Montoya interrupted her and pointed toward the nearby intersection where a Pima County Sheriff’s car sat stopped at the light, “If my eyes aren’t fooling me, that driver is our Deputy Ramirez, let’s go see what he’s up to.” He grabbed his cup and started quickly for his car with Lin right on his heels.
***
Ramirez was several cars ahead of them by the time they were able to exit the parking lot, but over the next several blocks they managed to narrow the gap so that they maintained visual contact. Ramirez soon turned on Ina Road and headed west toward the Interstate. At first Lin thought he might be heading north toward the construction site at Twin Peaks, but instead, he turned in the opposite direction.
“Where do you think he’s going?” she asked Montoya.
“I have no idea but I hope maybe he’s leading us to where your fiancé and his friend are being held. If DJ’s right that he didn’t speak to anyone else at the department and your feelings about him are on target then maybe he’s going to deliver the good news that you are dropping your interest in these murders in person. At least that’s what I hope is happening, the sergeant was intent on his driving.
Lin kept her eyes on the target making sure that they didn’t miss him exiting the freeway. Finally she saw him move into the right lane as they approached the Speedway Blvd. exit. “I think he may be getting ready to leave the highway,” she reported.
“I see him. Yes, he’s going to get off on Speedway,” Montoya slowed his own vehicle and moved toward the right, three vehicles between him and the deputy. As they entered the exit ramp they observed that Ramirez was turning west. Sgt. Montoya slowed so that the light would catch him. “I think I know where he may be going and I don’t want him to spot us. Traffic will be lighter here. I don’t think we’ll lose him.”
He was right. Within a few minutes they once again saw the patrol vehicle heading west in light traffic. Lin recalled that this was the route they’d taken when they went to visit the Saguaro National Park and the Desert Museum. She thought perhaps Ramirez was heading toward the scenic Gates Pass Rd. “I wonder where one could hide two hostages out here?” she was puzzled. “I’d think there’d be too many visitors around—maybe in a private home…?”
“I agree with you,” Montoya responded, “but there’s a lot of wilderness area out here as well so it’s certainly possible to find a remote location but I’m afraid I’m not too familiar with this territory—beyond the public areas, I mean.” He seemed a bit concerned and Lin began to wonder whether this might be a wild goose chase. Maybe Ramirez was not trying to contact anyone at all—perhaps he had some other purpose in mind and they were missing some important information. After all, just because DJ hadn’t observed Ramirez talking to anyone didn’t mean he hadn’t done so, perhaps he’d made contact by phone. Lin could tell that Sgt. Montoya was thinking the same thoughts.
Finally Lin voiced her concerns, “I’m not sure this is leading us anywhere.”
“You may be right,” Montoya responded, “Actually, I’m even wondering if Ramirez might’ve spotted us as we approached the exit. Maybe he’s deliberately leading us out here.” He slowed his driving a bit. They would soon be at Gates Pass Road and would have to make a decision about continuing this pursuit. Lin glanced nervously at Neal’s cell phone lying on her lap. She kept hoping for a call or a text but none came in.
At that point they reached the crest of a hilly area where the road headed down toward a wash they could see a bit further ahead. Lin spotted the sheriff’s car just as it made a right turn, heading away from Gates Pass and the park beyond. “He just turned, where’s he going?” Lin was anxious. Had Ramirez spotted them? Was he leading them out to some wilderness?
Sgt. Montoya broke into a broad smile. “I think I know where he’s going now and we’re going to follow him. I think we may be on the right track after all. I’m familiar with this area. There’s a police training center located off that road. They train the local law enforcement people and other groups can send personnel also. I’ve been there several times for training courses over the years.”
Lin interrupted, “A police training center! Why would Stevens take his hostages there? Doesn’t make sense…”
“Hold on,” Montoya had reached Camino del Oeste where Ramirez had turned. He slowed down as he turned to follow. “The training center isn’t the only facility out here. There’s an education facility, a camp operated by the school district and the university. It’s out here also and I think its programs are all during the school year. The place should be closed right now. It would make a perfect hiding place.”
