 
### DUPLICITTY

Book 1

### a Desperate Rescue

Revised Edition

Peggy Lea Baker

Published at www.Smashwords.com

Copyright 2019 Peggy Lea Baker

_DUPLICITY – a DESPERATE RESCUE_ is a fictional work. Names, characters, places, and incidents may be real or imaginary and used with permission where required. Similarities to persons, living or dead, or specific businesses or events, are unintentional, coincidental, or used with permission. Similarly, general locations are used with permission, or fall within public domain rules, regulations, or law.

All rights reserved.

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# ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thank you to these individuals, for their diligence, keen eye, and enthusiasm

Margaret Snider – Editor

Candice Smith – BETA Reader

Charene Zimos – BETA Reader

Susan Martin – BETA Reader

Lauren Haugan – BETA Reader

# CHAPTER 1

A muffled hum of unfamiliar sounds roused Janet. She opened her eyes with a start. It was dark. She sat straight up in the bed, confused, wondering what woke her. A thin vertical line of light at the draped window suggested sunlight, but what time was it? She felt around the bed, unfamiliar with the stiff feel of the sheets and rough texture of a blanket then suddenly remembered, and looked at the thin streak of light once again. Instantly on her feet she torn open the drapes at a single window and blinked in the bright sunlight of an early spring morning.

Her silver-gray compact car was parked right outside, its grill splattered with the remains of unsuspecting insects colliding with her vehicle during miles and miles of a desperate drive the night before. She rubbed her eyes and blinked to focus again. Across the street were a few shops, not yet open for business while a well-used pickup truck loaded with ladders and other equipment slowly made its way along, headed north, it seemed, based on the location of the rising sun. She watched until it disappeared from view beyond an adjacent building located closer to the street.

"Motel," Janet said quietly as she slowly began to recall the events of the night before.

Eyeing the building, now in the light of day, she remembered pulling into the parking area in the middle of the night, stopping under a covered portico, pressing a button to call the motel manager to pay for a room. She remembered groggily slumping onto the bed, completely exhausted from her frantic ordeal, soon lost in troubled sleep.

Now it was morning and Janet was fully awake. From the window, she surveyed the exterior of the motel. It was L-shaped with most of the rooms set back from the street sufficiently to accommodate a small parking area. The short portion of the building jutted out to the street and supported a sign mounted to the roof— _Cold Creek Motel_.

Janet immediately remembered why she was here. "Sally," she said in a quiet whisper.

She turned around to take inventory of the room but struggled with her thoughts and the unexpected disappearance of her best friend from that party. _If we had just stayed home or gone out for pizza instead,_ she scolded with herself.

Janet eyed the rumpled bed and a dresser against a wall across from the foot of it. A television was mounted to the top of the dresser. A cheaply reproduced painting of a tropical island beach hung slightly askew above the head of the bed. There was an end table on either side, each with a lamp securely mounted to them. Finally, a small round table was shoved into the front corner of the room, next to where she stood, with one worn-looking chair pushed up to it.

Across from where she stood, on the opposite side of the room, was the vanity, and a small recessed area to the left of it serving as a closet. To the right, a partially open door to the bathroom.

Janet Feldman. Twenty-one years old. Five feet six inches tall. Hazel eyes. Slender, with soft brown hair that hung long down her back to her shoulder blades. She slumped onto the side of the bed, completely despondent. Tears turned to sobs as a flood of memories overtook her thoughts like a freight train racing out of control. The party. A Bel Air mansion. An invitation she had received in the mail quite unexpectedly. Her best friend, Sally Irwin, elated when she found out and insisted they both attend. _"Just this once,"_ she had pleaded, eager at the possibility of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the life of the rich and famous of Hollywood.

Sally. Impetuous with the tendency of running headlong into just about anything without contemplating the consequences, good or bad. Janet was accustomed to Sally's impulsive nature, fed by whims and spontaneous decisions, but little did she expect that this time, the consequences of yielding to such fantasies was more than either of them could have possibly imagined.

"Just this once," Janet repeated. "I should have said no. I should have destroyed the invitation. In fact, I should never have shown it to her. Why did I agree we attend?" She lay back onto the bed, her legs dangling over the edge and stared up at the ceiling. "Where are you, Sally?"

Janet closed her eyes and allowed her mind to revisit the previous evening once again. When they arrived at the large Bel Air mansion situated in the hills above Los Angeles, they found the winding road leading up to the party venue lined with parked cars on the left side, barely leaving enough space to drive by. After some maneuvering, they managed to turn around and find a place to park on the downhill side and at a fair distance from the driveway entrance of the impressive estate. Sounds emanating from the mansion were audible but not excessively so, but by the time they reached a line of eager attendees, the steady beat and rhythm of something posing as music grew louder. They joined a line of eager attendees, waiting to enter the house, and indulge in whatever awaited.

The memories continued to come. She remembered gazing out behind the slow-moving line of people through eucalyptus trees, beyond neatly trimmed hedges, and over the roofline of a nearby home, to catch a partial view of the Los Angeles metropolis stretched out below. What little she could see dazzled, sparkled, and glowed. A tall downtown building with its staggered patterns of window lights, were set against a dark sky, with a faint suggestion of a rising moon on its way.

The line inched forward and someone from behind nudged her. Janet broke her gaze and apologized then refocused on the massive home looming ahead. Although still uncomfortable about their decision to attend, she marveled at the excessive opulence and wondered how anyone could possibly afford such a home. The line moved again and she took a couple of steps forward, with Sally on her right side, while the music continued its unending and frenetic cacophony. The mounting excitement of those around them was nearly electrifying.

Soon it was their turn. It was Sally who handed the elegant invitation to the man at the door. Janet remembered his expression when he glanced at the card. His eyes brightened and fixed on Sally. He offered her a warm smile and took her by the hand to personally lead her inside, temporarily abandoning his post at the door.

"Janet," he had said over the din. "Welcome."

Janet remembered Sally's attempt to correct him, but without success, as she willingly followed him further into a mayhem of gyrating bodies and pulsating strobe lights. Janet trailed behind altogether ignored by the tall, nice looking, sandy-haired, and well-built man. She wondered his age but was immediately distracted by a change in the turbulent cadence of music and then at the sight of Sally's nice figure begin to move to the deep-pitched throbbing beat as the man continued to hold her hand and lead her further into the massive, but crowded open space. Sally was completely captivated by everything and everyone around her. Her escort then excused himself and left her side to return to his post at the door. Almost immediately, another man approach Sally and also took her hand, leading her deeper into the surging mass of entwined bodies.

Janet remembered pressing into the crush of people trying to keep an eye on her friend who was a year older than she, but slightly shorter at five feet three inches tall. Her blonde hair framed a pretty face with blue eyes that crinkled when she smiled, a smile accompanied by spontaneous dimples. Altogether it complemented her shapely figure.

With strobe lights flashing erratically, and with little other light to see by, any effort to keep an eye on Sally was difficult in the press of people fully engaged in exaggerated dance moves. Directly beyond the crowded foyer space and between two large curving staircases to the upstairs, as well as wide-open expanses off to both sides, she could see more people. Within it all, the party guests jostled, gyrated, drank, and hollered over the clamor of noise masquerading as music.

Above their heads, Janet noted the crystals of a magnificent chandelier. It caught the light of the pulsating strobes, refracting it into thousands of sparkling colors playing against every surface in the grand space. It was surreal.

The raucous music was too loud. Even so, scantily dressed women teased anyone watching with exaggerated and suggestive moves while men dressed in tight pants and shirts unbutton down their chests, kept hungry eyes glued to their every move.

Janet stared at the scene and sensed an escalation in a state of extreme excitement. It unnerved her. _We shouldn't be here_ , she thought immediately. _"It isn't safe here."_

Janet blinked, returning to her present circumstances. The bright morning sunlight streamed in through the window and she tried to pull her thoughts back to the present. "It wasn't safe. We shouldn't have been there." She rubbed her forehead then stood up. Standing at the window she stared at the name of the motel. "Cold Creek. I'm in Cold Creek. But is Sally?"

Although staring out the window, she was oblivious to anything going on outside. Instead, her troubled thoughts continued to surface as she recalled her frantic efforts to find Sally. She had searched every conceivable place, listening for voices at every room and tried door knobs, once stumbling upon a couple actively intertwined on the floor and oblivious to her. She immediately withdrew and continued her search, growing more and more uneasy. She remembered seeing a few people head upstairs using either of the two sweeping staircases. A couple of people bumped into her and excitedly took her arms.

"Come on," one woman had said. "The best part of the party is just beginning. Upstairs!"

Janet recalled attempting to explain she needed to find her friend while at the same time attempting to pull away. She also remembered they insisted her 'friend' was probably already up there. With measured reluctance, Janet followed, hoping they were right about Sally.

Although she didn't consider herself especially naïve or unsophisticated, that changed in an instant. Like a strong river current, the press of people swept her into a large room. She could see a wall of windows facing the outside darkness. Inside the room, subdued perimeter lighting drew everyone's attention to a bright beam of light from a single recessed ceiling light. Like a spotlight it cast its glow on something in the center of the room. As the crowd shifted and moved, Janet caught a glimpse of a large round, oak-framed glass-topped coffee table directly below the light. It nearly glistened and it was then she saw the neatly arranged short and narrow rows of white powder. It was almost like looking at a shrine or an altar and she watched as a couple of people knelt down to partake of the addictive substance.

The room was stifling. Oppressive. Those who had already taken their turn at the table sat sprawled on sofas, stretched out on the floor, or propped up against a wall. The group grew in numbers and so had the level of anxious anticipation. Fortunately, her impromptu escorts abandoned her to mix in with the crush of excited people pressing closer to the table.

Janet snapped back to the present moment again as she reacted to a barking dog from somewhere outside the motel room. Even so, the images persisted. She closed her eyes and shuddered at the memory then shook her head in an effort to make them go away, but they didn't.

Now, as if held in a captive trance, she returned to her thoughts and remembered people pushing past her as she kept stepping back out of the way while she desperately scanned the room hoping to see Sally. She remembered being pressed up against the door of the room and how she kept moving out of the way as others continued to push in. She remembered waiting for two more people to enter before slipping out and shoving her way back downstairs against a stream of those going up. She remembered reaching the bottom of the stairs and hurrying to the room where she and Sally had left their sweaters and purses.

The flood of memories continued as she recalled digging into a pile of coats, sweaters, scarves, and bags, elated to find Sally's items first, then her own. She remembered leaving the room wearing her own sweater and with her purse slung over her shoulder while clutching Sally's sweater and purse to her chest. And she remembered the overwhelming need to get outside and to some fresh air.

The sounds and smells, the raucous music and strobe lights; people swept up in a din and crush of something out of control and nearly unnatural, collided into something she had never felt before in her life and she was terrified. She remembered pushing and shoving her way out the front door and the overpowering need to run as far away from everything as fast as she could. But what about Sally?

Janet remembered standing on the wide front porch of the house and staring at the sight of an accumulation of vehicles parked in every conceivable space alongside the edges of the impressive drive. She remembered drinking in the cool air of the evening but still consumed by her increasing fears for Sally. Finally, she remembered seeing two men coming from a shadowy side of the home half carrying and half dragging a nearly lifeless woman. They quickly headed down the driveway and past the massive wrought iron gate, still wide open that led to the street. It was in that moment that she recognized the woman's dress and the blonde hair and it sent a chill down her spine. _It was Sally!_

"Sally," Janet uttered, suddenly feeling the increased heat of the sunlight streaming through the motel window. Angrily she closed the drape and spun around to face the interior of her room.

"I have to find her! I have to!"

Janet marched to the vanity to dampen a wash cloth. She wiped her face and neck then stared at her reflection in the mirror, disgusted at what she saw. Her hair was askew, the party dress she'd slept in, rumpled, and dark circles under her eyes. "It all happened so fast. Too fast. I couldn't do anything!"

A horn honked out at the street. Janet rushed back to the window and parted the drapes. Cold Creek. There didn't seem to be much to it. She examined what little she could see from the window and noticed that some of the small businesses across the street were now open; lit up ready and waiting for customers. One, in particular, sold clothing. On one side of it was a hardware store and on the other side, a small appliance business.

To the right and next door to the motel she could make out part of a sign peeking up over the roof of the motel suggesting it was a restaurant. There wasn't much else she could see from her vantage point.

She closed the drapes again, let out a sigh, and sat down on the side of the bed to take stock of her situation. Before leaving the congested roads of the Los Angeles area, she managed to get close enough to the sedan to see it was the same dark blue one she followed down out of the Bel Air hills and was able to see the license plate.

Janet jumped up. "License plate number!" She hurried to the dresser and found a small pad of paper and a nondescript pen. She quickly wrote down the plate number as she remembered it and let out a very heavy sigh. "At least I have a clue to share with law enforcement," she said and re-read the figures she'd written – QCR 005. She realized it was a custom plate based on the space between the letters and numbers. Besides, generic California license plate IDs always began with a number followed by three letters and three numbers without spaces.

She faced the vanity at the far end of the room again. "Hiding in this room and feeling sorry for myself won't find Sally."

She disrobed and carefully arranged her dress on a towel rod in the bathroom, hoping the steam from a hot shower would help eliminate some of the wrinkles, then stepped into the hot water and let it cascade down her back. Half an hour later, she was toweled dry and checked her dress. "Better," she said, but left it hanging in the bathroom.

Wrapped in a large towel, Janet used a second one to dry her hair and again fell victim to her thoughts. But this time she hoped to come up with some kind of a plan to find her friend, assuming Sally was nearby. In the process, she realized chasing after the blue sedan wasn't the smartest thing she could have done. She should have called the police immediately but didn't. At the time, it made more sense to her to keep following the car so she wouldn't lose sight of it, fully expecting them to stay in the Los Angeles area. But by the time she realized they were headed north and out of town; she chose to keep following. At around two o'clock in the morning, she noticed she was nearly out of fuel. The idea of running out of gas and being stranded in the dark and foreboding landscape was not in her best interest. At the same time, stopping to gas up would put her even further behind the blue sedan.

A couple of miles further ahead, she pulled into a large and self-service gas station with a roof high enough to accommodate large trucks stopping for diesel fuel on their long treks north and south. Although exhausted, and frustrated by the delay as she impatiently stood at the pump, watching a flurry of moths doggedly flit around the bright overhead lights. Alone and confused, Janet realized she would need to make a decision – keep going or turn back; find a law enforcement officer, and report the abduction. The pump clicked off. She replaced the nozzle and made the decision to keep going.

Hunger pulled Janet back to the present once again. She was growing weary of the unending loop of images that continue to plague in her thoughts. She needed to do something constructive; something that could help her find Sally.

Janet, put on her party dress and shoes, checked the time, and made sure she had her room key before she stepped out into the warmth of the new day. It was just after eight o'clock and the aroma emanating from Rosie's Cafe next door beckoned. She noticed there was only one other vehicle in the motel parking lot as she set off for Rosie's. It was a pickup truck and well-used, but otherwise unremarkable and certainly not the blue the sedan she had been following.

At the street, Janet glanced over her shoulder to the west then turned to look and hesitated a moment. High mountain peaks glistened in the morning sunlight. _Of course,_ she thought. _The Sierra Nevada range._ Some of the higher peaks still sported snow packs left over from winter storms, in addition to permanent, albeit, small glaciers tucked into protected steep canyons and crevices at the highest elevations.

Settling into a booth at a front window in the cafe, Janet gazed out to the street and beyond. The few buildings across the street, and some trees behind them blocked some of the view, but she could still see parts of a barren-looking mountain range across the valley to the east. Although not as spectacular as the massive range to the west, they still rose high enough to make an impression of their own. Very few vehicles moved along the main street outside but she could see traffic moving in both directions on the highway not far away; the same one she'd traverse during the night.

The waitress greeted her with a menu. "Good morning. I'm Rosie. Take your time. I'll be back in a few minutes. Is there anything I can get for you in the meantime? Coffee?"

"Some water would be fine for now," Janet said and returned Rosie's smile then waited as she walked away before taking a look at the menu. She quickly made a decision then set it down and waited.

Rosie returned with her water. "Ready?"

"Yes. I'd like the breakfast special, please."

"Popular choice," Rosie said with another grin. "It won't take long."

Rosie was right, and soon brought Janet her meal. Janet sat deep in thought as she slowly ate her breakfast. When finally finished, Rosie reappeared to collect the dishes and ask if she needed anything else.

"No, thank you," Janet replied quietly.

Rosie started to leave and Janet stopped her. "Is there a sheriff I can talk to?"

Rosie stopped with a look of surprise. "A sheriff?"

"Yes. Or some kind of law enforcement?"

"I can probably get a hold of the deputy. Is there a problem?"

"I just need to talk to someone."

Rosie nodded. "I'll make the call."

Twenty minutes later Janet was standing next to her car talking to Deputy Bernie Walters.

"You say your friend was abducted?" he asked. "And where again?"

"Bel Air. You know, the Los Angeles area. Hollywood."

Deputy Walters nodded. "And what did you say your name is?"

"Janet. Janet Feldman."

The deputy paused a moment without looking up then wrote it down. "And this here is the license number of the car you were following." He held up the piece of paper and waved it slightly.

"Yes."

"And the vehicle was dark blue."

"Yes."

"Four door sedan."

"Yes." Janet was growing impatient.

"Well, alrighty, then. I think I got it all. You sticking around? In case we have any other questions?" He looked at her.

"I guess I could. For maybe a day or two, but I do have a job to get back to on Monday."

The deputy eyed her closely but in a way that made Janet feel uncomfortable. "So, you'll be here at the motel?"

"Y-Yes."

"You got a phone number?"

Janet paused. "You can contact me here at the motel. Room six."

"Okay." He looked her over one more time. "We'll be gettin' back to you _real_ soon."

Janet felt an involuntary shiver as she watched the deputy drive away, but shook it off considering it was just her nerves, given everything that had happened. She took a moment to call her boss and leave a message She explained that a family emergency came up unexpectedly and that she may not be able to come into work on Monday. She would keep her posted. Janet liked her boss and knew she would be was sympathetic.

In a tiny office in a building behind Rosie's café, Sheriff Wilcox paced in his cluttered office. He was slightly balding, short, rotund, and with large jowls that jiggled when he talked. "What did you say her name was again?" he asked, holding a clipboard in his left hand.

"Janet Feldman," Deputy Walters replied.

He ran a finger down a list of names and stopped. "You sure?"

"That's what she told me. Janet Feldman." Deputy Walters checked his notes again. "Says so right here," he said tapping his small notepad. "I wrote it down."

Sheriff Wilcox spun around, his face red, temper rising. "You got the wrong girl!" he shouted at two nicely attired men. _"The wrong girl!"_

"But we grabbed the one who had the special invitation!" one of them replied. "She handed it to me at the door!" He was tall, with sandy brown hair, wearing light brown slacks and a button-down shirt in a solid light blue color, but open at the neck.

