Mountain Ambush

by Hope White

  Tom vehemently shook his head.

  “And you attacked me in the hospital, hijacked the ambulance with me in back and tossed a smoke bomb into my cabin,” Spence said.

  “No, not me. I stole the phone and broke into your cabin twice—the first time to kidnap you, and tonight to drug you.”

  “Who hired you?” Spence said.

  “I don’t know.”

  Nate narrowed his eyes.

  “I don’t!” Tom protested. “Got instructions from text messages.”

  Sirens wailed as emergency vehicles motored down the main road to the cabin.

  “We’ll figure this out at the station,” Nate said.

  * * *

  Maddie and Ryan pulled up outside Dr. Carver’s house, set back on secluded property. Ryan turned off the engine and looked at her. “I mean it, Maddie. Stay in the car. Do not get out, do not come looking for me. And lock the doors.”

  “Okay, okay.”

  Ryan got out of the SUV and pointed through the window. She hit the lock button and mouthed “thank you.”

  She watched him climb the front porch to Dr. Carver’s house and hesitate. That’s when she realized the door was ajar. He withdrew his firearm, eased the door open and disappeared inside.

  Maddie waited for what seemed like forever. She checked her watch. Only a few minutes had passed. Oh, how she wished the paramedics and police would arrive.

  She grew anxious. What if Dr. Carver was injured and needed medical help? No, Ryan would surely text her.

  Her anxiety made sense considering the call from Ruth, plus Spence’s plan to set himself up as bait to draw out the bad guy. Maddie knew they had probably turned off their phones, but she felt the need to make a connection with him all the same. She called him but it went into voice mail.

  “Hey, Spence. So I’m sitting outside Dr. Carver’s house, kind of freaking out here because we think someone broke in, and I wanted to say, I’ll be glad when all this is over. I know that challenging times help us appreciate the good times and all that, but, well, I wanted to say I’m looking forward to grabbing pizza with you, or going to Healthy Eats, if that’s your thing. Anyway, I hope everything went well tonight.”

  A flash of movement caught her eye. It was Dr. Carver stumbling on the fringe of her property.

  “Oh no.” Maddie pocketed her phone and jumped out of the car.

  As she jogged toward the doctor, she considered how upset Ryan would be with her right now. But she couldn’t sit here and watch the woman wander off into the surrounding forest.

  “Dr. Carver?” she called out.

  She kept walking, heading toward the trees, wavering from side to side. As Dr. Carver passed by a shed, she stumbled and collapsed. Maddie rushed to her side.

  “Dr. Carver? Ruth?”

  Maddie took her pulse. It was solid at eighty beats per minute. She pulled her penlight off her keychain and checked her pupils. They were dilated. Had someone drugged her, as well? Maddie pulled out her phone to text Ryan.

  A firm hand shoved a cloth over her mouth. She punched and kicked, but couldn’t stop what she suspected was chloroform from shutting down her brain.

  Her arms weakened and her legs lost their fight. Darkness consumed her as someone dragged her into the forest.

  * * *

  After Tom was treated at the scene, Nate, Detective Vaughn and Spence headed to the police station. Spence struggled to fill in the blanks as he watched Tom say something to Nate through the one-way glass. Probably asking for his lawyer again.

  The door opened and Nate motioned to Spence. “He says he wants to talk to you.”

  Joining Nate and Detective Vaughn in the interrogation room, Spence sat across the table from Tom.

  Tom finally looked up. “Thanks, ya know, for the inhaler.”

  “Of course.”

  “You didn’t have to do that.” Tapping nervous fingers on the table, Tom finally said, “It wasn’t personal, Doc. All the stuff that happened to you.”

  “I need to know why it’s happening,” Spence said.

  Tom shrugged.

  “Tom,” Spence started, “I appreciate that you don’t want to incriminate yourself, but I need answers. Without them my life and the lives of people I care about continue to be in danger. Will you help me? Give Nate something we can use to figure out who’s behind all this?”