Montoya slowed his pace. There was no other traffic on this road and it would be easy for Montoya to spot them. The deputy’s car was no longer visible but soon they spotted a sign indicating that Camp Cooper was down a road to the left. Sgt. Montoya made the turn and drove a short distance. When he spotted a pull out area, he pulled off the road and parked near a thicket of cholla and creosote bush where their car would be a bit less visible to anyone looking back from the road ahead. “I think we need to walk from this point if we’re going to have a chance at arriving unobserved. It’s not too far from here, though.”
He grabbed a cap from the back seat and tossed it to Lin, “Here, wear this. You shouldn’t be out in this sun with no hat. He made sure his own hat was firmly in place and then checked his weapon. As she exited the car, Lin spotted a six-pack of bottled water on the floor of the backseat. She grabbed a bottle and stuck it in her pocket. It was warm but would at least be wet. She had visions of Neal and Chris out there somewhere in the broiling heat.
Chapter 16
They began to walk slowly down the road, sticking as closely as they could to the shoulder so as to be less visible but taking care to avoid the prickly foliage that lay in wait for careless passersby. The sun was almost directly overhead now, and it didn’t take long for Lin to feel its effects. Fortunately, the humidity was a bit lower today as there were no clouds building, but still, the heat took its toll as they walked along. I just hope we’re on the right track, Lin thought. We have to find them and soon. She looked ahead but saw no sign of Ramirez’s car.
Finally Lin spotted the Camp Cooper entrance sign ahead. She turned to Montoya who had stopped walking. “OK. That’s the entrance and, unless I’m way off base, Ramirez has gone in there. I think you should stay here near the entrance while I go in to check. You might be able to steal a bit of shade behind the sign…” He started to move away.
“Not on your life,” Lin was determined, “You’re not leaving me here or anywhere. If this is the right place that’s my fiancé and his friend in there, and I’m the one responsible for the situation they’re in. Besides two sets of eyes and ears are better than one. I’m coming with you.”
Montoya shook his head but didn’t try to stop her. The entrance led into a long narrow parking lot but they saw no sign of any cars there. They proceeded as quietly as possible to the point where the actual camp loop began. As soon as they were there, Montoya pointed ahead. There, between a large ramada and an open amphitheater area, was the deputy’s patrol car, but there was no sign of Ramirez.
Montoya signaled Lin toward the ramada. There was a sign there with a map of the grounds. Lin noted that there was an office building in an area just ahead with restrooms to the right. A short distance around to the left a circular pathway led to a cluster of buildings including a kitchen, classroom and six small sleeping cabins. Beyond these a wildlife blind provided protected watching opportunities above an extensive desert wash area.
Lin stepped back from the map and surveyed the entire visible area in front of them. Even though Ramirez’s car was parked nearby she saw no sign of the man. The camp was quiet. The only sounds she detected were the desert birds that decorated the nearby cacti. Her eyes met Montoya’s but she said nothing. Maintaining his own silence, the young officer motioned for her to follow him as he crossed the path toward the amphitheater.
Indicating t
hat Lin should wait at the lowest step, Montoya climbed quietly to the top of the theater seating area. He turned carefully and scanned their surroundings, evidently hoping to see something or someone. Shaking his head to indicate he saw nothing, he carefully made his way back down to where Lin was waiting. Now he indicated that she should follow him. He led her around to the right and then behind the building that housed the restrooms.
“I can’t see any sign of anyone,” he kept his voice low. “My guess is that, if the men are here, they are in one of the sleeping cabins and I can’t think that Ramirez would have any reason to come here at all unless it had something to do with this situation. We’ll have to move quietly, but I think we should head over there and start checking out the cabins.”
Lin swallowed hard but nodded her agreement. With Montoya leading the way, they walked as quietly as they could back to the main path. Once again, he signaled her to stay still while he examined the path for footprints. Unfortunately the hard packed desert dirt didn’t reveal much of anything.
