Back-Tracker

by Bob Blink

  “Perhaps that’s why whoever hired those two thugs is being so careful,” Laney suggested. “Maybe you should take a vacation?”

  “That would only delay the inevitable,” Jake pointed out. “If someone is targeting me, they’ll wait until I have to return. I’ll have to hope whatever they do, I can counteract.”

  When the call was finished, Jake wandered back out of his study where Karin was trying to get Janna to eat her breakfast. The little girl was happily distributing the food in all directions except toward her mouth. Karin was liberally coated with kiddie breakfast as well.

  “What did they say?” she asked.

  “The men don’t know anything useful,” Jake explained. “They were simply hired help. If all had gone as planned, you and Janna would have been handed over to someone else. As it is, there are no leads. They’ll keep trying, but don’t hope for much.”

  “That means whoever is behind this might try again,” Karin said, grasping the essence of the situation.

  “Unfortunately, yes,” Jake admitted. He walked over and put his arms around his wife. “We’ll have to stay alert until something provides a clue so this can be brought to closure.”

  “You’re going to have to back-track, aren’t you?”

  “Probably, but there’s nowhere to go at the moment. We’ll just have to wait and see. The only lead that we have would require going back a full month, and then it’s a long shot. I don’t want to do that except as a last resort.”

  Karin was about to say something, when the phone rang again. She handed Jake the spoon. “See if you can get her to eat anything,” she said and walked over to answer the phone.

  Jake tried playing airplane. Often Janna thought that immensely fun and would cooperate. Obviously that wasn’t going to work this morning. Two attempts at getting something in her mouth failed.

  “Jake,” Karin said shakily.

  Something in her voice caught his attention immediately. He looked over at his wife, and saw that she was visibly pale.

  “You better take this,” she said, holding the phone toward him, her hands shaking.

  His first thought was that it somehow related to the kidnapping, but as he took the phone, Karin said softly, “It’s Cheryl. Zack is in intensive care.”

  Stunned, Jake accepted the phone. “Cheryl,” he said softly into the receiver.

  He listened for a long while, adding only a few grunts and “I sees” to the conversation.

  Karin could see the concern in Jake’s eyes as she dealt with Janna. Finally Jake spoke. His voice was soft, and she could tell he was shaken but trying to be reassuring.

  “We can fix this,” he said into the phone. “Once I’m finished, it will never have happened. Remember your mom.”

  He listened again, then said softly. “I’ll see you soon.” Then he hung up the receiver.

  “What happened?” Karin asked, her eyes dark with worry.

  “Zack’s car went off the road early this morning. He was headed up into the mountains. It’s been snowing there quite a bit, and the back road that leads into the east side of the Tetons, is steep and twisty. It was a long drop and he wasn’t discovered for some time because of the limited traffic and poor visibility. They don’t expect him to make it.”

  “Is it related to what happened here?” Karin asked.

  Jake looked at her in surprise. There was no reason it should be, but he’d been having the same thought. Coincidences happened, but he had never trusted them. First his family and now one of his best friends. It was best to assume the worst until he knew better.

  “I don’t know, but I intend to find out,” he said.

  “Why don’t you go and make reservations?” Karin suggested. “I’ll finish with Janna and start packing again.”

  Jake nodded. In the long run it wouldn’t matter if Karin went or not, since the upcoming trip wouldn’t be necessary and wouldn’t happen after he altered things. But Karin and Cheryl were close, and she’d feel better for now if Karin was there to support her.

  They flew out of Oakland International Airport across the Bay rather than San Francisco Airport. Allegrant Air had a flight from there that went directly into Idaho Falls. Jake rented a Ford Explorer with four-wheel drive and studded snow tires, and they drove out of town to the suburb where Zack and Cheryl lived. They had been here twice in the past, so Jake was familiar with the route, important today because the deep snow made it difficult to sort out the route. After dropping Karin and Janna and getting maps and details from Cheryl, Jake set out alone towards the scene of the accident. Cheryl wanted him to go to the hospital to check on Zack, but he explained it was more important he learned where and how the accident had taken place. It would be dark in a couple of hours, and that would mean he’d have to wait until the next day if he didn’t get moving right away. He was haunted by the desperation in Cheryl’s eyes, and found comfort in the fact this would all go away soon.

  Fortunately the snow had let up since morning, and while the road was rough with compacted snow, it wasn’t deep which might prevent him from getting where he needed to go. An hour and a half after he’d left the house, he found the broken side rail where Zack had gone over the side. He drove past a hundred yards before he found a place he could pull over and be off the road, although with no cars in sight he probably could have parked on the highway.

  The snow crunched as he walked back to the broken railing. A few flakes were starting to fall again. He’d probably end up driving home in the snow. When he reached the spot, he stopped and looked down into the ravine beyond the broken railing. Two of the six inch square posts had been ripped from the earth, and the foot high metal band that was normally attached to serve as the barrier had been twisted and torn loose from the higher end. The roadway was inclined downward at this point, the crest fifty yards farther up the road back toward Idaho Falls.