"Was anyone else with her?" The sheriff's eyes bore into both of them.

"I suppose it's possible," he said and glanced at his companion who was about the same height but with darker brown hair. He was wearing a similar blue polo shirt, and slacks. "There were a lot of people there!" he said defensively. All you said to do was look for those special invitations. That they were the girls you wanted!"

"Yes, well, lucky for you she followed you here. Now all we gotta do is go pick her up."

"How would she have known to follow us?" the second man asked.

Sheriff Wilcox looked at them both and shook his head in disgust. "You know, for a couple of college guys, yer not all that smart." He walked around to his desk and sat down. "She probably saw you cartin' her friend away and took off after you, that's how."

"Do we still get paid for the blonde?"

Sheriff Wilcox looked up and leaned back in his chair thinking. He drew in a deep breath then let it out through his large nose. "You bring me Janet Feldman and I'll pay you for both, but only when you bring me the Feldman woman." He looked down at his desk and began to rummage through some papers. "Now git outta here."

Both men left, but Deputy Walters hung back. "Anything else I kin do fer ya, Sheriff?"

Sheriff Wilcox sat quietly for a moment and looked up. "Yes. You keep an eye on that Janet Feldman gal. If you need to, git some help. Ask them young boys for starters. You know the ones. Jake and Seth. If you bring her to me first, I'll pay you, instead of them prissy college boys."

"Yes, sir! I'll go git her right now. I'll tell her we found her friend."

"That's a good idea, but Bernie, no blabbering about this around town. Don't even explain to them boys what yer doing other than looking for a missing person. Something like that. You understand?"

"Yes, sir. I understand. Like I said. I'll go git her right now."

"Okay, now you git outta here too. I got stuff to do."

Finished with her breakfast, Janet headed back to the motel then eyed the clothing store across the street. She decided to go see what she could find to wear instead of her dress. The proprietor looked at her with raised eyebrows as she entered, but said nothing. He kept an eye on her, though, as she wandered through his establishment. She noticed a rack of jeans and shirts in the back. Most were for men but a small section offered women's sizes. She selected a pair, and found a couple of button-up shirt, then looked for socks and shoes. Socks were plentiful, but footwear was limited. Mostly cowboy boots or work boots.

"Do you carry any walking or running shoes?" she asked.

"No, ma'am." He didn't smile.

"Does anyone in town sell them?"

"Try Crowley's down the street," he said and jerked a thumb in that direction.

Janet nodded. "Is there a place I can try these on?"

"Just the bathroom in the back."

She glanced over her shoulder then back at the man. "If I buy these but they don't fit, can I return them?"

He looked at her with narrowed eyes. "You staying at the motel across the street?"

"Yes."

He glanced out the front windows. "Go try them on, but come right back."

"Thank you," Janet said.

The proprietor waited until she was outside before picking up the phone and making a call. "I think one of your girls got loose," he said. "She's in my store looking to buy some clothes." He listened. "I will."

Fifteen minutes later, Janet was back and paid for the clothing, including the socks, hoping she'd find shoes at the other store.

"You fixin' to stay in town for a while?" the proprietor asked.

"Perhaps another night." She eyed him curiously.

He nodded. "Going up to the trailheads?"

"Trailheads?"

He pointed out towards the towering mountains. "We got trails going up into the mountains, even to Whitney. Popular activity around here. Folks come from all over to hike up there."

"Oh, well, maybe I should check into that. Thanks." Although curious about his question, she didn't give it much thought, other than _no, not going for a hike in the mountains_. She was also curious about the change in his demeanor.

Returning to her room, she noticed the pickup truck was gone and a housekeeper was cleaning a unit, probably where that guest had stayed the night. On impulse, she approached and tapped on the open door.

The housekeeper looked up. She was middle-aged, and not too tall, plump with tired eyes and graying hair. Janet judged her to be in her fifties.

"Yes?" she asked.

"Is there a laundromat in town? A place where I can wash my clothes?"

A few minutes later, still in her party dress and shoes, she walked down the street to the next corner then west a block where she found a tiny laundromat. Waiting for her wash load to finish, she contemplated her circumstances and thought about Deputy Walters again. Another shiver, but again, she pushed it away attributing it to stress and uncertainty about Sally.

Nearly an hour and a half later, her clothes were ready. Grateful, Janet put down the second of two very dated gossip magazines she found lying on a counter. She was anxious to return to her room and change into her new clothing. Hesitating a moment, though, she walked to the far end of the row of washing machines, away from the front, and watched out the window to the street. There was very little traffic and no one else in the laundromat. On impulse, she quickly pulled on the slacks under her dress, then crouched down, out of view to pull off the dress and slip into one of the shirts still nicely warm from the dryer. Buttoning it quickly she stood up, folded up her dress, the extra shirt, and socks then set out for the motel. Except for her party shoes, she felt more comfortable and much less conspicuous.

As Janet rounded the corner and headed back on the main street, she slowed then stopped. A sheriff's car sat parked at the motel and next to hers. That same uneasy feeling came over her and she decided to wait and watch. It was then she noticed she was standing in front of Crowley's and quickly stepped inside to look around. Off to the left and in the back corner of the store she spotted walking shoes on display against a wall.

Minutes later, and in a new pair of shoes, she collected a bag with a few other items, including a warmer jacket and stepped back outside to peer down the street at the motel. The sheriff's car was gone. With care, she walked the remaining distance, slipped into her room, and quietly closed the door, making sure the secondary lock was set.

"What's wrong with me?" she asked herself. "I wanted help, so why am I so nervous about talking to the deputy again? He might have good news." Then she thought about her first encountered with him and how uncomfortable he made her feel. _He just seemed weird; especially the way he looked at me._ She paused within her thoughts then uttered her friend's name. "Sally. If he did have good news, I'd want to know." She decided to go talk to the motel manager first. Perhaps Deputy Walters left a message.

Back in her room, Janet quickly locked the door. There was no message for her other than the motel manager said the deputy had some more questions to ask. _More questions? What more could I tell him?_ She shivered involuntarily as a foreboding swept over her. "I already told him everything I know."

She rubbed her forehead and began to pace. A mild headache began to form as she struggled to make sense of everything. Reality suddenly hit her hard. She realized the futility and foolishness of chasing an unknown car through the night.

"What was I going to do if I found that car and Sally in it? Demand they let her go?" She shook her head. "I should have called the police. I should have let someone else chase and apprehend them." She struggled with her foolish decision and how everything began to degrade. "And was I even following the right car?" Janet suddenly felt horrified at her next thought. "What if they never did leave Los Angeles? What if they are still there, somewhere, while I'm a couple of hundred miles away? What if I _was_ following the wrong car!

Janet stopped pacing. Tears came. "I am so stupid. So crazy to think I could find and rescue her on my own." Stubbornly wiping away the tears, Janet stepped to the window and partially pulled back one of the drapes to stare outside, now reeling in full disbelief at her spontaneous and foolish decision. She finally let the drape fall back into place. "Now what do I do?"

Breakfast was already beginning to wear off, especially after her shopping spree, such as it was, and the time spent at the laundromat. She was emotionally drained and the headache persisted. And as was her habit, stress and anxiety usually led to a snack attack. But since there was nothing in her room to eat, her next best option was Rosie's Cafe again.

Dressed in her new attire, she slid into the same booth where she could watch the occasional vehicle drive by or someone walk along the sidewalk. Even so, there wasn't all that much to look at. She scoured the menu, made a selection then set it aside to wait for Rosie to come take her order. _Maybe I'll go for a drive after lunch. Clear my thoughts. Decide what to do._

Rosie took Janet's lunch order then returned a short while longer to linger and talk. "It's gonna be a nice day today. Not too hot."

"That's good."

"Are you sticking around for a while or moving on?"

"Hmm? Oh, I'll probably leave first thing in the morning." _Why is everyone so interested in whether or not I'm going to stick around?_ She thought to herself.

"What brought you to Cold Creek in the first place? Not much around here to speak of."

Janet had to think fast. A logical question but she was uncomfortable about sharing her real purpose. "Just felt like getting out of town," she replied. "Needed to get away from the hustle and bustle of L.A." She immediately realized her gaffe. _Small town gossip spreads like wildfire and she was sure this town was no different. The sheriff may have already told her what he knew_. "Actually," she said with hesitation, "I'm looking for a friend. She's missing." Janet looked up. "That's why I wanted to talk to the sheriff."

Rosie smiled and nodded. "I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. I really am. And you think she's here? In Cold Creek?"

"Honestly, I don't know where she is. She was abducted from a party we attended last night. I followed the car she was in, or at least I thought I did. I'm not so sure now. Anyway, I stayed here last night and now I'm not sure what else to do except to back to L.A."

"Well, talkin' to Bernie was the right thing to do. I wish there was something I could do to help."

"Thanks, but I'm sure Deputy Walters will do his best to find out something. I told him everything I could think of. There's isn't much else I can do right now."

I suppose, Rosie said. "Well, I'll go get your lunch. It should be ready."

Janet resumed staring out the window until Rosie returned with her hamburger and fries.

"You like living and working in Los Angeles?" she asked.

Janet was surprised at the question. "I suppose. It can be exciting sometimes, but mostly it's just work. You know. The same day-to-day stuff."

Rosie nodded thoughtfully. "I used to work in a big city – Denver. Then a few years back, I was visiting with friends a few miles south of here and was headed home. I had to stop for gas and ended up staying right here. Well I did go back to Denver to quit my job and pack up everything, but I like it here. Laid back. Peaceful. I like the wide-open spaces. Plus, I get to meet a few folks, but I don't have the stress of working a job I didn't like."

"So, you like working here better?"

"I do. In fact, I bought this place and I renamed it. Use to be called _'Jack's Galley'_ but Jack was long gone," she gestured with one hand. "Had been for years, so I changed it to Rosie's Cafe. No one seemed to mind."

Janet smiled. "It's a nice name. Inviting. And based on the aroma of this meal, I expect it will be just as good as breakfast."

"I sure hope so. I have a good cook working for me. Let's me be out here mingling with the customers, which is what I prefer to do." She started to leave. "You know, if you ever think you'd like to leave that big city job of yours, you can move here. I could get you a good job out at the Quail Club."

"Quail Club?" Janet asked.

"Just a couple of miles east of here. It's a retreat for folks who need to get away and relax. And it's private. Secluded. A lot of folks like that."

Janet chuckled. "Sounds interesting, but unless you need someone else to wait tables for you, I think I'll pass. But thanks." She grinned.

"You can make a whole lot more at the Club than you can here."

Janet nodded. "Maybe so. I'll give it some thought. Thanks again."

Rosie moved away, wiping down a few tables as she went, just as a couple of locals walked in. Ranchers, Janet decided, by the way they were dressed, right down to their ten-gallon hats and cowboy boots. They sat at the counter and greeted Rosie then one looked over at Janet and tipped his hat with a smile.

She returned the smile then refocused on the view out the window. Rosie chatted with the men then came back over to Janet's booth.

"Let me know if need anything else," she said then returned to the counter to resume the animated and chatty talk with the ranchers.

A couple of times Janet looked up and noticed the one rancher still eying her with a grin and both times she felt very uncomfortable.

Rosie checked on her again. "Everything okay?"

"Uh, yes."

"Not hungry?" she asked noting half of the burger and a portion of fries were still on her plate.

"I was and it tastes very good, but it was a lot of food. Could I get a carton? I'll just take the leftovers back to my room for later."

"Sure thing. I'll be right back." In moments she returned and handed Janet a take-out box. "Here you go."

"Thanks. How much do I owe you for lunch?"

"Not a thing."

What?" Janet looked up in surprise.

"Not a thing. Earl and Kent over there paid for your lunch."

"They did?" she asked and glanced at them. "Why?"

"Felt like it. They do that from time to time with folks." Rosie studied Janet's troubled look. "They didn't mean no harm. Just being neighborly."

"Uh – no, that's fine. I'm just surprised, that's all. Please tell them thank you for me." Janet packed up her leftovers and headed for the door. She glanced at the counter and both men were watching her. "Thank you," she managed to say and offered an uneasy smile.

"Our pleasure," the one rancher said, and tipped his hat again.

Janet quickly returned to her motel room and locked the door. She stood motionless for a few moments mulling things over. "Deputy Walters's leering smile, Rosie's invitation to work at some place called the Quail Club, and two local cowboys paying for her lunch. Being friendly and neighborly is one thing, but this seems very different. And although Rosie's suggestion about working at their local resort, wasn't necessarily odd, but the way Deputy Walters looked at me and the two cowboys buying my lunch? Definitely unsettling. Even the clerk at the clothing store. First, he was cold and unfriendly, until I came back and purchased the clothing. Then he was chatty and asked how long I was staying in town. Are they all that desperate for visitors to Cold Creek?

Janet glanced around her room then impulsively began gathering up her few things. She shoved everything into her Crowley's shopping bag with the extra new shirt, including her party dress, party shoes, the remains of her lunch, and even her purse. Her thoughts were still racing. _If I leave now, I should be able to get back to southern California by evening. I'll take the information about Sally to the police there. Let them work on it. After all, the abduction occurred down there, not up here. They can get in touch with Deputy Walters, if they want. Plus, they can run the plate and see who the car belongs to._

Before leaving her room, she took a moment to part her drapes slightly and check outside. A couple of cars drove by headed north through town and a white pickup truck headed south with two men inside wearing cowboy hats. _Probably Earl and Kent,_ she decided. She looked at her silver compact car parked in front of her room and took a deep breath then impulsively turned on one of the lamps next to the bed. _Maybe everyone will think I really do plan to return later and stay another night._

She peeked out the window one more time then opened her door partway, looked again. Seeing no one, she slipped outside pulling the door shut quietly, but firmly before climbing into her car. She tossed the bag with her belongings into the passenger seat before she settled in behind the wheel. Moments later, she was headed south. Two blocks ahead, she noticed a small gas station with a convenience market. A glance at her gas gauge showed it was half-full but she decided to top it off and maybe purchase some snacks, to add to her lunch leftovers for the trip home.

Entering the station, she drove over a black hose, which produced a ding-ding sound, as she pulled up to a pump,. Curious, she looked up to see an older man exit the small market and walk to her car. He was slight built, probably in his seventies, she guessed, sporting a day-old beard, and a well-worn and faded baseball-type cap. His equally faded khaki pants and shirt, and sturdy work shoes finished his ensemble.

Janet rolled down her window.

"Fill'r up ma'am?" he asked with a pleasing grin.

"Uh, yes. Please." She pulled a lever next to her seat to release the gas cover and watched her side mirror as the old man shoved the gas nozzle into the fill spout. _Curious,_ she thought, surprised that she didn't have to fill her own tank _._

She leaned out her window, somewhat suspicious. "You provide this kind of personal service to everyone?"

"Yes, ma'am, I surely do. I still believe customer service is important, even this kind." He displayed a quizzical expression. "You don't mind, do ya?"

"Not at all. Thank you."

He grinned and walked up to her window. "I'm Pete, by the way. I own this place. I like running it my way."

"I'm glad you do," she replied with a smile. This man seemed genuine enough.

"You headed south?" he asked.

Suddenly on guard again, she replied. "Yes. Los Angeles."

"Not too bad a ride 'cept you be gittin there late in the afternoon. Probably around rush hour."

"I know, but I don't mind," she said.

The gas pump clicked off and Pete removed the nozzle, setting it back in its cradle on the pump. "Need anything else?" he asked.

"Nope. This should do it," she said forgetting she had planned to purchase some snacks. She handed him her credit card.

"I'll be right back," he said.

While she waited, she happened to glance in her side mirror again and looked away but quickly looked again. A dark blue sedan was coming from town headed south. It drove by, slowly at first, then picked up its speed a little and kept going. She watched out her window, and caught a glimpse of two men in the front seat. The passenger looked at her before it sped up and disappeared. That uneasiness returned.

Pete returned with her card and her receipt. "You're all set."

"Thank you. Oh, what's the best way to get back to the highway?" She asked.

"Well, you kin go north or south on the main street here." He waved his hand in both directions.

"Which way is easier access?"

"To git on the highway? Probably back that-a-way." He pointed north. "You can reach it going south but it takes a bit longer before you git to where you can access it."

"Thank you."

Pete tipped his hat slightly and watched as Janet turned north out of the gas station. She suddenly remembered wanting snacks but nixed that idea, eager to leave town and hopefully avoid the blue car. A shudder ran down her spine. "Am I working myself up about something for no good reason?" Her question seemed logical but her mind wondered. _"What if those men in the blue car had something to do with Sally's disappearance? What if they're the ones who took her? Should I talk to Deputy Walters again?"_

Another creepy feeling crept over her. "No! I need to get home and talk to the police. Something doesn't feel right here."

Janet drove back through town, passed Rosie's Cafe and the motel next door, passed the clothing store on the right, and Crowley's on the left, and on out of town. About a mile farther, she approached an intersection and pulled up to a stop sign, preparing to turn right and head back south. Another car heading north slowed make a turn and head into town.

Janet waited, as it approached, and stared. Her heart skipped a beat. It was a blue sedan with two men in the front seat. In a split second, Janet caught a partial glimpse of the license plate, QCR, and panicked.

# CHAPTER 2

Once again, an impulsive decision sent Janet on a fast sprint north on the highway, instead of south. Her hope was she could find another side road that would allow her to circle back and head farther south of Cold Creed where she could get back on the highway undetected. For the next fifteen minutes, she desperately watched for a road, but there were none. Another fifteen minutes, then another hour. Mile after mile, she pushed ahead desperately searching for an alternative route, but there was nothing. Eventually she approached another small town. Small was an understatement. One blink and she was through it. All she could see was open country with narrow bands of trees tracing small streams and low growth everywhere else. A good twenty feet on either side of the road variations of mangled wire fencing marked property lines and the occasional weathered sign let passersby know that it was open range land. Outside of fencing, the mountains to the east, as well as the Sierra Nevada range to the west, were the only other visible boundaries, other than this highway.

Janet kept a vigilant watch of her mirrors fearing the blue sedan would suddenly swoop in from behind and take chase, but she didn't see it. Letting out a held breath, she began to relax a little and focused on the road ahead. At the same time, she thought about the plate number on the blue car from Cold Creek and how similar it was to the one on the car that sped away with Sally. QCR. Was that significant in some way?

_QCR_ , she kept repeating in her mind. _Why does that seem familiar? QCR._ Her eyes suddenly widened and she stiffened. "Q C," she said aloud. "Quail Club? QCR. Quail Club Resort?" Her mind raced. Her breathing escalated and the palms of her hands became clammy. "Quail Club. Could it be? Is that where they took Sally? To that resort? But why?"

