detective novels in your living room.”
They continued along the perimeter of the island in the direction of the caretaker’s cottage and a couple other small outbuildings. “In one of my favorites, eight people arrive on an isolated island off the Englis
h coast and are met by a butler and a housekeeper.” She kept talking to stop the fear from settling in. “Then one by one the guests are found murdered because there was a killer among them.”
Jonas let out a low chuckle. “And then there were none.”
“My mother always used to tell me I had too vivid an imagination. I told her I loved getting scared reading those books, just as much as I loved justice being served.”
She held her weapon out in front of her, unwilling to let her guard down or let the situation play with her nerves. The wind blew up around them, sending a shiver up her spine. She was letting her imagination get away with her, something she normally never did. But the last couple days had thrown her off. Felicia’s death. The break-in at her house. No wonder she felt paranoid.
She zipped up the top of her jacket so it covered her neck, wishing she’d brought something heavier. Even in summer, the temperature could easily drop into the fifties at night. She just hadn’t expected to be searching the grounds of a private island while the sun set in the distance.
The caretaker’s cottage was a two-bedroom house on a small rise of land above the shoreline. This time, they found the key to the front door under a potted plant. They made a quick sweep of Ray Harper’s quarters, but there was no sign that anyone had been inside recently.
Fifty feet from the cottage was a shed. The door was open a few inches and creaked in the wind. Madison opened it cautiously, then flashed her light inside. Lawn and garden tools hung on the wall above bags of fertilizer. Paint cans and other odds and ends were stacked on shelves, but nothing to indicate their fugitives had been there.
“Unless they’re out somewhere in the woods, something tells me they’re long gone,” she said. “They could have had a boat tied up on the other side of the island, and when they heard us approach, they ran.”
“But that doesn’t explain the blood on the deck. It didn’t look like someone just tripped and fell.”
She nodded. “There was a fight.”
Madison pulled out her phone and held it up to him, her frustration mounting. “Still no signal.”