  Tom considered. “I guess I’ll be busted for the drugs anyway.”

  “And attempted homicide of two police officers and Dr. Spencer,” Nate added.

  “I didn’t know cops would be there. Like I said before, I was hired to make the doc overdose.” He glanced at Spence. “Sorry. I was desperate for the money.”

  “And I’m desperate to get my life back. I’ve lost my job, which means I can’t treat people who need my help, like you when you had your asthma attack,” Spence said. “Please, tell us something.”

  Tom studied his hands and nodded.

  “You’ve asked for a lawyer,” Nate said. “Are you now waiving that right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Then let’s start at the beginning,” Nate said. “When were you first contacted about kidnapping Dr. Spencer?”

  “I got an anonymous text last week. Said they knew about my business, but wouldn’t go to the police if I did a few things, like kidnap Dr. Spencer.”

  “Kidnap him and do what with him?” Nate pressed.

  “Leave him at Wallace Falls.”

  “What were you going to do, hike up there with an unconscious man over your shoulder?”

  “I was supposed to leave him behind the public bathrooms at the trailhead.”

  “You have no idea who wanted him and for what purpose?” Nate pressed.

  “No.”

  “And tonight’s assault?”

  “They promised me five grand to make him overdose.”

  “On what?”

  “I don’t know. They gave me the drugs.”

  “You’re telling me you’ve never seen who’s behind this?” Nate said.

  “No, we had a drop-off spot. Same place I got my drugs.”

  “Back up. The supplier of your prescription drugs is also the person who wants Spence dead?” Nate asked.

  “I don’t know for sure. I leave money in a locker at the bus station and pick up a bag with the pills. Yesterday they texted me and said to pick up drugs at the locker, not my usual stuff. Something in the blue bottle would make the doc go to sleep.”

  “And then you’d torch the house?”

  Tom shook his head. “No one said anything about setting a fire.”

  “Where’s your phone?” Nate said.

  Tom nodded at his pocket. Nate dug it out and scrolled through the text messages. “Vaughn,” he handed her the phone. “See if you can trace this one.”

  “Yes, sir.” She took the phone and left the interrogation room.

  “How long have you been dealing to kids?” Spence said.

  “Not long. It started with adults.”

  “You know what the sentence is for dealing prescription drugs in Washington State?” Nate said. “Add that to the assault and attempted murder charges and—”

  “It got away from me, I guess.”

  “Then get it back,” Spence said. “Do something to help yourself here.”

  “If I can tell the feds you helped us solve the local crimes, that would go a long way to helping your cause,” Nate added.

  “It wouldn’t surprise me if he worked at the hospital,” Tom said.

  “Why do you say that?” Spence asked.

  “Because when my supplier sold me the drugs, I’d also get a list of names of patients who’d been released with prescriptions for painkillers. My supplier must have ass
umed they’d make good customers.”

  The door burst open and Detective Vaughn motioned Spence and Nate out of the interrogation room. Once in the hallway, Vaughn said, “There was a break-in. Ruth Carver was assaulted, and...” She trailed off and glanced at Spence before finishing. “Maddie McBride is missing.”

  FOURTEEN

  Spence couldn’t think past the knot twisting in his chest. Maddie was missing? How was that possible? She’d been safely stashed in the Echo Mountain Rentals cabin with her brother, and Spence knew Ryan wouldn’t let her out of his sight.

  After locking Tom in a cell, Nate drove Spence and Detective Vaughn to the Carvers’ house.

  “What were they doing there?” Spence asked.

  “Apparently Ruth was on the phone with Maddie when someone broke into the house,” Nate said.

  “They should have called 9-1-1.”

  “They did, but a car accident on Highway 2 slowed response teams.”

  “And so Maddie and Ryan decided to help her,” Spence said. “Which still doesn’t explain how Maddie went missing.”