They continued on their way, past the kitchen and the classroom buildings toward the cabins. There were six of them, each bearing the name of a desert plant. He led the way toward the first cabin on the left, Jojoba. It was clear that someone had been there—the padlocked door had been kicked in and hung at an angle from broken hinges. Evidently whoever was there had left, as the dwelling was empty. Just as they arrived at the broken door they were startled by the sound of voices coming from across the road—somewhere behind the four sleeping cabins on that side. Montoya gently pushed Lin into Jojoba and away from the door. They opened the metal shutters at the cabin window, straining to try to hear the voices that drifted toward them. It was no use. They could discern that two people were talking but couldn’t determine what they were saying.
Finally, Montoya turned to Lin in frustration. “I’ve got to get closer to hear. I have my gun but you have nothing. You must stay here, out of sight, where you’ll be safe.” Lin started to protest but he put his hand gently over her mouth, “I’m serious, besides I need you here. You have a phone. If you hear anything unusual—especially gunfire—you must call 911 immediately. Tell them we are at Camp Cooper off Camino del Oeste and we need help pronto. Promise me you won’t try to follow.” He looked straight into her eyes. Lin said nothing but she nodded and pulled Neal’s cell phone from her pocket to have it handy. Within seconds Montoya was gone.
Lin watched him move silently toward the sound of those indistinguishable voices and disappear behind the first cabin. She realized that her hand that held the cell phone was shaking and hastily moved it down against her leg, hoping to quiet herself. It wouldn’t do for her to drop the phone on the concrete floor of the cabin; it was their lifeline. She decided to sit down beneath the window. That was better. She felt that she could keep still and quiet there. Maybe, if she focused she could hear what was being said in the distance. Lin could still hear voices in what sounded like a somewhat heated conversation; however, the words still eluded her.
Suddenly, the sounds changed. It seemed as if a scuffle was ensuing. Lin heard a series of grunts and groans and the sounds of a struggle. Then the sound of raised voices. “Let me go! Leave me alone!” This was followed by the sound of someone running across the hard earth. Whoever was running was headed her way. Lin rose to her knees and peered over the edge of the window. A figure emerged between two of the opposite cabins and ran directly toward Jojoba where Lin was hiding. Suddenly she heard a gunshot and watched a spray of dirt fly up in front of the runner. Then another shot hit the cabin wall right above her head. She immediately dropped to the concrete floor and punched 911 on the phone. Just as the dispatcher answered, Sam Stevens barreled through the open doorway, hit the floor, and rolled toward the rear of the cabin. His momentum carried him up against the masonry wall. He dropped hard to the floor and lay momentarily still.
Lin managed to tell the dispatcher where they were and that they needed immediate help. She saw Stevens stir and heard him moan. She quickly reached for one of the thin foam mattresses that lay on the wooden platforms along the cabin walls. She stuffed the phone in her pocket, dislodging the bottle of water at the same time—letting it bounce and roll across the floor. Lin grabbed each side of the mattress, raised it in front of her, and flung herself on top of Stevens. She sprawled across the top of the struggling man, keeping the mattress between them and pressing it as hard as she could against his chest and face. She could hear his garbled protests as he struggled for breath against the mattress. He was much heavier than she was and only the element of surprise had given her an initial advantage. Lin realized that she wasn’t going to win this struggle—eventually he would be able to shove her aside.
Seeking to take advantage while she still could, Lin decided to try reason. “Sam, Sam. This is Lin Hanna. I know you’re in trouble. I know you just want to get away from here. Help is coming. Tell me who’s after you. Why do they want to hurt you? AND where are Neal and Chris?” She realized that was a lot of questions for a struggling man with a face full of foam rubber, but she was so angry she couldn’t help herself. She was beginning to tire when she realized that Stevens seemed to no longer be struggling. She felt him relax a bit and turn his head beneath the mattress. She heard him take a deep breath as his mouth found an open space between the foam and the floor.
“Let me up and I’ll tell you what you want to know?”