She crested a small rise in the road and headed down the other side then noticed an area wide enough to safely pull over. In her panic to leave Cold Creek, she had tensed up so much that her legs now ached. She needed to stretch. Janet came to a stop and set the gear and parking brake then waited a moment before stepping out of the car. A chilly breeze tousled her hair and she reached into the passenger seat for the bag and her new jacket. It helped against the westerly breeze of cold air coming from the higher and snowy elevations of the mountains. Still it felt good to stand and stretch her legs. She walked around the car once then gazed up at the majestic peaks. The afternoon sun was nearing the topmost peaks of the massive range. Interesting shadows emerged revealing deep rocky canyons lined with evergreen trees at the lower elevations. It was an impressive sight and for a moment took her breath away.

Another chilly gust of wind tossed her hair. She shuddered in response and zipped up the jacket but continued to stare at the deep crevices and shadowy spaces, which gave off bluish-gray hues in stark contrast to splashes of sunlight on other peaks still basking in the sunlight. For a brief moment, Janet forgot about her personal plight and drank in the amazing beauty of it all. But the moment was short-lived. As spectacular as it was, disturbing thoughts returned and growing fear for Sally's safety took hold once again. As surreal thoughts cleared, and clearer recollections of the previous evening flooded back, her resolve to find her friend returned with greater intensity and committed defiance.

"Quail Club Resort. Why abduct Sally and take her there, if in fact, that's where she is? And why abduct anyone? Rosie said she could get me a job there. That sounds simple enough, but abducting someone to work there?"

Slowly, Janet began to come to grips with an unuttered thought as another more intense gust of cold wind blew past and rumbled on over dried scrub and grasses in the fields beyond. She didn't like the implication of her thought and shivered. Her new jacket wasn't much of a match for the chilly air. She climbed back into her car. It wouldn't be long before the highway would be in the shadow of the mountain range and the temperature would drop even more. She needed to keep moving and if she couldn't find another road to take back to Los Angeles, then she needed to find another place to stay; but in a different town. Going back to Cold Creek for the night was no longer an option, in her opinion. Maybe she could find another sheriff's deputy in a different county to talk to; one not as creepy as Deputy Walters.

Settling behind the wheel, and with no navigation system installed in her economy compact car, Janet rummaged through the shopping bag and pulled out her cell phone. Opening a navigation program, she quickly realized there were no other roads leading back to L.A. – at least not immediately. She would have to drive hundreds of miles farther north to access a road west and over the mountains, or head east in to Nevada and take a road south through that state. Neither option appealed to her. Discouraged, once again, Janet pulled back onto the road and continued north anyway. Her focus now was to find a place to stay for the night. She needed to think. She needed a plan. A plan? For what? To find Sally or just get home?

Growing impatient, she kept hoping some spark of a sensible thought would come to her.

Once again Janet reflected on Rosie's curious suggestion that she should consider moving to Cold Creek and get a job at the Quail Club Resort. _I don't remember seeing any signage anywhere in town about a resort suggesting it as a place for people to come and relax, as Rosie had said. Why not advertise? Not even in the motel room?_ Her troubling thought returned and she pushed it away, unwilling to accept the inference as something less than above board.

Janet maintained her speed as she followed the highway. It wasn't heavily traveled right now, for which she was grateful, but she still needed to find a place to stay for the night to wind down and work out a plan. Her thoughts continued. _Quail Club. Sally. If she was there, it would be insane to simply drive out to that place and march in demanding they let Sally go._ Although still agitated, rising anger began to replace her fears and anxiety.

An old makeshift gate across a dirt and gravel driveway appeared ahead. Even in the waning light of the afternoon and as anxious as she was to find help and a place to stay for the night, Janet needed another break to calm down and collect her thoughts. She pulled off the road again and parked in the graveled area in front of the gate. It was nothing more than access to a vast area of open rangeland with a cattle guard in front of it.

She sat in her car, eyes focused ahead, hands gripping the steering wheel. She watched a lone automobile approach from ahead and tensed while keeping her eye on it until it passed. Her heart rate escalated as she continued to watch it from her side mirror. She finally let out a held breath and relaxed, as it kept moving, climbing a slight rise then dipping down and disappearing from sight.

She opened the car door allowing fresh air to wash in and though chilly, she stepped out of her car to stretch and face west at the last glow of sunlight as it backlit the Sierra Nevada's. The cool air felt good this time. She leaned against her car and closed her eyes, accepting the incoming breeze blowing in sporadic gusts. She breathed in deeply, held her breath for a few seconds and exhaled slowly to calm her heart rate. The smells of the outdoors were unique and strangely fragrant, almost cathartic, helping to clear her head. A call of a wild bird drew her attention. She turned to look. It was a small bird perched on a sun-bleached and weathered fencepost across the highway. It took off suddenly circled around then flew away in a southerly direction eventually disappearing from view. Right now, to be a simple bird in flight seemed wonderful. No cares, no worries, just to glide on the breeze and soak up the remains of the day was an inviting thought.

Janet lowered her gaze to the road leading south and back toward Cold Creek. Maybe Rosie was simply hoping she would hang around and spend more money as a tourist. They must not get very many visitors, she decided, even with that Quail Club located somewhere nearby. She continued to scan the landscape and was overwhelmed and awed with the openness that seemed to beckon, almost as if saying, "Life is wonderful. Enjoy the freedom of the outdoors!"

Movement on the road to the south and at the slight incline in the road, drew her attention. Peering harder, she could see a vehicle had crested the rise. Seconds later, it pulled over and stopped. She continued to stare, attempting to determine its color and size. She straightened up as she watched, ready to jump back in her car at a moment's notice if necessary.

It remained stopped. She guessed it was about a half-mile away as she continued to watch with growing concern. _Why would they stop?_ Car doors popped opened on each side. The driver and passenger both stepped out, leaving their doors wide open. They stood gazing in her direction. The passenger leaned into the car, then stood up again and held something to his face.

Janet stiffened. _Binoculars!_ That eerie feeling, she had fought to dispel, returned. Even with the evening shadows closing in, she could tell the car was a dark color, and both individuals appeared to be men. She decided they had seen enough of her, and she most certainly had seen enough of them. She jumped back in her car and quickly pulled onto the road, wasting no time accelerating.

Two men. Binoculars. "What were they looking at, and if not me?"

With no desire to stick around and find out, she accelerated even more and checked her mirrors. The darker car was back on the road again and headed her way.

"This is not good!" Panic led to growing fear once again. Blowing out hard, she attempted to keep her wits about her as she raced along the highway, hoping to elude her apparent pursuers. Unfortunately, she didn't know the road, but they did. _They will know about any other routes, any side roads, private roads, county roads, unmapped roads!_ She thoughts tumbled. _They will know._

It had been over half an hour since Janet began her presumed escape from the blue sedan. It continued to follow, maintaining a consistent distance. _Why aren't they gaining on me? Maybe they weren't looking at me. Maybe they were simply looking at something else in the distance and they're in no hurry to get to wherever they're headed._

For a moment a sense of relief helped her relax until another thought crossed her mind. _Maybe someone is waiting for me up ahead and they're going to box me in._ Panic returned. "They could have called someone to be on the lookout for me! She instantly chided herself. "Stop assuming the worse! You have no idea where you are or what you're doing right now other than to look for Sally. But you have absolutely no clue where to look for her, unless it's the Quail Club. Even so, get a grip! Stop scaring yourself and start thinking instead! Think of a solution!"

Janet drove. The highway maintained a relatively straight course, veering slightly west or east here and there, depending on property lines and fences or an occasional gully. But without anyone to keep her company, she kept thinking up scenarios which put her nerves on a sharper edge; and at this point she had no other choice than to keep going until she could reach another sizeable town and try to get some help. For now, she could not think of any other options.

Another half an hour passed, and the dark sedan continued to hold its position behind her. Ahead, it appeared the road crested a slight rise. She also noticed the highway had gotten closer to the western foothills. A glance at the dash clock showed it was nearly six o'clock. She glanced in her mirror again. The other car was still following, still maintaining its distance. "What are they waiting for? Unless this is simply a wild and crazy notion I've dreamed up." It didn't matter. Janet accelerated anyway, hoping to put more distance between her and that vehicle behind.

As her little gray compact car scurried along the desolate road. An occasional vehicle headed in the opposite direction, brought ongoing moments of fear, until they passed by. In the meantime, she repeatedly thought of Sally and worried about her friend's fate. Now, though, she was also worried about her own fate! This all seemed so unreal. Nearly twenty-four hours ago, she and Sally were on their way to a lavish party expecting to have a fun and exciting evening, and now here she was in her car, in a desolate area of eastern California racing for her life – or so she thought – and trying to figure out how to escape her presumed pursuers. All she wanted to do was find and rescue her best friend and get back home.

"Some rescue," Janet mumbled to herself.

She could tell her car was beginning to work a little harder, and realized she had reached an incline of the road. Pressing her foot on the accelerator even more, the car answered with a burst of energy, and she finally reached a summit. The road continued, of course, but the terrain was definitely changing, with more hills. With renewed hope of finding an escape, Janet wasted no time speeding ahead and hoped to continue to keep a safe distance between her and the dark sedan following.

Every few seconds, she glanced in her mirror for signs of them. Ahead was another small rise in the road, which then dipped down out of sight. Anxiously, she pressed on, still checking her mirrors. Within a few moments, she caught a glimpse of the other car. It was speeding down the first grade, but Janet was already approaching the next one. Cresting it in record time, she darted down the other side suddenly noticing that the road was now taking on curves bounded by more trees. The trees would provide some cover, but the curves were slowing her down.

"Dang!" was all she could say as she was forced to apply the brakes in a tight curve. The narrow road now threaded itself through sparse evergreens, which grew denser with each mile.

"I just wish I knew where I was," she muttered absently, thinking how odd it was that she hadn't seen signage for quite some time showing the miles to the next town.

Driving now required more attention and concentration. Rounding another curve, Janet caught a glimpse of a small dirt road to the left as she passed by. Without a second thought, she slammed on the brakes and put her car in reverse. Hesitating for a split second she pulled into the narrow lane, which dipped down and twisted away from the main road, eventually disappearing into a dense thicket of low undergrowth with a few trees posturing overhead. As grand as they were, it was the lower growth she cared about and hoped would shield any view of her from the main road.

Although not knowing how much time she had, she carefully and very slowly negotiated the narrow dirt lane, hoping not to raise any dust that would give her location away to anyone passing by on the paved road behind her. At the same time, she forced herself not to use the brakes. Bright red brake lights would be a beacon to anyone who may be looking for her.

Janet finally allowed her car to roll to a stop on its own but left the engine running in neutral and kept her foot off the brake pedal. She lowered her window a few inches to listen. The trees created a buffer between her and the main road, but she hoped she would somehow be able to determine if the sedan drove past. Time crept as she strained to listen. Aside from the quiet hum of her engine, all was very still. After what seemed like forever, she finally heard something. It was a vehicle, she was sure, but it didn't sound much like a sedan. The faint drone grew louder, then faded and eventually was gone. She couldn't be sure but it sounded like it had come from the opposite direction. _Was it just another traveler or someone planning to meet up with the dark car following her?_

Still listening, she waited for any other sound of vehicles driving by, but after several minutes, heard nothing. She didn't know what to think. _Sure, they could have quietly driven by. Sedans aren't all that noisy. Maybe they passed by at the same time the other vehicle did. Maybe, they quit following and decided to turn around and go back the other way. Maybe, they were just waiting for me to come out of hiding._ _But how would they know if I was hiding?_ _Unless that other vehicle..._ Again, she chided herself for thinking everyone in this part of the state were part of a conspiracy to grab her. _No. Maybe they found this little dirt road too!_ _Maybe I should stop trying to guess and just wait._ She realized she was becoming hysterical. "I need to stay calm," she said aloud and flinched at the sound of her voice. "Shhh."

Janet wanted to keep moving, but now worried about how far she should go in her car and whether or not it led somewhere specific or simply ended. Her heart pounded and her hands were clammy. _So much for staying calm!_ She was definitely on the verge of a full panic attack, and knew it. After listening intently for a few more minutes, she gritted her teeth, put her car in gear, and began to drive slowly, doing her best to maneuver along the narrow dirt lane as it wound around trees and underbrush and farther up into the hills.

The roadbed was uneven and rocky as she jostled along trying to avoid large rocks and potholes. It began a steeper climb and changed direction from west to north. Finally cresting a ridge, the road dipped down into a small depression, then up again, and around another bend out of sight. For the next half hour or so, Janet drove up and over, down and around, and higher into the hills. Eventually, she dipped into another small depression and again allowed her car to roll to a stop on its own. Exhausted from emotional stress, as much as anything else, she needed another break and time to think. Plus, it was much darker now, especially in the trees. And without the aid of headlights, she wouldn't be able to drive any farther. Not safely.

Leaving the engine running, and with the gear in neutral, she set the manual parking brake. Stepping out, she nearly fell. Her legs were weak and almost numb. She didn't realize how tense every part of her body had become throughout the past hours of her whole ordeal. She rubbed her legs then walked around to get the circulation going again.

The chilly breeze still wafted around, brushing treetops, which sang softly and serenely _. What a peaceful place_ , she thought _, and how ironic_. In spite of her taxing situation and mild hysteria, everything smelled good. An odd sounding chirp came from nearby. A rustling in the branches of a tree above drew her attention, and she saw a squirrel run along a bough. It stopped and made that same strange chirping sound.

"So, it was you!" she whispered then laughed quietly. That moment of mirth temporarily pushed some of the intensity away. She ran her fingers through her hair and tousled it a bit to get some of the tangles out, then fetched her water bottle from a cup holder and took a long drink. She was hungry too, and thought about her leftover lunch but decided to wait a while longer. She didn't have much in the way of food, just half of a cold hamburger and a few soggy French fries in the bag on the passenger seat. She glanced into the backseat area and spied a half-eaten box of crackers on the floor. Handy for those long afternoon commutes from work to home. She let out a tired sigh. With so much uncertainty regarding her current situation, and with no idea when she would manage to actually get back home, what little food she had would definitely come in handy. She looked up again. Through the trees a piece of sky still bright and light blue was like a ray of hope. She let out another sigh and realized she needed to come up with some kind of a plan.

"Little squirrel? Where are you? Help me find my way out of here to someplace safe, will you?" She scanned the branches of the trees, but didn't see it, or anything else for that matter; just those tall trees and the denser low growth. It was very still. And though she continued to listen for sounds, other than the quiet idling of her car engine, she heard nothing.

"So, do I drive farther up this road or stay here?" She quizzed herself aloud. "It's certain I'm not going back the way I came, at least not tonight." She even debated about whether or not to take a little walk around, but decided it was probably not a good idea to stray too far from her car.

Not wanting to stay where she was any longer, Janet decided to continue up the road a little farther. _Who knows what I might find?_ _Well, that was the problem, wasn't it? I really don't know, and it could be worse._ Even so, the idea of just sitting in her car didn't sound that appealing either. Climbing back in, she set it in gear and continued the slow drive on up the dirt road. A glance at the clock on her dashboard showed it was six-thirty.

The ride was no worse than it had been, one twist and bump after another but the waning light was a growing problem. Although at the moment she managed still see just well enough to drive the dusty rutted and winding road, at this pace, she would need to either turn on headlights or stop altogether. The headlights idea didn't seem like a good one.

"Just a little farther," she said and kept moving until it was absolutely too difficult to see for safe maneuvering. "Until I absolutely have to stop for the night." _Stop for the night,_ she thought. _Not my favorite plan,_ and _especially not in a dark forest, but what else can I do?_

After another mile or so, Janet finally decided it was time to stop and get ready for the night, but finding a good place to do that was also a concern. She had just crested a small rise in the road, which then dipped down into another low hollow. There were more trees here. The hillside to her right began a steep climb up and out of sight. On the left, she could see more sky through the tree branches, and that part of the hillside appeared to descend away from the road and down the side of the mountain.

Deciding this spot was as good as any; she set the emergency brake and shut off the engine. Janet sat for a moment surveying her surroundings in the waning light. She finally stepped out and opened the trunk staring into the compartment. She pushed a few things around looking for whatever she could find that might make her night more comfortable. Excitedly, she found two beach towels, an opened bag of cookies, a half-eaten bag of stale potato chips, and two more bottles of water—leftovers from a recent beach trip with Sally and a few other friends. Sally again. _Are you safe? Fed? Warm?_ She grabbed it all up, grateful she had not cleaned out her trunk after that trip.

"Sally," she whispered. Depression set in again. "Where _are_ you?" She just stood there for a moment, clinging to her few discovered items and tears came. She got back in the car, locked the door, then slumped down in the seat.

Exhaustion had taken its toll. She rolled one towel up to make a pillow then used the second one as a blanket. The car was already losing its warmth, but she didn't care. Sleep was what she needed. Tomorrow would be a new day – same problems, just a new day to tackle them.

# CHAPTER 3

Janet didn't know how long she had been asleep, but suddenly alert, eyes wide open, she stiffened and waited. It was pitch black outside. She had left her window open a crack for ventilation. Now, she thought she heard something and froze at the sound of rustling in the underbrush nearby. With her seat back reclined, she didn't dare raise up to look, but she was terrified! Her breathing became shallow and rapid then she heard the sound again, only closer! Janet wanted to scream, but held her breath instead. _What was that philosophical question? If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it fall, does it make any sound? Who the heck cares?_ What Janet really wanted to know was, _if someone screamed bloody murder in the middle of a forest and no one was there to help, would it make any difference if you screamed at all?_

More rustling. She had to know. Raising up slightly until she could see just above the bottom edge of her side window, she turned her head slowly to look. In the darkness, but she could see a shadowy figure not far from her car. Then she saw another one! Suddenly gripped with terror, she wished this were all a bad dream! She wished she could wake up! She wished –

Then she saw them – two deer. They were making their way through the forest, stopping here and there to nibble at the smaller trees and undergrowth. One, though, suddenly stopped, sensing something and looked around. It froze and stared in her direction; its silhouette barely visible. Most likely, a small car parked in the dark forest was not something these two creatures expected to see. Both deer remained frozen in their tracks, sniffing, listening, ears twitching forward and back. Both probably just as concerned as she had been. Cautiously, one of them took a couple of steps closer, pausing again to listen and sniff. Janet's throat was dry from rapid breathing, and she coughed surprising herself and the deer. Immediately, both darted off into the woods and out of sight.

Another cough followed by a sneeze, made Janet shiver. She was cold. Removing her beach towel pillow, she unrolled it to add to the first one. The jacket, two beach towels, and her clothing helped but weren't sufficient to ward off the cold entirely. Even so, it was better than nothing at all. For a brief moment, she considered lying down in the backseat but dismissed the idea almost as quickly. Uncomfortable or not, she'd rather stay in the driver's seat in case she needed to make a quick getaway!