  Jake looked down the ravine. Snow had partially covered the damage done as the pickup crashed and rolled down the incline. A couple of smaller trees were broken and lying on their side in the snow. Far below, near the bottom of the hill, Zack’s broken pickup still remained. It was on one side, the bottom with the four wheels facing toward him. He couldn’t see much from this angle, but he could sense the violence of the descent.

  Jake walked along the roadway looking for anything that might provide insight into what had happened, but all sign had long ago been wiped away. Several inches of snow had supposedly fallen since this morning when it had happened, and multiple cars had been here after Zack was discovered and people had gone down to retrieve him. The snow had obliterated anything useful.

  Jake considered going down and having a look, but he wasn’t an expert in these things, and he doubted the broken truck would tell him anything useful. He had a more direct means of seeing what had happened. Instead, Jake scouted the far side of the road for a spot that would be useful and concealed from which he could watch the point where Zack had gone over. He found a relatively flat spot a few dozen feet up the hill and twenty-five yards farther along the road. He was in for a cold wait, and would have to bring the proper clothes, but he’d be able to see exactly what had transpired from there. He headed back toward where he had parked, walking past and continuing up the road on foot until he found a more concealed spot where he could leave the car where it would be out of sight of the road. Perhaps he was being foolish, but even Karin had had the same thought. Was this an accident, or was it related to what had happened in San Jose?

  He drove straight back to the airport in Idaho Falls. He already had a reservation back to California. He didn’t bother with turning in the vehicle. He went inside and ordered something to eat, and while he waited he called Karin and told her he had made the trip and was now heading home. It was two in the morning when he finally drove into his own driveway.

  Once inside the house, he back-tracked to the day before.

  “How did it happen?” Karin asked when he explained about the call they would receive the ne
xt morning.

  “That’s what I need to find out,” he explained. “I went and had a look at the crash sight when we went to see Cheryl tomorrow. There was little to be seen, but I know where it is and can be in place to watch.”

  “You aren’t going to simply warn Zack?”

  “Eventually. First I want to see what happened. Hopefully it was simply a loss of control, in which case it will be simple enough to stop him. If it’s more, I need to know.”

  “Are we going with you?”

  “Not this time,” Jake said. “I won’t be going to Zack and Cheryl’s when I get there, and I can’t see you and Janna sitting out in the storm for several hours. It will also be easier to move quickly alone. I’ll let you know what happens. If you want, I can make reservations for you two to fly up tomorrow when this is all over.”

  Karin thought for a moment, then nodded. “We can take a taxi to the airport. You’ll pick us up on the other end?”

  “That’ll work,” Jake agreed.

  He went into the study and made the necessary reservations while Karin saw to packing the items he said he’d need. He arrived in Idaho Falls around ten that night. Equipped with another rental Ford, he drove to a small hotel he’d seen just out of town and checked in. He had picked up some fast food that would serve both as dinner and breakfast in the morning, and settled in for a couple hours sleep. He would have to be on his way by two AM to be in place before Zack arrived.

  It was cold. The small one-man tent helped block the wind and the heavy down jacket and snow pants helped, but the wind was whipping the snow through the mountain pass with determination. No snow was falling at the moment. That would happen later in the morning. For now, the wind was simply redistributing what was already on the ground. Most of the snow on the highway had been blown away. For a while Jake had been concerned he wouldn’t be able to see across the road, but as daylight approached he was able to see through the murk and falling snow across the highway to where Zack would go over the edge.

  He checked his watch, the hands glowing in the semi-darkness. No one knew exactly when the accident had taken place, but estimating the driving time and when Zack had left home, the window was now open. Jake waited and watched, knowing he would see Zack’s headlights before anything else.

  Ten minutes later he saw the first indication that a vehicle was coming. He tensed, and waited expectantly. It turned out to be a Toyota Sequoia, making its way down the slippery road. The snow was only a couple of inches deep, but Jake had discovered a layer of ice underneath as he’d made the drive himself.

  Another fifteen minutes passed before he saw another set of headlights. This had to be Zack. Tense with expectation, Jake watched as his friend’s vehicle crossed the crest of the hill and started downward. Zack was moving faster than conditions warranted, and in a moment Jake saw why. A large semi, the kind that hauled commercial trailers, was right on his tail. The massive big rig wasn’t encumbered with a trailer, and seemed intent on pushing Zack off the road.

  As they started down the incline, Jake watched as the large semi truck accelerated and pulled out and around Zack as if to pass. Zack slowed somewhat, as if relieved to have the beast off his tail, but suddenly the massive vehicle swerved into Zack, using the huge shinny bumper to smash into Zack’s truck, pushing him toward the railing. With single-minded determination, the huge truck kept the bumper against Zack’s vehicle, using its mass and traction to push the smaller vehicle toward the edge of the road. Jake could see that Zack’s vehicle had lost traction and was sliding easily. It struck the railing solidly, and as the big rig continued to press, was pushed through the railing and over the edge. With a squeal of air brakes, the big vehicle slid to a stop, then backed up and stopped again next to where Zack had gone over. After a moment’s hesitation, the engine revved, and the heavy vehicle started to move once again, and it continued down the road the direction it had been headed.