“No way. You’d just start running again. Besides, you were armed the last time I saw you. If you want me to let you up you’ve got to give me your gun first.” Lin redoubled her efforts. Realizing that she could exert more pressure if she sat on the man, she drew her knees up under her and pushed down against his lower abdomen. Then she shifted her weight quickly and straddled him with her legs on either side of the mattress and her hands gripping his shoulders through the foam.
“What the fu…! What are you trying to do to me?” the struggling man sounded exhausted.. “besides, I lost the gun. Believe me. I’m not armed.”
“I don’t believe you,” Lin replied. She’d felt something hard pressing against her thigh through the foam as she’d straddled her prisoner. Now she shifted her weight slightly forward on Steven’s chest. He started struggling once more but Lin simply squeezed her legs together more tightly, somehow managing to stop him from thrashing about. She lowered her left hand from his shoulder and reached behind her leg to the point where she felt the hard object. Gathering her now waning strength, she slipped her hand beneath the mattress and pressed down on the object—hard. Stevens yelped in protest.
“I think I just found your gun,” Lin said. “Now, if you’ll start telling me the truth, I’ll take it and let you up—otherwise you’ll have to wait until the cops get here.” Lin hoped that wouldn’t be too long. Her legs were trembling and she knew she’d have to get up soon.
Stevens suddenly gave a huge sigh and Lin felt him relax beneath her. “OK. I’m done for anyway. I’ll talk to you.”
“Gun first,” Lin insisted. She felt Stevens shift his weight slightly, actually allowing her hand to reach the butt of the gun that was now hanging from his pocket. Lin’s fingers were almost asleep but she finally managed to grasp the gun and pull it toward her. When she had a decent grip on it, she got up and quickly pointed the gun toward Stevens as he lay on the floor.
“OK.” Lin kicked the thin mattress aside, “Get up now and sit down over here.” She indicated the platform with the beds. Stevens slowly got up and shuffled over to comply. He sat down and put his head in his hands. Lin realized that he’d begun to cry. She wished she had something to tie his hands with but she’d just have to hope he was ready to surrender. Just in case, she kept the gun pointed toward her prisoner. She strained to hear any sounds but met only silence. Where was the help she’d summonsed? Where was Sgt. Montoya? What about Ramirez? Most importantly where were Neal and Chris and why had she heard nothing from the other side of the camp where Montoya had headed earlier?
&nb
sp; Lin felt herself growing increasingly anxious and realized she had to stay calm. Reminding herself that help was on the way, she took a deep breath and decided to try to see what she could learn from Sam Stevens.
In a surprisingly calm voice she began, “OK Sam. I think we’ve come to the end of the line here. Tell me what I want to know. The cops will be here soon and what you tell me now will let me know whether or not I can say you’re cooperative.” She surprised herself with how much in control she sounded; she certainly didn’t feel that way. She gripped the gun with two hands to keep from shaking.
“First of all. Where did you take Neal and Chris? Where are they now?”
Stevens looked at her with eyes still full of tears, “I’m so sorry,” he sobbed. “I don’t know what I was thinking? I shouldn’t have tried to take them? I should’ve known it wouldn’t do any good? I thought they’d back off if you quit poking around but…” Lin felt herself growing impatient.
“Stop all this whining,” she blurted, “ What you did was stupid but it’s done. Now we have to help Neal and Chris. Where are they? Who has them now?”
Before she could get an answer out of Sam, Lin heard the sound of a single car motor starting up. Then there were two rapid gunshots and the sound of the car spinning in the dust and gravel. In spite of a couple more shots, she realized the car was driving away. That was Ramirez, Lin thought. He must’ve gotten back to his car but who was shooting at him?
Just then she heard the sound of someone running toward the cabin. Sgt. Montoya appeared at the door. “That was Ramirez. He got away. I don’t think I hit the car. There was too much dust for me to see clearly but I was too far away, I think.” He noticed Stevens sitting on the platform and whipped out his handcuffs. Lin breathed a sigh of relief and handed Steven’s gun over to the lawman.
Sonoran Sun Page 21