Tears welled up, soft, salty ones that rolled down her cheeks. Her defiance was all but gone. _I don't care,_ she thought as she sobbed. _Let them find me. Maybe they'll take me to wherever Sally is. At least we'll be together._ The sobs quieted and she settled back down in her seat once again. The replay of recent events returned to keep her company, although not pleasantly. _Everyone at Cold Creek seemed odd_ , she decided. _Rosie and her suggestion Janet work at the Quail Club, Deputy Walters, and his uncomfortable gaze; the man at the clothing store eying her curiously in her party dress. Even the old guy at the gas station seemed odd somehow when he pumped her gas and remarked in response to her question with how he liked to run things his way._ Janet carefully considered all of it. _Either I am creating an enormous and completely inaccurate intrigue or else the whole town is behaving oddly, but why? What's going on around there? Does it all have to do with that Quail Club place? A so-called resort?_

Fitful sleep eventually overtook her again along as lingering questions persisted. Would tomorrow be any better? Would she be able to find Sally? If not, what next?

# CHAPTER 4

_"No!"_ Janet awoke with a scream, perspiring. She sat straight up with a jolt and blinked in the dim morning sunlight. She had nearly forgotten where she was – but only for a moment. Reality came back with a punch, and she moaned from the ache in her back. Restless sleep in a car most of the night didn't help. Her legs were stiff but before getting out of the car, she looked around with a new and fresh perspective at her surroundings.

Everything looked harmless, pristine in the soft morning sunrise. She untangled her cramped legs and stepped out of the car to stretch. "I can barely move," she complained quietly, and carefully stretched some more. Heaving a very tired sigh, she leaned against the car and looked straight up into the trees. It was quiet and peaceful just like the evening before. A soft breeze blew and danced through the treetops stimulating their soft sweet song. It sounded almost like gentle voices whispering to her that everything would be okay and not to worry. A momentary smile creased her face then vanished. She _was_ worried.

Again, the memories of the past two days rushed back and she let out another sigh. A look in the driver's-side mirror reflected a distraught and disheveled woman nearly recognizable. "I look a mess!" She ran fingers through tangled locks then gave up. "It's the best I can do for now. The party's over." A wry smile allowed her a fraction of a moment at humor, delaying an immediate loss of self-preservation. Somehow, it kept her from a full and disabling break down. She knew she had to keep her wits about her and took stock of her situation again.

"I need to be practical about all of this. I have no ruby slippers, and besides, this is definitely _not_ Kansas." Although she did not have a good night's sleep, the rest she did get helped put her in a different frame of mind. She felt more in control of her emotions, although not necessarily so with regard to her situation. "I'm still lost."

Hunger took hold and she pillaged her car for something to eat and drink and finally found the nearly empty bag of stale potato chips and the remainder of her water. Leaning against the car again, she wrestled with the crumbs in the potato chip bag and took in the morning sounds of the forest. A few birds flew overhead, dipping and diving in search of their own breakfast. More fragrances wafted by offering a measure of renewed energy. She breathed in deeply and closed her eyes. _Something good has to happen today_ , she thought, _it has to_. She opened her eyes then shoved the last crumbs of potato chips into her mouth before crumpling up the bag and tossing it through the open driver's side window to the back seat. Another soft burst of a breeze tossed strands of loose hair around her face then she stopped for a moment and cocked her head to listen. A sound. But what? What is it? Then louder. Panic set in again. It was an engine of some kind, but where was it? The sound grew louder. Without a second thought, she jumped back into her car, closed and locked the door, but kept her window rolled down just enough to listen. The growing sound sent her into stand-by mode as she readied herself to take off but in which direction? Ahead or turn around?

She started the engine. Waited. And watched ahead as well as behind using the mirrors.

Suddenly, a jeep nearly leapt over the small rise ahead and skidded in a spray of loose dirt and gravel, half-turned sideways as it came to a stop. The driver sat still, staring at the sight of Janet's car.

"Oh no you don't!" Janet said aloud at the sight of the driver. She hesitated for a split second then threw her car in reverse and applied the gas. "No one is going to get me! Not even you, buster!" Her tires spun in response with dirt and gravel flying everywhere! She shoved the gear into drive and again applied pressure to the gas pedal, splaying more dirt in the process.

The other driver shouted at her and jumped from his jeep waving his arms. "Hey! Wait!"

She threw the gear in reverse once again with the same results, debris scattering in all directions until she gained traction and smashed backwards into thick underbrush. The stranger ran to her car and grabbed the door handle. She shrieked at him to get away. Now consumed with panic and fear, her eyes showed sheer terror; her face drawn tight as she reached for the gearshift. _"Get away from me!"_ she screamed.

He suddenly backed up, holding his hands above his head in a submissive gesture.

His reaction surprised Janet and she stared at him. He stared back. If the whole thing hadn't been so terrifying, it might have been amusing – the sight of two strangers engaged in a staring contest in the middle of a forest. But this wasn't amusing and she was terrified.

Janet kept her engine running, but shouted to him through her partially rolled-down window. _"Who are you!"_ she demanded.

"Well, who are you?" he yelled back.

"I asked you first!"

"Okay! Okay. My name is Greg," he answered, his hands still in the air.

"Greg? Just Greg?"

"That's enough, isn't it? Now it's your turn." The hint of a smile crossed his face. He kept his hands slightly raised but took a step forward.

"Stay where you are!" She shouted at him, then hesitated. Without smiling she called out, "Janet."

"What did you say? I couldn't hear you." He stepped toward her car.

"Stay back!" she demanded.

He froze where he was and raised his hands higher.

"My name is Janet!" she shouted back.

"Janet?" He smiled. "Just Janet? There was a tone of lighthearted sarcasm in his voice.

She smirked at him. "Okay. I'm sorry I acted so strange."

"Strange? Heck, I don't see what's so strange about some ditzy city woman out in the middle of nowhere driving around like a crazed fool and yelling at me, do you?"

She heard that without any trouble. "What makes you think I'm crazy, or ditzy, or even a city woman, for that matter?" She was angry, but at the same time reasoned _that's exactly what all this looks like, plus he has no idea what I've been through the past couple of days, or does he?_

Greg began to chuckle and slowly put his hands down, but he didn't move and he didn't appear to be all that dangerous – at least not at the moment. He certainly didn't look like those guys from the party or even the men she had seen at a distance with their binoculars the day before. Greg sported a closely cropped beard, wore dirty jeans and a red plaid flannel shirt, unbuttoned at the neck revealing a white t-shirt beneath it. Even his mud-encrusted boots looked non-threatening, if that were possible. Janet wanted to trust him. She desperately wanted to trust someone. And besides, _he_ hadn't been following her last night – not in that jeep of his.

"I don't bite," he called out to her.

Janet didn't make any move to get out of her car or even shut off the engine.

"Are you gonna just sit there all day?" He carefully approached. "Where are you headed anyway?" He stopped about eight feet from her car and waited.

"I-I'm going home" was all she could think of to say through her slightly opened window. It sounded stupid as soon as she said it. She was sure he thought so too.

"Just exactly where is home?" he asked, trying to keep a straight face.

_Good question_ , she thought to herself. "I-I'm not exactly sure," she finally replied, stubbornly wiping a stray tear off her cheek. "I think I took a wrong turn somewhere back there." She dared to glance over her shoulder at the dusty road she had so carefully driven the evening before.

He followed her gaze. "That was quite a wrong turn you took. You're a few miles from the main road, you know." He cocked his head. "Seems to me you would have figured out your mistake a few miles back." The tone of his voice had changed a little, and he wasn't smiling anymore. His eyes were serious, and he waited for her to respond.

Janet's thoughts raced. _I have to decide if I can trust him or not. I have to decide._ She studied him, glanced back at the dusty road behind, then faced him again. With a deep breath, she decided that she'd have to take her chances. She shut off the engine. As if in an act of surrender to the enemy, she slowly opened the car door and stepped out. Greg took a couple steps toward her, then stopped and said, "I won't hurt you." His voice was calm with a hint of concern. "I promise."

"I don't care what you do to me," Janet said and looked at him. "I'm too tired to care."

Greg took another step. "Are you hungry? Why don't you come back up to my cabin and have some breakfast?" His offer was tempting. "There aren't many fast-food places around here," he added, accompanied by that reassuring smile again. "Then maybe we can figure out how to get you headed in the right direction."

Janet was on guard again and hesitated, her thoughts in conflict once again. Maybe she wasn't quite ready to surrender after all. "Your cabin?" she asked. "How far is your cabin and how do I know I can trust you?" she watched him. "How do I know – " She didn't finish her sentence as a lump caught in her throat.

"You don't," he replied quietly, "but I promise all I want to do is help."

Janet managed a nod and wiped away a few more tears. "Okay. But if you try anything –"

"I promise to be good." He grinned. "Just follow me in your car." He started toward his jeep then stopped. "Are you stuck there?" Without waiting for a response, he carefully made his way around to the rear of her car, keeping an eye on her the entire time. "I think you're okay. Not so sure about the shrubbery, though." He smiled again and walked to his jeep.

Janet got back into her car. She waited for him to turn around then started her engine and pulled in behind as he led her farther up the dirt road _. I can still turn around and go back the other way_ , she reasoned with herself – _if I want to_. However, something drew her to Greg. He seemed different from the others in Cold Creek and she hope he meant what he said; that he might be able to help.

# CHAPTER 5

The narrow dirt road wound along the base of an incline for a while until it widened out into a small clearing. Greg pulled up to a cabin that was set back in the trees. It was probably a one-room dwelling, she thought, judging from the size of it. A curl of smoke gently wafted out of a stovepipe in the roof on one side. There was a porch across the front, with a door on the right and a window on the left.

Curled up in the only sunny spot on the porch was a large dog. A Black Lab, she guessed. He raised his head just enough to acknowledge the arrival of his master and then settled back down, only to raise up once more as he saw Janet's car pull in behind Greg's. Rising to his feet with a stretch and a yawn, he sniffed the air and descended the steps to greet Greg and check out this new visitor.

Greg hopped down from his vehicle and motioned for Janet to pull in beside his jeep. That jeep. It looked like it had seen every muddy side of every mountain in the area. She did as he directed and turned off the engine. The dog jumped into the back of the jeep to get a better view of Janet and stood there wagging his tail while he stared. _Great_ , she thought. _Another staring contest_.

"Are you coming?" Greg called to her.

_Okay, Janet_ , she mentally challenged herself. _Here you are. You wanted help. He may be able to do that. So, get the heck out of the car!_

She stepped out, keys in hand, and shut the door. The dog jumped from the jeep and trotted over to her, his tongue hanging, and tail wagging with great enthusiasm.

"He won't hurt you," Greg assured her. "His name's Shad – short for Shadow."

"Hi, Shad." Janet said but resisted the urge to pet him. She needed to remain cautious, she decided, but Shadow sat at her feet and looked up with calm eyes. She gave in and patted the top of his head.

Satisfied with this new visitor, Shadow ran to Greg and then bounded up the steps to the cabin door. He turned around and gave an excited bark, tail still wagging.

Janet reluctantly made her way across the dirt and gravel area grateful she was wearing more suitable clothing than the party dress and shoes she'd started off with a couple of days ago. She mounted the steps then paused at the top and stared at Greg.

He read her body language – _obviously uncertain, vulnerable, even frightened_ , he guessed and wondered. He opened the door and she stepped inside. It was warm.

"Go stand by the stove and warm up," Greg said.

She did so, gratefully.

"Nice new clothes you've got there," he commented.

Janet reacted. "What do you mean?"

"Your clothes. They look brand new. Where are you headed again?"

Janet looked down at her apparel and back up to him. "Headed? Oh, uh – north," she replied without really thinking.

"North. So, home is north?"

"What?"

"Home? Your home. It's north? You said you were trying to get home."

"Uh, no, well, yes. Yes, I am, but I need to go north first." Not only was she confused, but she knew instantly Greg was as well. "I-I mean, I need to see my, my sister first then I'll go home." _That was a flat out lie_.

"Your sister."

He wasn't buying it so she attempted to clarify. "Y-Yes," she replied with defiance. "My sister." She turned away from his gaze and continued to warm herself _Too many lies. Keep it up and you will lie yourself into lot more trouble than you're in right now._

"You like pancakes?" He changed the subject.

It threw Janet off. "Hmm?" She looked at him. He was holding a bag of pancake mix and a big spoon. "Oh," she replied. "Sure. Pancakes sound fine."

"Good." He got to work.

Janet still didn't feel as though she should trust him, not completely. Sure, he was being nice, but, still –

She surveyed his cabin. It was surprisingly tidy. There were two cot beds close together in one corner, neatly made up. A small table and two chairs were in the middle of the small room. A propane lamp sat on the table. She watched Greg busy mixing up pancake batter. He placed an iron skillet on a burner of an old gas stove to heat up. Janet involuntarily shuddered.

He noticed. "You okay?"

She detected concern in his voice again as he poured batter into the skillet.

"N-No. I'm not." She looked at him. No sense in trying to carry on some stupid charade. She knew he didn't believe her about going to see her sister. Truth is her sister, Mary, lived out of state, in Wisconsin. "I don't know what to do," she finally confided. "I'm confused and worried and scared and angry and hungry and cold." She fought back tears.

"So, you are lost."

"Yes, and no. I don't know." She walked to the front window and stared out at the clearing growing brighter with the sunrise.

Greg placed a pancake on a plate and set it on the table. "Have a seat. Eat something, and then we'll see if we can figure out what to do."

Janet came back to the table and sat down. The food looked and smelled wonderful, and she thought back to a similar breakfast she'd had at Rosie's Cafe just yesterday morning.

Greg joined her, and they both ate in silence for a few minutes. Finally, he broke into her thoughts. "So where were you yesterday? Which way did you come from?

She hesitated. "I spent the night at the Cold Creek motel."

"I see." He took a bite of his pancake. "I'm sorry, but I'm a little confused." He put down his fork and looked directly into her eyes. "Are you trying to hide from someone? Or are you in some kind of trouble? I mean, ending up on that dirt road, and as far away from the highway as you were, that's not simply taking a wrong turn." He picked up his fork again and speared another bite of pancake.

Janet stopped eating. "Look. I don't know who you are. You could be one of them for all I know."

He frowned and put down his fork again. "One of them? One of who or what?"

"Okay, I really do appreciate you helping me and feeding me breakfast and all, but if you could just help me get back to the highway safely, I'll be on my way." She pushed her plate away.

"Finished?"

"Yes, thank you."

Greg cleared the table and began putting things away.

Janet wandered back to the front window and gazed outside. The morning was fully upon them and had ushered in beautiful blue skies and wonderful sunshine. She stepped out onto the porch. Shadow followed and stood next to her, expectantly. A breeze had picked up. It still had a chill to it but felt good nonetheless. Janet wished she could float away on that breeze to somewhere far, far away and safe and just forget about her dilemma then she snapped back into reality again. "I can't forget about Sally." Her voice was quiet and nearly a whisper.

"Who's Sally?" Greg asked standing in the doorway.

Startled, Janet whipped around. "Sally?"

"Yeah, you just said, 'I can't forget about Sally.' So, who's Sally?" He watched her. "That imaginary sister you spoke about?"

That was it. That was the last straw. Janet broke down and started to cry. Her body shook as she tried to explain all that had happened, though none of it was intelligible. Amidst her gestures and animation, Greg listened until she ran out of steam and stood there, sobbing. He led her back inside and sat her down at the small table, giving her a cloth to wipe her face. Shadow sat down at her side and rested his head on her thigh as if to say, "I want to help too." She absently patted his head as Greg sat across from her and waited.

Janet calmed down enough to speak more coherently but continued to suck in gulps of air in the process. "I just don't know what I'm going to do," she kept saying over and over.

Greg stared out the front window for a moment then asked her, "Would you say your car is silver or gray?"

"W-what?" she sniffed and wiped at her nose. "My car?"

"Yeah, your car. Silver or gray?"

"I-I-I don't know, silver or gray I guess, but what difference does that –"

He stood up and walked to the front window, staring outside.

"Were you even listening to anything I was saying?" Her mind reeled. "I just spent the better part of the past ten minutes pouring out my heart in great detail about the party and the men following me and the deputy and the old man and Rosie. Didn't you hear a word I said? And what does the color of my car have to do with anything?"

"Maybe nothing. Maybe something. I'm not sure." He faced her.

"That doesn't make any sense." Janet replied. "What's so important about the color of my car?" Janet was on her feet. "Do you know something? You do, don't you!" She marched over to Greg. "Tell me!"

"Everything will be okay, don't worry."

"Don't worry? Don't _worry!_ " The tears were gone, replaced with anger. She was in no mood to be placated.

"Look," he said. "I've got a CB radio here in the cabin," he explained, "and another one in my jeep." His voice was matter-of-fact.

"A CB." she said.

"Citizen's band radio – a CB."

"I know what they are," she replied, "So?"

Greg continued, "All day yesterday, I kept picking up on local chatter between some guys. They kept talking about a 'Gray Lady.' I didn't pay much attention at first; didn't sound like anyone I knew, but then a voice came on later in the day that I did recognize."

"Who was it?" Janet asked.

"The sheriff."

"The sheriff?" she repeated.

"Yeah," he looked at her. "Sheriff Wilcox." Greg stood there for a moment then headed outside and descended the steps toward his jeep. "Maybe I should take another listen."

"Why don't you use the radio in here?" Janet gestured inside the cabin,

"I'll only be a few minutes," he said and stepped up into the driver's seat. "Just wait there."

Shadow wandered outside and stood next to Janet, watching Greg intently. He didn't like being left behind if Greg was going somewhere. But since Janet was still standing here, he seemed to be content to wait with her.

Janet, in the meantime, was agitated, amplified by her body language; folded arms, shifting from leg to leg, mouth drawn tight. She dropped her arms and straightened up as the radio began to crackle with static.

Greg adjusted the frequency until he apparently found something interesting. Janet could hear sounds – people talking – but couldn't make out what they were saying, but then Greg had the volume turned down. Even so, he seemed very interested in the conversation and leaned in closer to listen.

"Rover One. Rover One. This is home base. Do you read? Over."

"This is Rover One. Over."

"What's your position? Over."

"Taking the A-40 cutoff through to Pinewood. We'll circle back to the highway and head back south from the summit. Over."

"Roger. We'll head north and meet you at the old mine road and go pay Danes a visit. He might have seen something. Over and out."

"10-4."

Greg switched off the radio and hopped out of his jeep. In seconds, he was back on the porch grabbing Janet by the hand, pulling her inside.

"What's going on?" Janet asked, suddenly unnerved by his behavior.

"We need to get outta here."

"We need to –" She tensed up. "Wait! What did you hear!"

"I'll explain on the way."

"On the way where?"

"Away from here," he said then stopped and looked at her. "Unless you'd like to stick around and find out."

"Find out what?"

"We don't have a lot of time to debate this. You've got about thirty seconds to make up your mind!"

Janet stood frozen for fifteen of those thirty seconds while Greg pulled a duffle bag from under one of the beds. He tossed it to her. Now you've got about two minutes to get everything out of your car and it into that bag. Get going!"