  “We’ll know more after we talk to Officer McBride,” Nate said.

  “He shouldn’t have left her alone,” Spence said.

  The car grew quiet. Of course casting blame didn’t help matters, but desperation drove his words. He was desperate that nothing should happen to Maddie.

  Because he cared about her. A lot.

  When they pulled into Ruth’s driveway, he spotted an ambulance. Spence jumped out of the car almost before it came to a stop.

  “Spence!” Nate called after him.

  As Spence rushed toward the house, someone called his name. He turned toward the source and saw Ruth being tended to by a paramedic on a front lawn bench.

  “Ruth, are you okay?” Spence said, approaching her.

  “Hi, Dr. Spencer,” the paramedic they fondly called Wiggy greeted him. “She won’t let us take her to the hospital.”

  “I’m not seriously injured,” Ruth said. “Just foggy.”

  Wiggy packed up his gear and went back to the ambulance.

  “What happened?” Spence asked Ruth.

  “I was on the phone and someone broke in.” She glanced at him. “I called Maddie because I was so worried about you after the blowup with the board.”

  “Why call Maddie?”

  “You weren’t answering your phone. Then I heard someone in my house. I was terrified, and ran out the back door. But I must have tripped and hit my head because the next thing I know I’m on the ground with the paramedic standing over me. But before that, I thought I heard Maddie’s voice.”

  “She was with you?” Spence said.

  “She was checking my pulse, I think. Where is she?”

  “Ruth! Ruth!” Cal shouted, frantically stumbling up to them. He reached out and pulled his wife into his arms.

  “Oh, Cal. I was so scared.”

  “I know. It’s okay.” Cal glared at Spence. “This is your fault. Now they’re after us, too.”

  “Cal, don’t,” Ruth said, breaking the hug. “I’m fine. But the house is a crime scene so we’d better get a room at the resort.” She nodded at Spence. “When you see Maddie, thank her for calling 9-1-1.”

  Spence couldn’t respond, fear constricting his vocal cords. He assumed no one had informed Ruth that Maddie had gone missing, and he didn’t want to upset her further. Cal led Ruth away without saying another word to Spence.

  As Spence climbed the porch steps, he heard voices arguing inside the house. Nate blocked him at the door. “This is a crime scene.”

  “Meaning what?”

  “We need to keep it intact.”

  “I understand. Where’s Ryan?”

  “Easy, Spence. He took a nasty hit to the head. If you can keep your cool I’ll let you in, but stay in the front hallway.”

  Spence nodded and Nate let him pass. As Spence entered the house, he saw Ryan sitting on the stairs being checked out by the other paramedic, Vivian.

  “No lacerations, and your pupils look normal,” Vivian said, analyzing the back of Ryan’s scalp. “We could transport you to the hospital just to be sure.”

  “No thanks,” Ryan said.

  Vivian stood. “Keep the ice pack on your head. And if your symptoms get worse—vomiting, passing out, memory loss—get to the ER ASAP.”

  “Will do.”

  Vivian left and silence filled the hallway. Ryan finally looked at Nate. “I told her to stay in the car. Why didn’t she stay in the car?” he said, his voice cracking.

  “We’ll find her,” Nate said. “I’ve got Red checking with neighbors about any suspicious vehicles in the area. Detective Vaughn, after we’re done here I want you to go assist.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Tell me what happened when you arrived at the house,” Nate redirected to Ryan.

  “I searched the entire first floor but couldn’t find Dr. Carver. I went upstairs and somebody clobbered me.”

  “They found Ruth out by the shed, unconscious.”

  “What was she doing out there?” Ryan asked.

  “She was trying to get away from the intruder, tripped and hit her head,” Nate said.

  “But she remembers Maddie taking her pulse,” Spence offered.

  “And now Maddie’s missing because she was trying to help,” Ryan said. “Why? Why would they take her?”

  “To get at me,” Spence said.