  Jake had his answer. It had been no accident. The truck was already disappearing down the road. Jake jumped up and started running down the highway toward where he had parked his own vehicle. He had to hurry, although he couldn’t help being aware that his good friend was lying down the hill behind him, in great pain, and already dying. His instincts told him he had to back-track and end the suffering for Zack.

  Focus, he told himself. This won’t happen, but before changing it, there were things to be learned. His lungs burning from running in the cold, he yanked open the door to the rented Explorer, and started the engine. Blowing snow had covered the windshield, but fortunately it was powdery, and a couple of passes by the wipers pushed in away. He had parked so that he could drive straight out onto the road, and turned in the direction of the retreating truck. He moved as fast as he dared, feeling the treacherous ice beneath the snow tires. He drove with his lights out, relying on the growing light of the approaching dawn to show the way. He could periodically still see the faint lights of the truck ahead as it followed the twists and turns of the road. Jake closed the distance until he was certain he couldn’t lose the large vehicle, and then followed behind, trying not to think of poor Zack behind him.

  Hang on Zack. I need to do this for both of us.

  Jake hoped that Zack was unconscious and unaware of what had been done to him.

  They drove for an hour before the trucker stopped at a gas station, parking off to the side away from the pumps. Jake held back and waited until the man went inside the bathroom alongside the main building before closing the distance. He parked nearby and walked behind the truck. All of the truck’s large tires had heavy-duty chains, which explained the traction the vehicle had demonstrated. Jake checked the bumper and saw there were signs of paint, but the heavy metal had barely been scratched by the encounter down the highway. Jake memorized the truck license, and then waited for the driver to return.

  Jake had been thinking as he followed, and he had come to the conclusion there was little the driver was going to reveal. The way he was headed would mean hours before he reached any destination where he could hide the truck or see to cleaning up the evidence. There were other ways to question the man now that Jake had a way to find him before all this happened. Jake waited as the man started back to the truck before he suddenly stepped out, placing the sharp blade of his knife against the man’s throat.

  “Your phone and wallet,” Jake ordered.

  The man was large and tried to struggle, but submitted after Jake let the knife bite deep enough to draw blood. Taking the two items, Jake pushed the man away, and ran back to the Explorer, which was still running. He accelerated away from the gas station, down the road back the way they had come. The truck driver was going to find he wouldn’t be starting his truck in a hurry if he had any idea of trying to follow.

  When Jake drove past the point where Zack had gone over, he felt another twang of guilt, but knew the best way to help was to get back to town where he could prevent this from happening. Clearly no one had discovered the accident as yet, and Zack was still down there in the crushed pickup.

  A long time later he pulled into the parking lot of the small hotel where he’d spent part of the night. He went into his room, turning on the light. He spent five minutes memorizing the driver’s name and address, and scanning through the phone numbers on the cell.

  Then he back-tracked to the time he’d arrived at the room the night before.

  Jake rubbed his temples as the knowledge of what was going to happen filled his memories. He picked up his gear and headed back out to the Explorer. He started the still warm engine, and drove away, this time heading back toward Idaho Falls. Zack and Cheryl would be surprised to see him. Zack wouldn’t be going anywhere tonight, and in the morning before Karin arrived, he would call Carlson and tell her what had happened.

  Chapter 3

  It was close to midnight when Jake pulled the rental SUV into the familiar driveway at the house of his good friends, his mind still trying to fit what he’d learned tonight into some kind of reasonab
le sense. He lacked too much information. Maybe it was as simple as Zack having made enemies since moving up here, but somehow Jake didn’t believe that. He was pleased to see that the pickup he’d seen forced over the road edge in the mountains was still parked in the driveway, which meant he had arrived before Zack had set off on his fateful trip. The snow was unmarked behind the pickup, indicating the truck had been in place since the snow had started. It was coming down much more heavily here than it had been in the mountain pass earlier. The front must be moving from west to east.

  Jake pushed open the door, feeling a number of snowflakes land on the exposed part of his arm. He swung his legs out and stepped into the snow, closing the door behind him. The snow crunched under his boots as he walked around the front of the vehicle and made for the front door. He stamped his feet on the concrete porch once he stepped under the roof overhang and reached an area where the snow hadn’t settled. The house was dark, and he could hear the doorbell as it dinged inside. He pressed it twice, separated by a few seconds since it was likely Zack and Cheryl were asleep.

  A light went on the second level off to the right. That was their bedroom, so they’d heard the bell. Jake waited patiently, and then saw the curtain by the door pushed aside as someone inside looked outside to see who it was. The door opened almost immediately.

  “Jake!” exclaimed a surprised Cheryl. Zack was standing behind her, slipping a handgun into his belt.

  Cheryl looked behind him as if searching for someone.

  “Karin? Janna?” she asked. She looked worried. Jake hadn’t announced his plan to arrive, and the middle of the night was hardly normal.

  “Just me,” he replied, stepping inside as she backed in and waved him into the house.

  Cheryl closed the door behind him and Zack extended his hand. “It’s been a while, Jake. What brings you here in the middle of the night? Is everything okay?”