"Two minutes –"

He was out the door, Shadow on his heels. "One minute and thirty seconds!" he hollered back at her.

Janet grabbed the bag ran out to her car. She yanked open the passenger side door first. Greg ran back inside the cabin and moments later came out with another duffle bag, but obviously full.

"Times up! Let's get moving!"

"But I didn't get everything!" she said, panic in her voice. "What's going on? What's happening?" she demanded.

"Like I said, stick around much longer and you'll find out!" Greg rummaged around in his bag then tossed it into the back of the jeep. "Get in your car and follow me."

"Where are we going?"

Greg ran back up the steps, took one last look around the cabin, then shut the door, and jumped off the porch and hopped in his jeep.

"Aren't you going to lock the door?"

"Nobody locks their doors around here. Too suspicious if you do."

"Huh?"

"For the last time, get in your car! We gotta get outta here!"

"My car?"

Greg started his engine. Shadow was already in the passenger seat and ready to go.

Janet hurriedly climbed in behind the wheel of her car and in moments was following Greg away from the cabin and farther up into the hills. The road, such as it was, wound around groups of tall pines. It wasn't far before it became narrow and looked much the same as it was where he'd found her earlier that morning. It grew steeper and rutted forcing her to use her brakes frequently to ease over uneven areas.

She had no idea how far they had driven, probably not too far, when Greg came to a stop and jumped out of the jeep. He left the engine running and hurried back to her car, motioning for her to get out.

Janet obliged but asked, "Now what are we doing?" she demanded as she reached for her duffle bag.

"Leave the bag. I'm going to hide your car."

"Why?"

_"Get in the jeep!"_ He pointed emphatically.

Greg climbed into her car and drove it through some trees, disappearing from view. Though very concerned, she approached his jeep and looked at Shadow sitting in the front passenger side. He looked at her but made no effort to move. Janet looked back at the trees where Greg had disappeared. _He was definitely taking his time_ , she thought. She looked at Shadow again, then climbed up and into the back seat of the jeep to wait

Soon Greg was back, carrying the now loaded canvas bag in one hand and dragging a large branch from a pine tree with the other. He swished the pine bough around here and there, apparently to cover the tracks of her car, she decided.

Flinging it beneath a large drooping pine tree, he tossed the bag, with a thud, into the backseat next to Janet and hopped in behind the wheel of his jeep. He put it into gear and with a jerk, they lurched forward and continued up the narrow dirt road.

# CHAPTER 6

Greg was able to maintain a good rate of speed, as they drove farther up into the foothills. Eventually, though, he had to slow down as the road disintegrated into a bumpy, seldom-traveled route. It was steep in some places, and with the frequent bumps and jerks, Janet had to hold on tight to avoid the possibility of getting tossed out. All the while, Shadow maintained his position in the front seat, eyes intent, also hanging on for dear life. Janet glanced at the bag Greg tossed next to her. It was bulging. Using one hand, she worked to unzip it to look inside. Managing to pull one edge of the opening aside. In addition to the items she'd put in it, she could see an assortment of odds and ends he'd pulled out of her car, including maps, trash, and an old tube of lipstick she had long ago forgotten about.

She also saw her car registration and insurance papers and things from her trunk. He definitely did his best to eliminate as much identifiable information as possible from her car, including her license plates! No wonder he had taken so long!

"You stripped my car!" she shouted above the noise of the jeep's engine.

"Not nearly well enough!" he shouted back.

Janet didn't know if she should be afraid or grateful that Greg was hauling her farther into the mountains. What if he was planning to do something besides protect her? What if this was all an elaborate scheme to capture her and turn her over to those other guys? What if –

Greg pulled the jeep around so it sat crosswise on the trail, although at a precarious angle. He put the gear in neutral, but firmly set the brake then climbed down. He had to hang onto the side of the vehicle to keep his balance, but he needed to stretch. Shadow jumped out too and ran for the nearest tree. Janet just sat an odd angle in the back until Greg suggested she should walk around and stretch as well.

"Just be careful not to slip and fall. There's loose debris, dirt, and rocks." He twisted and turned to loosen some kinks. "We have a ways to go, so you might want to take care of any other business."

"What other business?"

He just smiled and wandered off a distance and out of sight behind some trees.

Shadow ran around sniffing and stopping to listen then made his way back to the jeep, his tail wagging and tongue hanging in an attitude of happy anticipation. He barked once and she immediately told him to shush! "No barking," she instructed him, putting her index finger to her lips. Then she smirked at the idea that a dog would know what that meant.

Greg wandered back. "Are we all set?"

"I guess."

"You sure? We're going to be driving for a while. Like I said, we still have a ways to go."

"Well, in the first place, I'm not all that experienced at marking trees." She gave him a look, to which he laughed. "And in the second place, where the heck _are_ we going?"

Greg stepped around to the back of his jeep and rummaged through a few things, finally producing a small roll of bathroom tissue. He handed it to Janet.

She was obviously embarrassed.

"As for your question, we are going to drive to the top of this mountain." He pointed then smiled at her. "We don't have a lot of time, so I'd hurry up if I were you."

Still embarrassed, Janet wandered in a different direction behind a thicket of trees and undergrowth. A moment or two later, she heard Greg rev up the engine. She hurried to get back to the jeep, finding Shadow in the backseat this time. That happy look was replaced with a look that suggested he wasn't too keen on his demotion to the back.

Janet climbed into the front passenger seat, instinctively reaching for a seat belt _that didn't exist!_

"Where's the seat belt?" she asked loudly over the roar of the engine.

"Sorry about that! Just hang on!"

_"To what?"_ she hollered as the jeep lurched forward. She grabbed at whatever she could as Greg guided the jeep farther up the mountainside.

He laughed at the sight of her, reaching for various parts of the vehicle, finally hanging on to the left side of her seat and the roll bar over her head.

"How much farther?" she shouted again.

"We have to get to the top of this hill!"

"Why?"

"To get better reception!"

"What?" she asked again, to which he gave her a look indicating she needed to stop asking questions. Janet remained quiet for the next twenty minutes, hanging on as Greg continued to man-handle his jeep, dodging debris, as they made their way to the top of the hill.

They finally reached a crest. He switched off the engine, set the brake, and left it in gear as an extra precaution. Shadow jumped out again and started to sniff around the trees but Greg remained in his seat and began to fiddle with the radio. It crackled to life as he tuned it to a particular frequency.

"...and A-40 is clear. Heading south. ETA, fifteen minutes. Over."

"Roger. Hey, did you talk to Danes yet? Over."

"Rover two is headed that way. Over."

"What's his ETA? Over."

"About five minutes, I think. Over."

"Roger that. Out!"

More static but there was no more conversation. Greg switched off the radio.

Janet stared at the CB radio unit. "Why don't they just use cell phones or something? I mean, do people still talk that way on CB radios? With all the 'overs' and 'outs?"

"These guys do," he said.

"Well who is Danes?" Janet hesitated to ask but did anyway.

"That would be me," he answered dryly. He looked at her. "My last name."

"Oh," she replied then hesitated to ask another dumb question. "Who were we just listening to, and why do they want to talk to you?"

"Well, like I said yesterday, one of those guys is the sheriff. I think I recognized another voice as one of his deputies.

"Deputy Walters?" she asked, her eyes wide.

He looked at her. "You've met him?"

"Yes. In Cold Creek. Remember? I told you how he leered at me."

Greg grinned. "Honestly – I couldn't understand most of what you said at the time." He looked apologetic. "As for the others, I have no idea at the moment other than they sound like kids; teenagers maybe. I think I may know who they are but I don't know why they are working with the sheriff."

He climbed out of his jeep and gazed between trees then motioned for Janet to follow, and together they walked to a gap between two trees where they could take in the vista. Below lay a wide-open valley, mostly rangeland. She could see a cluster of little buildings in a couple of places, but not much else.

Greg pointed, and she followed his gaze. "See those buildings down there?"

Janet squinted. "Yes."

"That's Cold Creek."

"It is? It looks so tiny and far away." Janet peered out again. "And that's the highway?" She pointed this time.

"Yes."

"All the cars look like tiny ants crawling along."

He nodded. "Yup."

Janet kept looking. What's that skinny little line heading east out of Cold Creek. "Is that a road too?" She pointed.

"The one out of Cold Creek? Yeah." He seemed annoyed somehow.

"Where does it go?"

He pointed. "Out there. Those buildings. The Quail Club."

Janet stiffened. "That's the Quail Club Resort?"

Greg made a face and muttered something under his breath then said, "Resort," in a tone of complete disgust, but that was all. Instead he headed back to the jeep. "We need to get going. Come on, Shad." His dog trotted after him and jumped into the front seat. "Get in the back, boy," Greg motioned. "Come on. Be a gentleman. Janet gets the front seat." Reluctantly Shadow did as he was told and settled himself on the seat.

Janet hurried to the passenger side and got in. "Now where are we going?"

"Hopefully someplace safe."

_"Hopefully_ someplace safe?" She eyed Greg suspiciously as he eased the jeep into gear. "What exactly is going on? Does this have anything to do with those guys that were following me the day before?"

"What guys?" He slammed on the brakes, tossing Shadow onto the floor in the back. "Sorry, pal," he apologized to his dog then looked back at Janet. "You never said anything about being followed."

"Yes, I did!" she insisted. " I told you everything that happened to me, while I was standing there on your porch, crying my eyes out when you _weren't_ even paying attention to me!"

"Oh, _then_." He remembered her hysterical and unintelligible story. "Like I said, I couldn't understand a thing you were saying. I'm sorry," he apologized. "Tell me again, only more slowly, just the basics, and without the tears if possible."

Janet made a face but recounted her previous days' adventures the best she could, without too much unwanted detail, and no tears this time.

Greg nodded then continued on up the hillside and over the crest of the hill then down the other side. "What color was their car again?" he asked.

"Dark blue."

"How many guys?"

"Two!" She was exasperated. "Weren't you listening to anything I just said _again_?"

"Yes, I was listening." The jeep bounced over a large rock, tossing everyone in the air momentarily. "I'm just trying to piece some things together, that's all."

"Piece what things together?"

Greg didn't answer. He drove on in silence. It was obvious he was deep in thought, and Janet decided it was probably better to remain quiet, at least for the time being. Just the same, she was becoming increasingly uneasy. Although she had decided to trust Greg, to some degree, there was still something about him she couldn't quite put her finger on.

They drove on in silence over the rugged terrain. At one point they lost sight of the road completely, at least Janet thought so. Greg, however, seemed to know exactly where he was headed because he never hesitated when making a slight change in direction from time to time. Actually, there weren't many options in that regard; even so, he never consulted a map or acted unsure of his whereabouts.

Another bounce and they reached a more level and cleared area. Greg pulled up and shut off the engine. "We're here," was all he said.

"Here where?" Janet was confused and looked around.

Greg simply pointed ahead and up the side of the hill a short distance. Janet looked and was astonished at what she suddenly saw. A tiny shack clung to the mountainside, nearly obscured by trees. It looked barely large enough for the two of them to stand side by side in it, let alone hang out for any length of time.

"Let's go," Greg said as he grabbed a few things and headed up the slope.

"Are we staying up there?"

"Yup. Grab your bag from the backseat."

"You call that safe?" she asked still staring at the tiny building. "It's just a shed!"

"Come on!" he called back to her. "Grab your stuff!"

Shadow ran ahead and jumped up to the tiny porch, barely five feet wide and maybe three feet deep. Greg was close behind. Janet struggled with the heavy duffle bag and followed. The hillside was steep. She grabbed at a couple of low-hanging tree branches to steady herself, as loose rocks and dirt gave way under her feet. Once at the bottom of the porch steps, Greg reached for her bag. At least there was a single handrail to hold onto as she made it to the porch.

"That's like climbing a ladder! she said, as she positioned herself on the narrow porch decking, panting from the thin mountain air.

Shadow wagged his tail and seemed completely happy with the adventure. Greg swung the door open, and Shadow disappeared inside without hesitation. _He's been here before_ , she thought.

Janet took a moment to catch her breath and to look at the view over the treetops. "I've heard of mountain getaways, but this is ridiculous!"

Greg laughed and held the door, waiting for her to step inside. "Might as well come in and sit down."

"I have been sitting," she insisted.

"I know, but it won't be quite so bumpy this time. Besides, the air is thin up here. You need to take it easy for a while." He smiled at her as she stepped past him and through the doorway. But what greeted her made her gasp! Talk about illusion! In the dim light coming through the door and a small window, Janet was amazed at what she saw. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she realized that the tiny cabin was really quite spacious.

"Not bad, huh?" Greg laughed and put her bag down then closed the door. He enjoyed Janet's reaction. "It goes back into the hillside," he said and walked to a small table. It resembled the one in his cabin down the hill. He lit a small lantern but kept it dim. "It's about fifteen feet deep and eight feet wide, I think. I haven't really measured it."

Janet noticed wood- paneled walls, probably pine, she guessed. And just like in his other cabin, there were two cots jutting out from the back wall. Between them was a door, probably to a closet, she decided. A worn rug of some kind was in the middle of the floor and a wood stove stood up near the front door and next to the small window, the only window, so the stovepipe could lead outside to vent.

"It's – interesting," was all she could say at first as she slowly walked to the table and sat down.

"That it is!" Greg chuckled and then said, "I hope you like cold beans."

"That's fine," she mumbled, not really listening as she continued to look around.

"I'll start a fire in the stove after dark. It gets cold up here at night."

"Okay," she responded absently, still staring.

Moments later, Greg placed a bowl of pork and beans in front of her and handed her a metal fork. It had a bent prong on it, and he quickly traded it with his, apologizing. Janet poked her fork in the beans then took a bite. "They're cold. I thought you were going to start a fire."

"I said, I would start a fire, but not until after dark, so we're having cold beans for dinner." He waited for her inevitable response.

"Okay," Janet said and plopped her fork down. "What's going on? You have been very mysterious in spite of helping me; at least I guess you're helping me." Janet stood up but continued. "I've been very patient with all of this sneaking around and stripping my car a-and everything. She began to pace. "It's time you start telling me _your_ story. Who are you? What do you do on this mountain? Where do you work? Or are you some kind of hermit that just lives in a stupid cabin, listening to a CB radio, and getting a kick out of – out of, I don't know, whatever it is you are doing!" She was nearly breathless but had one last thing to say. "Tell me what's going on and tell me now!" She slammed her fist on the table, making her bowl jump and Shadow leap to his feet with a bark and a growl.

"Easy boy," Greg calmed his dog and motioned for him to lie down again. He looked at Janet. "You need to sit down and eat your dinner."

"I'll sit and eat when I'm good and ready! First, you tell me what's going on."

"Eat your beans and I'll tell you what you need to know." Greg took another bite of his and stared at Janet.

She finally sat but didn't eat.

"Fine," he consented. "I'll start talking, but you still need to eat something."

Janet picked up her fork and poked a couple of beans. She held them up and looked at them for a moment before easing them into her mouth. A grimace and a frown brought a laugh from Greg and a glare right back at him from her.

"Okay," he began. "Remember, I mentioned that the guys on the radio were talking about a 'Gray Lady'?"

"Yes."

"I like to listen to the CB a couple of times a day, just to hear what's going on around the area; kinda for kicks, like you said, you know?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Yes, well yesterday morning, I picked up on some interesting chatter about a 'Gray Lady' headed north and how they lost sight of her near Cummings Summit." He paused, looked at her for a moment, then continued. "There are a lot of little side roads all along the main highway before and after Cummings Summit, but I didn't think much about the chatter until later in the day when they seemed to be getting a little desperate to find this 'Gray Lady.' But by then, it was getting dark, and everyone involved decided to give it a rest and start up at first light the next morning. Today, that is." Greg stopped to take another bite as Janet remained silent picking at her beans but taking in every word.

Greg continued. "So, I checked the radio this morning just to find out how their search was going. Apparently, over night the sheriff seemed to have gotten a lot more worked up by the fact that this 'lady' hadn't been found. His tone seemed more hostile than he usually sounds when I listen to his chatter. Most of the time, he's just a frustrated, bumbling, small-town sheriff." Greg finished his beans and sat back. "But this time, it was different."

He set his bowl on the floor for Shadow then continued. "So anyway, I decided I'd head on out to the main highway this morning just to see what was going on and figured maybe I could help out, or at least find out where everyone was and why they were looking for a 'gray lady.' I'm thinking they're looking for some senior citizen you know? With gray hair." He let out a chuckle but Janet just sat staring at him. "So, yeah, I thought maybe I could help. That's when I ran into you. And after you seemed frightened and tried to get away, I thought maybe you were the 'gray lady'; you know, a lady driving a gray car. But you didn't seem like a threat to anyone, at least not to me, so – well, instead of checking in with the sheriff, I decided to find out what I could about you first. And, here we are."

She eyed him suspiciously. "Are you still planning to turn me over to the sheriff? For a reward or something?"

He returned her steady gaze with one of his own. "I don't think so."

"Whether it's me they're looking for or not, did anyone say why they are looking for her? Or me, if I'm the one they want?"

"I have no idea at the moment."

"What if it really is some old lady?"

Greg had to laugh. "Okay, sure. An old lady who they're trying to pin a hit and run charge on for running into a shopping cart or something?"

"This isn't funny," Janet said. "I'm worried that it's me they're looking for and I don't know why. All I wanted to do was find my friend so we could both go home. What did I do other than spend a night at the motel, eat a couple of meals at Rosie's, and buy some clothes?"

"You bought clothes? How did you pay for them?"

"A credit card."

"Is it a stolen card?" He raised an eyebrow and waited.

"No! It's my card! Do you want me to show it to you? Do you need to see any other ID? My driver's license? Proof of auto insurance?"

He lowered his eyes. "No. I believe you."

"Why?"

"I just do, that's all." Greg picked his bowl up from off the floor and took it to a small washtub on the makeshift kitchen counter. Janet got up and walked to the small front window. Greg put her half-eaten bowl of beans on the floor for Shadow to clean up and then joined her.

"You're not being completely honest with me," she said without looking at him. She shivered involuntarily. He stood close to her, and she could feel the warmth of his body.

"Just a little while longer and I'll get a fire going in that old stove."

"Why are you helping me? Or are you holding me against my will but I just don't know it yet?" Janet turned to him. "Shouldn't I _want_ to talk to the sheriff? I mean maybe I should be afraid of _you_." She watched him. "Maybe he's seen my friend, Sally. Shouldn't I at least try to find out?"

"In answer to a couple of your questions, it's probably not a good idea to talk to the Sheriff. As for me, I have no intention of harming you." With that, he walked to a shelf and picked up a pair of binoculars. Big ones.

"Now what are you going to do?" Again, a stupid question, she decided based on a look from him. "Okay, _what_ are you going to _look_ at?" She rephrased the question.