  “Maybe to make an exchange.” Nate glanced at Spence. “You for Maddie.”

  “But if she can identify her kidnapper, they’ll never let her go,” Ryan said.

  “He’s probably wearing a mask, like he did before in the mountains,” Nate suggested.

  “Don’t you have that guy in custody?” Ryan said.

  “He claims he wasn’t the masked man, which means there are more perps involved in this,” Nate said. “Keep your phone handy in case he calls you directly, Spence.”

  “That’s the best-case scenario,” Vaughn muttered.

  Nate narrowed his eyes at her.

  “Sorry, Chief,” she said.

  “So what now?” Spence said. “I can’t wait around for the next horrible thing to happen. I need to do something to find Maddie, do more digging to figure out who is involved.”

  “The feds have been called to investigate the suspected fraud,” Nate confirmed. “But if you want to help, do your research at the station. I need to stay here and process the scene.”

  “I’ll take him back.” Ryan stood and motioned Spence outside.

  As they silently walked toward Ryan’s dark SUV, Spence couldn’t chastise the man. Spence suspected Ryan was doing plenty of that himself.

  As they got inside the vehicle, Ryan released a deep sigh, leaned against the headrest and closed his eyes.

  “Do you need me to drive?” Spence offered.

  “It’s not my head injury.” He looked at Spence with bloodshot green eyes. “I never should have brought her with me.”

  Spence knew that feeling, the feeling of intense guilt that grabbed hold of you and squeezed until you thought you couldn’t breathe. He’d felt that same guilt after his brother had died.

  Yet Maddie had shown Spence how to let go.

  “If you hadn’t brought her with you, she would have been alone and vulnerable in the cabin,” Spence offered.

  “If anything happens to her...”

  “We’ll pray that it doesn’t.”

  With a nod, Ryan started the vehicle.

  Spence glanced out the passenger window surprised that even though he was being sucked into a maelstrom of utter panic about Maddie’s safety, the word pray felt natural rolling off his tongue.

  The woman had truly affec
ted him in the deepest way, a way he’d never expected. She’d shown him what true forgiveness looked like and opened his heart to faith.

  Dear Lord, please keep my Maddie safe.

  He hoped it didn’t seem selfish to pray for her safe return. He had no idea how to appropriately pray for anything or anyone. Then he remembered Maddie’s words: You don’t have to think about prayer. You just do it.

  So he did. All the way to the police station.

  * * *

  The pounding in Maddie’s head felt like someone was tapping at her skull with a blunt instrument. And it was starting to drive her nuts.

  She opened her eyes and struggled to focus. Where was she again?

  A soft glow pulsed from a gas lantern on a table across the room. The room was empty except for the table and lantern. She sat up, leaning against a wood wall. She was on the floor of a rustic cabin.

  Darkness reflected back at her through the multipaned window. It was nighttime.

  How did she end up here? The last thing she remembered was checking on Dr. Carver.

  Something was shoved against her mouth.

  She lost the ability to fight.

  Then nothing.

  Standing, she pressed her fingertips to her temples in the hopes of relieving the pain. But why was she here? What did the kidnapper want from her?

  As she went to the window, she realized she wasn’t wearing shoes, only socks. She felt for her phone but her jacket was missing, as well. Glancing across the cabin, she noted a blanket on the floor where she’d regained consciousness.

  Awfully considerate for a killer.

  She wondered how long she’d been here. Hours? Days? No, the drug wouldn’t have incapacitated her for that long.

  The light from the gas lamp flickered. From the looks of the wick, it would probably burn for only another few hours. Then complete and utter darkness would fill the cabin.

  Flurries fell from the sky as the full moon illuminated the white ground and snow-covered trees. If only she could escape the sparse one-room cabin. Thanks to the moonlight she could see well enough to find a path and hike to safety, even though she didn’t know where she was exactly. She figured getting out of the cabin and fighting the elements had to be a better choice than staying here and waiting for her captor to return.