He didn't answer right away, but instead stepped out onto the tiny porch and gazed through the glasses, slowly scanning in a south-to-north sweep. He hesitated a couple of times, and refocused the lenses. Then he slowly retraced his motion back to the south. Finally, offering the glasses to Janet, he asked, "You want to take a look?"

She reached for the binoculars but had to grab them with both hands because they were heavy. Trying to steady them, she attempted to do what Greg just did, not really knowing what to look at. "I just see a lot of sky, and mountaintops." She dipped them lower. "Whoa! Really big tree!" Pulling them away from her face, she made a cross-eyed face and shook her head.

Greg laughed and then offered to help. Standing behind her, the warmth of his strong body felt good as he wrapped his arms around her to help steady the glasses. "Now what do you see?"

Janet swung the glasses as far south as she could. Several shorter tree-covered hills were between their mountain and the far end of the valley, but at this altitude, she was able to see over them. "Oh, uh, a couple of small buildings. No, several buildings – and a road. Wait! That looks like – Cold Creek?"

"Probably. Yes."

"Shouldn't it be farther away than that?" She frowned. "I mean, it seemed like I drove forever yesterday to get away from that place."

"As I recall, based on your story," he replied, gazing through the glasses again, "you ate breakfast first, bought some clothes, visited a laundromat, hurried to leave but took time to get gas, and pulled over once or twice to stretch."

"Yes, but –"

"And then took a scenic trip up into these hills and spent the night in your car." He lowered the glasses but continued to stare out across the valley.

"I guess you do remember stuff when you want to." She glared at him, but he didn't notice. "May I look again?" she asked.

He stood behind her and helped her lift the heavy binoculars. This time, she looked in the other direction. "Wow, I see smoke," she said with concern.

"Really. Let me take a look." Pulling the glasses from her, he stepped aside for a moment, and Janet moved over to give him some space. "Interesting," was all he said then walked back inside and put the glasses back on the shelf. Shadow raised his head from his cozy spot on the rug, then lowered it again, but watched his master intently.

Janet was beginning to feel a chill. "Is it still too early to start a fire in the stove?"

"Change of plans."

"Excuse me?"

"Change of plans," he repeated.

"But I thought – "

"Grab your stuff."

"What?"

"Do I have to repeat _everything_ I say?"

"No," she shot back at him, "but you could explain things better to begin with!"

"I'll explain later."

"Oh, sure. Later." Janet was disgusted. She walked to her bag and hefted it up, then started for the cabin door.

"Not that way."

She turned around. As she did so, Greg opened the closet door and stepped in. "Now what are you doing?"

"Are you coming or not?"

"In there? What good will it do to stand in a closet?" She was exasperated. "What is it, some kind of elevator that will whisk us down to the bottom of the mountain?"

"Not exactly, but I'd hurry up if I were you." There was a genuine sense of urgency in his voice.

Janet walked to the closet and peered inside while Greg reached up high and touched something. She heard a faint click then the back wall swung away and into a black void. She felt a gentle rush of cool air then stepped closer and squinted. Greg pulled out a flashlight, turned it on, and aimed it through the opening. Janet stood frozen as she stared into the cavity. "A tunnel?"

# CHAPTER 7

It was getting darker up on the mountainside, and the valley below was already in the shadows of the highest peaks, but Janet was unaware of the passing of time right now as she and Greg moved farther back into the mountain.

"Is this a natural tunnel?" she finally asked, her voice echoing.

"Mostly," he answered. "Someone opened it up a little there at the entrance and built that cabin to conceal it years ago."

"Who does this belong to now? You?"

"Not exactly. Shad and I found it one time while we were out hunting. It looked abandoned, so we cleaned it up and fixed it so we could use it from time to time. Everything is always just as we leave it when we come back, so I don't think anyone else really knows about it."

"Nobody?" Janet asked and stopped.

"No, I don't think so. Especially not the tunnel," he answered then added, "We have to keep moving."

Shadow trotted ahead but Janet held back.

"I don't think I want to go any farther." She said, taking a step backward.

Greg stopped. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. It's dark, and you could stumble and fall or take a wrong turn and find yourself lost at a dead end. It's better if you follow me." He held his hand out to her.

She took another step backward. "Please take me back to the cabin." She was suddenly frightened and had no idea how any of this was going to help her find Sally. "I really need to find my friend. She could be hurt. Please," Janet pleaded, "just take me back."

"I can't do that right now, Janet." He reached for her arm. "We'll go later. You have to trust me."

"But I don't trust you. Why should I?" She stiffened. "All you've done is haul me up to the top of this mountain and now you are taking me into the depths of it!" She paused. "You don't answer my questions. You haven't told me what you do in these mountains all year long!"

"I haven't always lived in these mountains, and I don't live here all year long," he countered.

"So, where _do_ you live when you're not here? Why are you here? And why do we have to go farther into this tunnel? And what _do_ you do when you're not hiding in the mountains!" She was demanding answers and wasn't going to move until she got them.

"Okay. Okay!" he snapped back. "If you must know, I used to be a partner in a law firm."

She laughed. "You? A lawyer? I'll bet!"

"That's right, a lawyer!"

Janet wasn't buying it. "And now you live on a mountain. Sure, that makes a whole lot of sense."

He gave her a look of exasperation. "I got fed up with all the stupid issues. People looking to make money through all kinds of litigations. Me always having to answer to someone else, even though I was a partner."

"So why not open your own practice? Why come live on a mountain with a dog and drive around in a dirty jeep?" She continued to challenge him adding, "and dress in grubby clothes? And drag innocent women into dark tunnels?"

"I needed to get away and clear my head. I needed a change. As for you? I think you're in serious danger. Satisfied now?"

Janet stood motionless for a heartbeat. "Danger? And no, I'm not entirely satisfied. And it still doesn't explain _what we're doing in this tunnel!"_ The sound of her voice echoed throughout the cavern and gave her a start. But she persisted anyway. "If you think I'm in danger, why not notify the authorities? Why hide me in here!" Her voice echoed again but she ignored it.

"You don't have to yell!" he yelled back, his voice also echoing. "I _will_ explain, but not here in the tunnel," he responded in a quieter voice. "There is a larger area up ahead where we can be more comfortable and get warm. You _would_ like to get warm, wouldn't you?

"Yes, I want to get warm, but I don't think I trust you right now any more than those creeps out there," she said, gesturing emphatically.

Greg looked at her for a moment then simply said, "We need to keep going." With that, he let go of her arm and continued along the passageway with Shadow leading the way in the glow of the beam of Greg's light.

Janet hesitated, but as the blackness quickly enveloped her, she hurried to catch up to Greg and his light, not knowing what else she could do at the moment. His reasoning about getting lost was also another incentive since she had no flashlight of her own. That prompted another question. "Do you have an extra flashlight?"

"Yes, but not on me. I'll get you one when we get to the nest."

"Nest?" She stopped again. "I don't like the sound of that!"

"Okay. Call it what you like."

"A nest is for birds," she said.

"A nest is shelter for whoever needs it."

Greg slowed down. We're entering the cavern area now so watch for low over-hangs and watch your step." He began to show the light on the walls of the tunnel and the random wider openings, revealing interesting colors and patterns. He cautioned her to duck here and there to avoid hitting her head on low-hanging areas but kept shining the light around so she could see the interior of the cavern.

"It's hard to believe that nature did all this," she remarked in a quieter voice.

"Well, it didn't happen overnight. Takes thousands and thousands of years to make a cavern and tunnel system like this." He continued to pick his way along. "This is limestone. Water comes from the surface and trickles down through the ground. Carbon dioxide is dissolved in it and, combined with the water, makes a mild acid solution that eats away at the limestone."

"How do you know so much about it?"

"I'm a curious kind of a guy. Plus, a friend of mine is a spelunker."

"A what?"

"A spelunker. Someone who likes to explore caves as a hobby."

"Oh," she replied casually. A few steps farther and around a bend, Janet said oh again but with more expression as she caught her first sight of a large chamber they'd just entered. "It's beautiful!" It was all she could say as Greg stopped to shine his light around. Brilliant reds and oranges met her eyes. She was speechless.

"These are stalactites," he said as he played the light on several large cone-shaped rock formations suspended from the ceiling. "And these are called stalagmites." He focused his light on the cone shapes that had built up on the floor."

Janet was impressed.

"Over there is what they call flowstone. See how it looks like a river of rock?"

"Uh-huh," Janet replied with her mouth hanging open.

"Come on, it's not much farther." Greg continued a short distance circling the large chamber, leading her along a narrow ledge, before they entered another tunnel and continued deeper into the mountain.

Eventually, they entered a tunnel that appeared to be man-made, like the one leading from the cabin. A few steps more and it widened somewhat and Greg stopped at the entrance of a cavity serving as a room.

Shadow trotted ahead and disappeared inside.

Janet tentatively followed. "Who made this?" she asked.

"Not sure, but probably some miners many years ago."

"Miners? Were they looking for gold in here?"

"It wouldn't surprise me but I don't know for sure. If we didn't have a few other things on our minds, we could look for some." He smiled, trying to lighten the conversation, and turned on a battery-powered lantern, setting it on top of a plastic crate. Shadow lay down and waited.

"No thanks," she said. "I'd just like to get warm, not that it's all that cold in here, but –" She folded her arms across her chest.

Greg opened a footlocker and pulled out a large blanket. "Here you go." He tossed it in her direction. "Even though it does feel cool in here, the temperature doesn't go up or down much, if at all," he said. "It stays pretty constant."

"Thank you," she said, and wrapped the blanket around her shoulders, then looked around. Again, there were two cots and two folding chairs, plus plastic crates lined up against one wall.

"Have a seat, or you can lie down and rest if you want. In the meantime, I'm going to go back and listen to the radio. I want to know what's happening now." He gathered up the flashlight and his bag. "You don't mind waiting here, do you?"

Shadow was on his feet and ready to go.

She panicked. "Wait here? _Alone?_ Yes, I do mind!"

"I won't be long."

"Why can't I come too?" She started toward him.

"I won't be long. Shad can stay with you." He looked at his dog, "You stay here, boy. Just stay. Good boy." With that, Greg hurried back into the tunnel with his light and disappeared around a turn. The area outside their so-called nest fell into darkness again. She listened to the _crunch-crunch_ of his footsteps on the graveled walkway until they faded away and she couldn't hear them any longer. The darkness was eerie and the absolute quiet was unnerving.

Shadow whimpered a little. Janet stroked his head and called to him to follow her back inside the cave room.

He hesitated, still watching the passageway, obviously anxious to run after his master.

Janet called to him again. He finally joined her and sat down as she clutched the blanket around her shoulders while she sat on one of the folding chairs. Shadow rested his head on her lap and together they huddled in the dead stillness, waiting. Janet gently stroked Shadow's head and spoke quietly to him telling him repeatedly what a good boy he was. At the same time, she took stock of her surroundings.

_How did I allow myself to trust a complete stranger and end up deep in a mountain alone with a dog I don't even know?_ She examined the room and began to wonder. _Why does Greg have so much stuff stored in this room? Does he use it on a regular basis? Is he really an attorney on a hiatus, or actually some kind of a criminal hiding out from the law?_ There were several crates of things, some with cooking items, others with food packets and cans. A case of bottled water sat on top of another crate. _And why two cots and two chairs?_

Shadow broke into her thoughts with a whimper. He twitched and stared at the opening to their so-called nest.

"It's okay. He'll be back," she said softly. Although attempting to reassure Shadow, she wasn't all that sure Greg would be coming back any time soon. _Why couldn't I have gone back with him to listen?_

Shadow shifted and continued to stare at the entrance to their small quarters.

"So, Shad," she quietly asked the dog, hoping to distract him. "What does your master really do? Hmm? Is he looking for gold in here but doesn't want to admit it?"

Shadow looked up.

Janet smiled at him and continued to stroke his head but decided she needed to continue to keep up her guard, if that were possible. She shook her head in disbelief. "How did I end up here?" she said aloud then silently asked again, _how_ _did I allow myself to trust a stranger and get into such a precarious situation?_ _How did I let myself get stuck in a mountain cave with a dog and a strange man?_

Time passed slowly for Janet and Shadow as they waited for Greg to return. Actually, time became irrelevant. With no windows or a clock, she had no idea what time it was. She suddenly looked around. "My cellphone. Where is it?" She dug around in the bag of stuff Greg collected from her car, but couldn't find it. At the same time, she wondered if the clock feature would still work in the cave. She knew she wouldn't be able to make any calls, but maybe the clock would still keep time. But it didn't matter, since she had no idea where her phone was.

Shadow was restless and stood up. He stared at the room entrance again and started for it.

"Shadow. Wait. Don't go out there. You might get lost." She was at his side and gently took hold of his collar. She was just as anxious as he was but fearful he'd take off suddenly. Besides, it seemed Greg was taking far too much time getting back. Shadow kept his eyes on the dark passageway and every once in a while, he'd cock his head to listen. He finally laid down but at the entrance to listen and sniff the air.

For the first time since Greg left, Janet became aware of a faint but steady _drip-drip-drip_ out in the darkness. It made a hollow, echoing sound. _Nature was still carving out the cavern_ , she realized, _drip by drip_.

With Greg gone and nothing else to do, she thought more about her circumstances. She kept wondering who those two men had been. _Were they the same two guys that had taken Sally?_ "But what do they want with me?" she asked aloud then thought a moment. _Maybe they think I can identify them._ Her thoughts continued to drift from one thing to another. _If those men were so worried about me showing up in that little town, why not just grab me when they had a chance. They had opportunity. Two guys against one woman; how easy would that have been?_

Frustrated she fretted over having so many questions, but few answers.

"I'm hungry," she finally said aloud, startled by the sound of her own voice echoing out into the pitch-black void. Shadow lifted his head and watched. "You hungry too?" She got up to examine the other plastic crates and began rummaging through them. He stood up too, but remained at the opening, his head cocked to one side, listening.

Janet looked at him. "You hear something, Shad?"

He looked back at her and whimpered a little, then stared back into the darkness. Janet stepped away from the crates and joined him. Together they sat at the opening, listening.

"I don't hear anything," she whispered to him.

He whimpered again and gave a little throaty growl.

Janet was suddenly frightened. "Come on back in here, Shad." She took hold of his collar and gently tugged. He didn't budge, but let out another quiet, low growl. "Shadow," she whispered more intently. "What it is? What do you hear?" Janet quickly crawled to the lantern and dimmed it, then took it with her to the entrance to sit with Shadow and listen. If she got nervous, she could always turn off the lantern.

Shadow continued to alert to something that she could not hear. Impulsively, she turned the lantern light down even more until it was barely a glow, but ready to turn it off completely if necessary. She just hoped Shadow didn't start barking or suddenly take off!

He continued to whimper and occasionally twitched. Janet held tight to his collar to make sure he didn't run off. Even so, she was afraid that someone might hear his whimpering, because there were absolutely _no_ guarantees it would be Greg on his way back. In spite of Greg's earlier remark, it was most certainly possible someone else might know about the cavern and the tiny cabin entrance.

"Shh," she whispered gently next to Shadow's ear as she stroked his head again, trying to keep him calm. The steady _drip-drip-drip_ of water seemed to grow louder, although she knew it was her imagination. She strained to hear whatever it was Shadow could hear, still stroking his head. He twitched again and shifted his hindquarters slightly. Janet held onto him, but he tugged at her grip, growing more anxious. She continued to listen.

Shadow suddenly stood, completely alert. He didn't whimper this time, but Janet could feel his muscles twitch. She knew he was prepared take off at any moment, convinced he could hear something she couldn't. He sniffed the air but remained completely alert, ready to run, pounce, lunge, or whatever he was planning to do.

Janet's anxiety grew as she waited and watched the dark passageway straining to hear something, and then she thought she did. If it were possible to listen harder, she did her best. Then again, yes. Something. Footsteps? She kept listening. Yes! Footsteps! A faint crunching was barely audible, but she heard it and hoped it was Greg coming back at last, as the sound grew louder. Shadow continued to strain against Janet's grip on his collar. Another soft whimper. His muscles twitched. His feet shifted. He looked at Janet, as if to say, "He's coming!"

Janet whispered, "I know. Just wait."

Then, there it was. A faint glow in the pitch blackness. It grew brighter and the crunch of footsteps grew louder. With some trepidation, Janet held her breath then was on her feet, still clinging to Shadow. Anticipation mounted and hope returned, until the crunch of footsteps suddenly stopped. Janet reacted with a start and watched. She could see the light move back and forth in the darkness as if he was searching for something. _Why would he stop?_ she wondered, then panicked. What if it wasn't Greg? Almost as suddenly, the footsteps resumed, and the beam of light became steady as someone headed straight for them.

# CHAPTER 8

Shadow wrestled free of Janet's grip and took off instantly toward the light. Janet waited anxiously until she could hear a voice responding to him.

"Good boy." It was Greg.

Although extremely relieved it was him, she did her best not to appear too eager to see him. Shadow could hardly contain his excitement, his tail wagged with great enthusiasm as he raised up and put both paws on Greg's chest.

Greg gave his dog a good ear rub. "Good boy, Shadow, good boy."

Shadow got down but looked down the passageway with a whimper then up at his master. Janet noticed but said nothing as Greg reached into his bag and produced a treat of some kind, which Shadow devoured with great pleasure.

"Good boy," he said again. "Come on."

Shadow took one more look at the dark passage then followed Greg into the room.

"I think he wants to leave," Janet remarked.

"Hmm? Oh yeah," Greg glanced back at the tunnel. "Hey, I hope the wait wasn't too bad," he said. "I brought some other things back for us too." He began to unload his bag.

"So," she began, "did you hear anything?"

"Huh?"

"Did you hear anything? On the radio?"

"Uh, no, not much." He placed the extra items in the crates and seemed unconcerned.

"Nothing at all?" She asked. "Excuse me, but we are holed up inside a mountain, at _your_ insistence, by the way, because there seems to be an apparent danger out there involving me! I think you'd show a little more concern!"

"Look!" He faced her. "There _is_ an apparent danger out there, and I _do_ think it involves you, which is _why_ we are holed up _in this mountain!_ " His winced at the echo of his voice out in the cavern. His face was strained, tense. "I can't predict when someone is going to be yakking on the radio! They may be keeping radio silence for some reason. I really don't know! You are either going to have to trust me or not. If not, I will gladly take you back out to the cabin and you can go and do whatever you want. You tell me."

Janet stared at Greg, completely taken aback by his sudden anger. Her first response was to cry, but she fought that urge and set her jaw, pulling her blanket securely around her shoulders, but there was fear in her eyes.

Greg could see it. He looked away then back at her. "Look, I'm sorry I yelled. It's just –" He paused.

"What?" she asked then wiped a stray tear from her cheek.

Shadow walked to her and sat down. He placed his chin on her knee and looked up at her. She patted his head but said nothing.

Greg let out a sigh. "I _am_ trying to help you," he said in a softer voice. "It's just that – well, I didn't expect to get caught up in this, whatever this is."

"Then take me back to my car. I'll find my way back to the highway and take my chances. At least I'll be out of your hair. Besides, I still don't trust you," she said, "although I do trust Shad."

"I wouldn't trust him too much. I could give him an order and he could rip your throat out, just like that." He snapped his fingers.

Shadow lifted his head to look at his master.

Janet shook her head. "No. He wouldn't rip my throat out," she said and continued to stroke his head and back.

"He would if I ordered him to."

"Then prove it."

He didn't respond.

Janet continued to stroke Shadow. Aside from the constant dripping sound out in the main cavern, the silence in their small space was uncomfortable. Janet shifted and continued to cling to her blanket with one hand while petting Shadow with the other.

Greg broke the silence. "Look, we need to get along somehow. I'm sorry I yelled, but I really didn't hear anything on the radio. We can try again later, if you like, but as late as it's getting, I doubt there will be any more chatter until morning. Plus, we've got other things to think about."

"We do?" Her question was an automatic response. "Like what?" Somehow, she didn't expect an answer, and Greg didn't offer one.

Janet refocused on Shadow. "You're a good boy. You wouldn't hurt me, would you?" Shadow tapped his tail on the cavern floor and licked her hand. She bent over and kissed the top of his head. "I love you too." She hazarded a glance at Greg.

He was watching but simply asked, "You hungry?"

"Yes." Janet said. "More cold beans?"

"No. I thought we'd have beef stew. Can you handle that?"

"Yes, thank you." She watched him. "So, do you come here often?"

Greg finished opening a can but didn't turn around. He emptied the contents into a small pot then placed it on a propane camp stove and lit the burner. "On occasion," he finally replied.

"On occasion? With all this stuff in here; the crates, and extra food and water?

He didn't respond.

"It looks like you were planning on being back in here for a while, long before you brought me here."

He kept his back to her.

"Are you _sure_ you're not looking for gold or something?" The question was innocent enough. At least, she hoped it sounded that way.

"Coffee?"

"No thanks. I don't like coffee."

He stopped what he was doing and glanced at her. "Really? I don't think I've met anyone before who didn't like coffee."

"Well, now you have."

"How about some bottled water?"

"Sure."

Greg pulled one from a crate and tossed it to her.

"Not looking for gold." He kept fussing with the dinner preparations then announced it was ready.

Janet cradled the metal cup of hot stew, allowing it to warm her hands first. It smelled good and she finally tasted it. "This is much better than cold beans," she said.

Greg nodded but said nothing until he noticed she had finished and asked if she wanted more.

"No thanks," she said and quietly watched him. "I'm sorry I'm on edge, but you would be, too, if you were me. You'd have all the same questions and I dare say you would demand the same answers."

He nodded and looked at her. "I suppose you're right," he said. "I think we're all on edge, even Shadow." He leaned over to rub his dog's ears. "How about we get things cleaned up, and then we can go listen to the radio together."

"We?" she asked, a little surprised. "You mean all of us?"

"All of us."

Outside the tiny cabin that clung to the side of the hill, the sun had dipped deep into the western horizon behind the mountains. Night had settled in. They carefully made their way down the narrow porch steps but without the use of flashlights to avoid the slightest chance a pinpoint of light might draw someone's attention.

"Where's the jeep?" Janet quietly asked as she stepped off the porch.

"I moved it." Greg carefully led Janet out beyond the cabin and into the deep shadows of some trees. He turned on the portable radio he brought with them, explaining it was more powerful than the one on the jeep. Keeping the volume down, he tuned it to a particular frequency and began to listen to some chatter in progress.

"Who is that?" she asked.

"Shh," he responded listening to the conversation.

"...and found some tire tracks leading away from the cabin up into the hills. Looks like two sets of tracks. Could be nothing, but you never know. Also found a small packet of tissues. I don't think Danes uses little packets of tissues. Over."

"Sounds like maybe he's seen her, or at least she's been at his place. Was he home? Over."

"No. Over."

"If he's around, he may have her with him. Continue searchin' up in them hills. Over."

"Roger that, but we won't be able to track very well in the dark, even with the dogs. Over."

"Dogs!" Janet whispered excitedly.

Greg motioned for her to be silent.

"Did you say y'all saw two sets of tracks? Over."

"Yes, sir. Over."

"Well, that little gal couldn't have gotten very far with that little car of hers. Keep lookin' fer it. Then start searchin' up in them hills tomorrow morning. Over."

"Roger that. Over and out."

"They have dogs!" Janet whispered again.

"Yes, and a packet of tissues for a scent." Greg switched off the radio. He gazed out across the dark valley below. Between the trees, they could spot a speck of light here and there, and lights of vehicles moving along the highway, but that was about it.

"Now what?" she asked.

"We wait for morning."

"Morning?"

"What would you suggest?"

Janet realized that there probably wasn't much more they could do, as late as it was. Then she had a thought. "Well, couldn't we sneak down the mountain during the night and escape?"

"Sneak?" he asked and chuckled. "We'd have to walk to be sneaky. And in the dark it would take hours. Not a good idea plus, there are wild animals in these mountains. I don't think we'd like to meet up with any of them." He continued to gaze out through the trees to the valley below. "It would be best if we got some sleep. We'll be able to think better in the morning."

Greg gathered up his portable radio, and the three of them walked back to the small cabin. For an instant, it crossed Janet's mind that she could run and hide in the trees instead of going back into the cave with Greg. Then he stopped and mentioned something else. "You know," he said, "they are aware that I have a radio."

Janet stopped. "Is that a bad thing?"

"They could be giving out false information just to throw us off. It could be they are using some other frequencies too. I may have to check on that."

"Okay, but if what they were saying is true, then they think we are together, don't they?

He took in a deep breath and let it out slow. "Yes, since they've already searched my place and found two sets of tire tracks and your packet of tissues."

She nodded "Well maybe we should listen some more. Just to make sure."

"How about we get some sleep first," he said then added, "Maybe your idea isn't such a bad one after all," he said. "About sneaking away."

Janet didn't respond but was surprised at his sudden change of mind. Brushing aside any more thoughts about running away, she quietly followed Greg back to the tiny cabin façade and into the tunnel.

Back in their temporary quarters, Janet sat down on one of the cots and watched Greg organize and straighten up the crates against the back wall. He then brought an empty one over and placed it between the two cots upside down and set the lantern on it.

"There we go." He seemed pleased with the arrangement then added, "I think one blanket should be enough for each of us." He sat down on his cot unfolding his blanket. "The temperature inside here is pretty comfortable and will stay the same no matter how hot or cold it gets outside." He looked at Janet still sitting on her cot. "You gonna be okay?"

She shrugged. "I guess so." She lay down on the cot, pulled the blanket up to her chin, and tried to get comfortable. Greg did the same. He reached over to dim the lantern but didn't put it out completely.

"Night," he said and rolled over.

"Good night," she answered back and closed her eyes.

Janet didn't go to sleep right away. It had been three days since that fateful party in Bel Air and yet it suddenly seemed so long ago. She lay there, her thoughts racing once again as she listened to the rhythmic breathing of Greg nearby. But was he really asleep or just pretending to be? Who was this bearded mountain man she so willingly followed far up into the eastern foothills of the rugged Sierra Nevada Mountains and deep into a cavern? _Am I out of my mind? How could I be so foolish? Tomorrow. What will we do tomorrow, especially if people were out looking for both of us, and with dogs?_ Stress and exhaustion eventually took over and she fell into a troubled sleep fraught with a commotion of disjointed dreams.

# CHAPTER 9

Sunrise, clear skies, and crisp cool mountain air met a small cluster of men outside of Greg Dane's cabin.

"Did ya check the whole cabin?" Sheriff Wilcox asked impatiently.

"Y-Yes, sir."

"What about other buildings around here? Are there any?"

"N-No, not right here, but –"

"What about the tire tracks? Show me the tire tracks! Did they _lead_ anywhere?" The increasing frustration of the heavyset man with the badge was more than evident. "Dang it, Tommy, they had to go some where's!"

"W-Well, Sheriff, sir, we found them over there in that loose dirt, sir." Tommy Richards pointed nervously. He was twenty years old, five feet nine inches tall, slight built with dark hair neatly trimmed, and a little slow at times but good at following directions as long as you gave them to him one or two at a time.

Walking to the spot Tommy indicated, the sheriff stooped over to look at the tracks and muttered. "Them looks like Danes' jeep tracks." He wasn't necessarily surprised since they were at Greg's cabin; and he was very aware that Danes drove all over the place in his beat-up jeep. But there was another set of tracks.

He straightened up and stared up the road that headed farther into the mountains. It was mostly gravel for a distance, usually covered in forest debris as it was not heavily used by anyone else. The chance of finding anything more significant would be slim, he surmised. Still he turned and looked at the three young men who had gathered close by, waiting for further orders.

"Did any of you check up that way for more tracks?" He pointed.

Jake Hanley stepped forward but stopped a few feet from the sheriff to answer. He'd learned it wasn't a good idea to get too close to the sheriff when he was all churned up about something. And he was definitely churned up about this. "Uh, well, sir, we checked for about a quarter mile."

Jake was twenty-eight, just over six feet tall, with light brown hair somewhat askew. He shifted uncomfortably where he stood and continued, as the sheriff remained silent, still scouring the ground for any other tidbits of evidence.

"And we looked the best we could between the main highway and here," Jake said, "but if there were any other tracks to find, they would've been wiped out by our own." He glanced uneasily at his two companions, not sure what the sheriff's reaction would be.

"Yeah," the sheriff said, absently scratching his right eyebrow. "Okay. Just keep on a lookin' up this here road," he pointed with a short thick arm. "Keep yer eyes open for anything, ya hear? Anything!" He started toward his patrol car, then stopped and turned around. "Seth! Where'd you find them tissues?"

"Right about here, sheriff." He hurried to the spot and pointed. Seth Cullins was twenty-six and slightly shorter than Jake but bulkier. He had a few freckles and dark red hair. As a former member of his high school wrestling team, he continued to work out and stay in shape.

The sheriff took a look. "Here, you say?"

"Yes, sir, right about here."

The sheriff looked up at him but didn't say a word. Instead, he began walking around the area, looking at the ground then called to Seth, "Come here, boy."

Seth nervously followed, with Jake and Tommy behind but they hung back a slight distance equally curious but ready to step in help their buddy if necessary.

"Careful!" the sheriff snapped. "Come around this way." He drew a large arc in the air with his finger.

Seth did as he was told, and so did the other two.

"What does this look like to you?" He pointed to an area near the bottom step leading up to the cabin porch.

"I-I'm not sure what you mean," Seth said.

"This!" the sheriff hollered at him, adding a few expletives. "Looky here!" Again, the sheriff pointed. "What do you see?" His fuse was definitely short this morning. In fact, the sheriff had been storming around ever since sunup. He had the whole county in an uproar with local volunteers participating in a manhunt for some woman he claimed had committed some kind of heinous crime. They didn't know what, but when the sheriff was in this kind of a mood, you didn't ask a lot of questions.

Seth squatted down and took another look. "A-A shoeprint?" He looked up at the sheriff hopefully.

"Exactly! And what kind of shoe?" he demanded.

"A very small one, sir."

"Small!" The sheriff looked disgusted. "A very small shoe! Danes don't wear small shoes do he!" Sheriff Wilcox pointed again. "And what about right here?"

"A-Another print."

"Now who do ya suppose that might belong to?"

"Uh, Danes, sir?"

"Yes! Danes!"

"Yes, sir."

"There ya go, Seth. See? All ya gotta do is pay attention, look real good, and _think!"_ There was an edge of sarcasm in the sheriff's voice. He continued. "Now, then, who do you suppose was wearing that little bitty shoe?"

"The girl!" Tommy seemed surprised at the sound of his own voice then stepped back behind Jake in case he was wrong.

"Why, Tommy!" The sheriff looked at him, his voice silky smooth. "What a genius you are!" He glared at Jake and back at Seth. " _Of course,_ it's the girl!" he sputtered. "And she's probably with Danes!" His face was red with anger. "They are somewhere up in them hills, so you three get up there and find 'em!" He stomped over to his patrol car and reached inside the window, jerking out the radio microphone.

While he checked in with deputy Walters, Jake, Seth, and Tommy huddled together for a moment quietly discussing what they should do next until the sheriff hollered at them to get moving, which they did. All three climbed into Jake's dinged-up dark blue pickup truck as the sheriff wildly motioned for them to head on up the road.

Jake followed the graveled access to the last place they saw tire tracks before it got too dark the evening before. He stopped and studied the terrain. I think my truck can make it up this road a little farther." He looked at his companions. "How about you both get out and start walking. Check for any more tire tracks. I'll follow behind. Take your time, though. No point in rushing this. The longer we can steer clear of the sheriff, the better I'll like it."

Seth nodded. "I agree. Come on, Tommy. You can help me. You're good at finding things." He and Tommy climbed out and set out ahead of Jake's truck, carefully looking at the ground for anything that might resemble tire tracks.

Every so often Seth would point at the ground and Tommy would look and nod. For the next hour they slowly made their way up the road as it meandered around and between trees. The sun crept higher overhead, casting deep shadows in the forest. A few squirrels skittered across the road, here and there, leaping atop a fallen tree or up a tree trunk to stop and stare at the men and their large and noisy contraption rolling along.

Finally, Seth held up a hand and Jake stopped the truck. Tommy followed Seth to Jake's open window so they could talk.

"I think we've run out of clear tracks," Seth said. "There's so much litter on the ground, but I figure Dane drove up at least to here but probably farther. I don't know but I haven't been able to make out any more tracks. It's just not a well-travelled road and no one keeps it cleared of all these dead branches and stuff." He pointed in general.

Jake nodded. "I agree."

"So, what should we do now?" Seth asked.

Jake thought for a moment. "How about you both get back in the truck and we'll just keep driving up what looks like a road until we can't see it any more. If nothing else, it'll keep us away from the sheriff most of the day. At least I hope so."

"Me too," Tommy said. "And I'm hungry. Are you guys hungry?"

Jake grinned. "Yeah. I think I am a little hungry. So, how about we stay here for a while, eat something, talk about what we should do if we find Danes and that girl, then we can keep going."

"Okay." Tommy grinned. "I like that idea."

Seth nodded then asked, "Should we radio the sheriff that we're taking a break before we keep searching?" He gave Jake a look.

Jake frowned. "How about we turn the radio on and just listen for a while. We can eat and listen and if the sheriff tries to reach us, then we'll talk to him."

"I can live with that," Seth replied.

All three satisfied their hunger with dried fruit, beef jerky, and bottles of cool water from an ice chest Jake kept in the back of his truck. He also kept an assortment of camping gear in the truck as well. It wasn't unusual for him and Seth to take off on weekend day trips that ended up as an overnighter somewhere.

They ate and listened to occasional chatter on the CB radio and were able to figure out where most of the other activity was happening. Sheriff Wilcox had requested search dogs to help for several days. The handlers weren't able to bring them until late the previous day, so they only had a couple of hours to use them. Apparently, in the time since Jake, Seth, and Tommy left on their search, the sheriff received word that the dogs would no longer be available because they were needed for a priority search and rescue emergency up on one of the trails leading to Mt. Whitney.

"The sheriff doesn't sound very happy, does he?" Tommy said.

"Nope," Jake replied. "Not happy at all."

Seth agree but added, "Which might be good for us. Without the dogs, we might be able avoid Sheriff Wilcox for a while longer. Besides, he'll probably want us to keep looking up this road."

"Good point," Jake said.

They finished their snack, walked around to stretch and kill a little more time, before climbing back into the cab of the truck. Jake's truck, although rugged and well-suited for this part of the country, didn't have four-wheel drive. He geared down sufficiently to keep moving at a slow pace, but as the trail grew steeper, he became concerned they would have to stop at some point and keep looking on foot.

Late morning eased into the afternoon. They took another break for lunch and stretched it to an hour as they tossed ideas back and forth regarding what they might do if they did find Dane's and the girl, or just one or the other of them.

By three o'clock, they'd traversed another mile or so up the mountain, dodging fallen tree trunks, boulders, and driving over forest litter that popped and crackled under the weight of the truck. Tommy had fallen asleep with his head on Seth's shoulder until Jake finally stopped the truck and shut off the engine. The stillness was profound and refreshing, as was a gentle breeze rustling tree tops to produce the familiar whispered song of the forest.

Tommy roused and sat up blinking. He rubbed his eyes. "Where are we?"

"About as far up this mountain as we can get in the truck," Jake said. "If we do any more looking, we'll have to walk from here."

"Oh."

Seth looked out his window and up at the sky. "Won't be long before the sun dips behind the mountains."

"I know," Jake said. He looked around as well. "So, the way I see it, we have a couple of options; turn around and head back down, or just stay up here tonight and keep looking tomorrow."

Tommy's eyebrows arched in surprise. "Stay here tonight?"

"Well, if the sheriff can't get those dogs back to help look, and if we go back down to where he is, he will probably order us to come on back up here again to keep looking. Which means we won't get any farther up this mountain tomorrow than we did today. But if we camp out tonight, we're already this far and can keep looking tomorrow by hiking farther up the trail."

"Camp out?"

Seth patted Tommy on the shoulder. "It'll be okay, Tom. In fact, it can be fun. We'll camp out under the stars, eat a nice hot dinner, and wake up refreshed for another great day in the woods."

"Sleep on the ground?"

"Well, yeah," Seth replied. "It's kinda cool, don't you think?"

Tommy shook his head. "No. I don't think so."

Jake and Seth exchanged looks.

"Tell you what," Jake said. "We can take you back down the mountain and find someone to drive you back to Uncle Pete's store and gas station. You can just keep staying with him until we get back, just like you've been doing while your folks are away on their cruise. How's that sound?"

Tommy started to nod then looked back and forth at his two friends. "Then what are you guys going to do?"

"We'll drive back up here, or at least part way, and set up camp, so we can start looking again first thing in the morning." Jake glanced at Seth who nodded.

"You're gonna come back?"

"Yeah."

"But I want to be with you guys. I wanna help."

"Well, then that means you'll have to stick with us here tonight," Jake said.

Seth nodded. "Yeah, but hey, Tom, it can be fun. Just us guys on a campout together. We're a team, right?"

"Right."

"So, you wanna try camping with us tonight? See if you like it?"

"Yeah, Tommy," Jake replied. "Like Seth said, we're a team and we stick together. So, what d'ya say?"

Tommy looked at both of them again. "O-Okay. I'll do it."

"Good man, Tom," Seth said and gave him a quick back rub. "You're a good man."

Tommy grinned at Seth, happy to be considered a man and not just a boy, like most people thought of him.

Jake checked the time. "It's after four o'clock. Let's go ahead and set up our camp right here and get something started for supper before it gets too dark."

"Should we turn on the CB again?" Tommy asked. "Maybe someone else already found Danes and the girl we're looking for. Then we could go home."

"I suppose we could," Jake said.

Seth turned it on and adjusted the frequency. They listened to some idle chatter then finally heard Sheriff Wilcox bark orders to his deputy about when and where to continue their search the next day, but with no mention of Jake, Seth, or Tommy. The sheriff finally said he had some other business to take care of in town and wouldn't be available the rest of the afternoon or evening. With that he signed off and so did Deputy Walters. The radio crackled then went silent.

Seth and Jake knew full well what Sheriff Wilcox was talking about. Dinner at Rosie's Café, then the rest of the night at her place. It was a routine pretty much everyone in town was familiar with.

Jake opened his door. "Well, Tom, I guess that's it for tonight and I guess since he didn't say otherwise, he wants us to stay up here and keep looking tomorrow. And I doubt there will be anything else to listen to until morning."

In spite of their pep talk with Tommy, Jake wasn't at all thrilled with the idea of spending the night in the mountains either. He helped his Uncle Pete run the filling station and convenience store in the town of Cold Creek, and being this far away from home was a concern to him. Generally, his camping trips with Seth were more or less predetermined. They might have started out on a day trip, but the understanding was they might spend the night someplace. At least his uncle knew ahead of time.

As for the business, his uncle, Pete Hanley had owned it for a good number of years. He'd recently asked Jake if he wanted to own the business outright. Jake said he'd think about it. He liked the idea of owning his own place. It even had a room with a pool table in a back; a popular place for some of the local men to hang out. As it was right now, his uncle took care of the filling station to stay busy, and help the infrequent traveler with directions, but Jake was in charge of the grocery store, which included the ordering, the stocking, keeping the books, everything.

When the sheriff requested his help, Uncle Pete told him to go ahead, that he could take care of things while Jake was gone. The problem was, though, that both Pete and Jake thought he'd only be gone for a few hours, not the whole day, and certainly not overnight! His uncle would be worried.

"You know," Jake said. "I think I'd better radio Uncle Pete. "Let him know we're camping out tonight and Tommy's with us. Don't want him to worry." He tuned the radio to a different frequency he and his uncle liked to use. Soon they were exchanging information about the search and Jake let him know about their plans.

"You boys be careful out there tonight."

Jake could hear the genuine concern in his voice. "We will, Uncle Pete. Have you heard anything more about this mysterious woman the sheriff is all up and bothered about?"

"Well, he came in earlier this afternoon for something to eat in his car and hot coffee to go. He asked about you but I told him you, Seth, and Tommy was all still out there lookin fer her and Danes. He didn't say nuthin' much about it otherwise. How about you boys? Seen or heard anything?"

"Nothing," Jake said. "Well Okay. I gotta help get things set up for the night. I just wanted you to know we were okay. I doubt we're going to find anything useful tomorrow, so more than likely we'll be back by the afternoon sometime. Maybe sooner."

They signed off then Jake looked at his friends who had stood by listening. "Guess we'd better get set up." A cool breeze suddenly kicked up. "And we'd better get our jackets on."

Each stayed busy organizing sleeping bags, cooking items, canned food and bottled water. Jake, though, reflected on the sheriff coming to the store two days ago ordering him to help search for a young woman. Seeing Tommy there stocking shelves, he ordered him to help too, explaining there was a serious situation, and he had launched a manhunt for this woman. The so-called situation involved a young woman driving a gray car and that she needed to be found – _pronto_. His uncle overheard the conversation and stepped out of the poolroom long enough to tell the sheriff about the young woman he had helped recently. When the sheriff demanded to know which way she'd headed, Uncle Pete simply said, "North," then went back into the poolroom, obviously not interested in getting involved in any further discussion. The sheriff then told Jake that he and Tommy were to work with Seth to help find this woman and to head to a location just north of town where Deputy Walters was setting up a command center.

Jake knew all too well, that when the sheriff barked orders you simply did what he asked. He wasn't one you wanted to provoke, because if you did, he'd throw you in jail for a night or take you out on a lonely dirt road somewhere and deal with you. One time, Jake overheard a conversation between some of the old timers who liked to shoot pool in a back room at the market. He remembered one old guy talking about another fella he knew who'd said ' _no'_ to the sheriff once. He nearly got beat to death. For some reason, no one dared complain or report him to any other law enforcement agency. It was like Sheriff Wilcox literally ruled Crocker County, or parts of it at least.

Jake straightened up and stretched. He watched Tommy trying to help Seth get their makeshift kitchen set up so they could cook their supper. He felt bad for Tommy getting caught up in all of this. Tommy's folks were away on a long-overdue vacation, a two-week cruise to Mexico. Jake was like a big brother to him so he and Pete were more than happy to have Tommy stay with them while the Richards' were gone.

Then the other day, when he and Tommy had pulled up to a wide area on the road heading north, they found Deputy Walters just sitting in his patrol car. Seth, already enlisted to help, was waiting outside leaning against the car.

Seth had been working at the Crocker County sheriff's office for a few years. The main office was in Meyersville just over Cummings Summit, at the north end of the county, but Sheriff Wilcox liked to spend a lot of time in the southern part of the county and set up an unofficial small office on a back street behind Rosie's Cafe. Seth did odd jobs for the sheriff and cleaned up a little around the smaller office. As he explained it, he could use the money.

His father had left him when he was ten, taking off with some other woman. As for his mother, as far as anyone else was concerned, she had run off with some traveling salesman a couple of years later. Seth had been on his own for quite some time but managed to keep out of any serious trouble, until he was seventeen. The story around town was he tried to steal a tractor out of a farmer's field. The tractor ended up in a ditch, and Seth ended up in the sheriff's office. Instead of turning him over to the juvenile authorities, the sheriff agreed to let him work off the misdeed by helping out around the office, and whatever else the sheriff needed done. Seth eagerly accepted. No one wants to go to jail, but he realized too late that he was now in the sheriff's back pocket, so to speak. If he didn't do what he was told, the sheriff threatened to turn him over to the court, and add a few additional charges to his record.

The threesome finished getting things set up then started to prepare their supper. Tommy, stayed close to Seth and Jake, but kept glancing around as if looking for something.

"You okay, Tommy?" Jake asked.

"Y-Yes."

"Are you looking for something?"

"Wild animals."

Jake followed Tommy's gaze. "I don't think we need to worry about that tonight. We'll have a small fire going to help us stay warm. Wild animals don't like fire. They'll stay away."

Tommy nodded but kept looking anyway.

Jake and Seth made eye contact and nodded an understanding about their friend.

Jake finally ask Seth, "You think we're going to find this woman or anything that might lead to her?"

"Not really," Seth said. "You?"

"I don't think so either but I am a little worried."

"Yeah. Me too," Seth replied.

"You scared of the dark too, Seth?" Tommy asked turning his attention to his friend. "Me too." His eyes were fixed on Jake's small campfire.

Jake motioned to Tommy. "Why don't you come sit over here on this log and be in charge of the fire. Remember to keep it small. We don't need a big fire."

"Okay, Jake." Tommy settled on the log and accepted a long stick from Jake to poke the burning embers now and again, with a promise not to let the fire get too big.

Jake joined Seth and together they worked on their simple meal of canned chicken chunks and canned green beans mixed into one pot, instant mashed potatoes in another, and individual applesauce cups.

Jake spoke to Seth in a quiet voice. "What did the sheriff tell you about this young woman he's trying to find? Anything?"

"Just that he wanted to talk to her and that it was no big deal."

"Really. Then why does this feel like more than just a ' _no big deal_ ' type of thing? I mean, he was all hot and bothered when he came out to the store looking for help."

"I know," Seth said. "It feels like more than that to me too, and to be honest, I'm a little worried about what will happen to this woman if he does find her. The sheriff doesn't get all worked up about something unless it's a big deal to _him_."

"Yeah, and how does Danes fit into all of this?"

Seth shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe she asked him for help or something."

"Maybe," Jake replied but that would have been the result of a chance meeting somehow, don't you think? I mean, how often have you seen him around here, Danes that is?"

"Not often. Only once that I can think of. I came to see you at the store. I was watching some of the men shooting pool in the back room," Seth said. "Danes came in to buy something. Your Uncle Pete helped him out, but that was months ago. Otherwise, I never see him. Rumor has it he's here looking for gold."

"Yeah, well, good luck with that," Jake said. "I saw him a couple of other times in town, but he didn't strike me as being any kind of mountain guy or a gold miner."

"Maybe he's one of those middle-aged guys that needed to get away for a while and chill," Seth said. "So, he comes here to hang out in that cabin and get in touch with himself, or something." Seth let out a laugh. "Remember that other guy a couple of years ago? Came here dressed like a cowboy, including spurs on his cowboy boots. He was just too clean looking to pass as a cowboy. Didn't stick around long, either. People just laughed at him and his fancy duds."

Jake chuckled as he recalled the incident. "Yeah, but I felt kinda sorry for him too. I mean, he wasn't hurting anyone, just didn't quite fit in. I don't know what he expected."

"Yeah," Seth said. "Say, when you did see Danes, was he with someone else? Another guy maybe? Because I heard Clay Billings, I think it was, say he spotted Danes driving around in his jeep up in the hills late one afternoon. It was a few months ago. He was with some other guy. Clay said he stayed out of sight to watch until he lost sight of him up around here somewhere. But no one else has seen any other guy, at least not that I'm aware of."

"Another guy, huh?"

"Yeah."

"That's interesting," Jake said.

They finished putting their meal together and joined Tommy at the campfire to eat. Once it got dark, they would try to get sleep so they could get an early start the next morning, but no one knew what to expect or what they might find, if anything.

# CHAPTER 10

Janet was restless. She tossed and turned trying to get comfortable. Her mind was actively recounting everything. If she wasn't awake thinking about recent traumatic events, then she was dreaming about them. Finally, she got up and walked to the opening that led to the short tunnel and out into the main part of the cave. She just stood there.

"Can't sleep?" Greg's voice startled her.

She gasped in response and clutched her chest.

"Sorry," he said. "Didn't mean to frighten you."

"No, that's okay. I'm just a little uneasy, I guess." She forced a weak smile.

"Can't say that I blame you." He joined her and brought an extra blanket to drape around her shoulders.

"Thank you," she said.

They stood quietly together and gazed into the darkness.

"There are lots of tunnels in here," he began. "Some of them are dead ends. I found a couple of others that exit the mountain, but unless you know where you're going, you'd undoubtedly get hopelessly lost in here, and eventually die."

Janet reacted. "Are you trying to scare me?"

"No. Just want you to be careful."

"What you mean is, I shouldn't try to sneak out of here or run away."

"That too. No one would know where you were or how to find you. So, yes, you'd probably die. That's why I want you to stay right here. I know some of these tunnels rather well, and can safely get you in and out of here. But alone, you'd get lost very easily."

"So, when do you think we _will_ be able to leave?" Janet asked.

"In a few hours we'll go back out and listen to the radio again. See what's going on and try to figure out where the sheriff and his cronies are. Until then, we need to sleep." He led her back to her cot.

Up to this point, he'd not done or said anything to give her serious cause for concern. But that one comment was ominous and an obvious warning – he even admitted as much. _Is he really protecting me, or holding me prisoner?_ The truth was, she didn't know anything about him other than he obviously wanted to avoid the sheriff and he claimed to be protecting her. _But what if he is an escaped felon? What if he_ –

"We'll have to fire up the radio again," he said, interrupting her thoughts. We'll do that in a couple of hours. Maybe we can get an idea of what's going on down the hill. And if there is a way, I can get you outta here and out of the county without the sheriff catching up with us, I will."

He sounded reassuring. She hoped he meant what he said.

"Hey, are you still hungry? I am."

His question caught her off guard.

"Hungry?" He asked again.

"Uh, yeah. I guess."

"How about some oatmeal?"

"Oatmeal. What time is it?" Janet frowned.

Greg looked at his watch. "Nearly eight."

"In the morning?" She seemed surprised and was sure she hadn't slept very long.

He chuckled. "No. In the evening."

"Oh. I-It's just that I can't tell in here."

"I know." He motioned to her cot. "Have a seat and I'll whip up something. That stew wore off in a hurry."

Janet sat down but kept the blanket wrapped around her, more for emotional comfort than anything else. She watched Greg as he pulled out some packets and a jug of water. Lighting the small camp stove, he began heating water. In short order, he had a couple of bowls of oatmeal ready to eat, including some hot cocoa.

"Mmm, smells good," Janet said. "Maybe I am a little hungry."

"Yeah, and I'm a regular gourmet chef," he said. Give me a couple of packets of instant oatmeal, some hot water, and a sprinkle of sugar, and we're living high!"

Janet giggled as he handed her a cup of warm cocoa. She took a sip. "This is especially good," she said quietly clasping the metal cup feeling the warmth of it as she sipped. She closed her eyes for a moment, allowing the warm chocolate to slide comfortably down her throat.

"I thought you'd like that," he smiled again and dug into his oatmeal, "since you said you don't like coffee."

"You're not having any?"

"Naw, I'll have some coffee in a minute."

They finished their oatmeal in silence, with just the gentle hissing of the stove burner and the steady drip of water out in the cavern for background noise. Janet finished the last of her cocoa and set her empty bowl and cup beside her on the cot.

"You want more cocoa?" Greg stood up and offered to take her dishes.

"No," she said then changed her mind and nodded. "Well, okay, maybe one more cup."

Greg fixed her a refill while she stared at the tunnel opening again. She just wanted to go home. She wanted to find Sally first so they could _both_ go home and forget about all of this cloak-and-dagger stuff. Janet was still tired but anxious to listen to the radio again.

Greg handed her the cup and sat down next to her as she slowly drank it. She wasn't sure about him sitting next to her but didn't say anything.

"Feeling any better?" he asked.

"I-I guess." She hesitated. "I don't know. I'm very confused right now. I just want to find Sally and go home."

"I know." He gently rubbed her back and tried to reassure her. "You'll find your friend and be able to go home. I promise."

"You promise? How can you promise?" Janet yawned and was having a hard time keeping her eyes open. She tried to get up, but Greg gently held her down. "Just relax," she could hear him say.

"But we need to –" she began to protest, yawning again.

"You need to rest. Then we'll find Sally. And then you can go home."

"Yes." Her eyelids were heavy. She managed a nod and murmured, "Find Sally. Go home."

# CHAPTER 11

Jake, Seth, and Tommy finished their meal and quickly cleaned everything up. All food items were either stored in the ice chest or in a few canvas bags and placed in the cab of the truck.

Jake stood with one hand on the roof and stared up at the darkened sky through the high branches of pine trees. "It's gonna be cold tonight," he said. "Clear sky with only a slight breeze." He stepped away from the truck and surveyed their campsite. "I'll check the fire then we might as well bed down." He dug around in a duffle bag, pulled out a powerful flashlight then turned it on. It cast a nice beam of light for quite a distance. Satisfied, he turned it off. Facing the east, he saw a half-moon rising. It would provide adequate light for now.

"I-I'm not sleepy," Tommy said. "C-Can I stay awake?"

"Well, Tom," Seth replied. "Like Jake said, it's gonna get cold out tonight. You don't have to go to sleep but you should at least get in your sleeping bag to stay warm."

Tommy looked at the truck. "Can I sleep in the truck tonight instead?"

Jake smiled at his friend and thought a moment. "Sure, Tom," he said. "I think we can make room for you to sleep there. Seth, give me a hand."

They rearranged the ice chest and canvas bags on the floor in the cab. "You wait here Tommy," Seth said. "I'll bring your sleeping bag and blankets."

"Okay," Tommy answered and waited while he still looked around at the darkened forest.

Seth brought his bedding and with Jake's help got it all set up on the bench seat ini the cab.

"Can I keep the windows rolled up?"

"Of course, you can." Jake grinned and patted his friend on the shoulder. "You get in and get settled. We'll wait until you're all set.

Tommy happily climbed in and crawled into the sleeping bag, fully dressed, shoes and all.

Jake and Seth waited long enough to make sure he was settled, then strolled back to the campfire to sit on a couple of logs for a while and talk.

"I hope Tommy gets some sleep," Jake said.

"Oh, I think he'll be alright in the truck," Seth replied. "He feels safe in there."

"Yeah," Jake said. "It won't surprise me if he locks the doors."

"Yeah. That'll help keep the wild animals out."

They both grinned but understood Tommy's concerns. They just wanted him to be comfortable for the night. Both sat quietly, each playing with his own thoughts.

Jake broke the silence. "Maybe we _should_ listen to the radio one more time before we bed down."

Seth nodded. "I suppose. You go ahead. I'll wait here."

Jake walked over to the truck and tapped on the window. Tommy eagerly sat up and rolled it down.

"You want to sleep in here too?" Tommy sounded hopeful.

"No, Tom," Jake chuckled, "I just thought I should listen to the radio one last time tonight. That okay with you?"

"Sure." Tommy made room for Jake to sit on the seat and watched him turn on the unit and begin turning the radio dial.

"Hmm – nothing."

"Is that bad?" Tommy asked.

"Not necessarily," Jake said as he carefully scanned several frequencies. All he could raise was static and was ready to turn it off when he happened on a conversation already in progress.

"Mountain Fox, this is Scout, come in."

More static, then, "This is Mountain Fox. I read you Scout."

"Time is running out. Is your package ready?"

"Almost. I'll meet you at our regular place around two this morning."

"Understood. Over and out."

Static replaced the conversation, and Jake turned the radio off. A look of concern crossed his face.

"What's wrong?" Tommy asked, staring at Jake in the dim light.

"I'm not sure, Tommy. I'm just not sure." Jake stepped out of the truck, shut the door, and told Tommy to get some sleep. He then rejoined Seth and shared what he'd just heard.

"Did you recognize the voices?" Seth asked.

"No."

"So, what do you think that was all about? I mean, maybe it doesn't have anything to do with what we're doing; lots of people use CBs around here, you know, but it did sound a little weird."

"Yeah, I know. It just seems odd that someone would talk about a package and a meeting at a special place at two in the morning. Why at two in the morning? Why can't they just mail the package, you know? I mean, what's such a big deal about a package? And why not say what it is?" Jake stared at the flames of their campfire. "It just sounded mysterious and cryptic to me."

Whether or not the conversation he overheard had anything to do with them and their task didn't matter. The two men definitely seemed secretive about their 'package' and Jake couldn't help but wonder what it was all about. He stared at the truck, his thoughts turning.

"Well, since we don't know who was talking," Seth said, "there's not much we can do about whatever it is they're up to. Besides, right now we've got our own thing to deal with."

"I know," Jake said. "We might as well call it a night."

Jake sat on his bag and pulled off his boots but shoved them into the bottom of his sleeping bag. Crawling inside, he zipped it up, then propped his head up on his elbow and looked at Seth. "Something's going on. This whole thing we're involved in. I mean doesn't it seem strange to you?" He waited for Seth to respond, but he didn't right away. "I mean, the sheriff is on a short fuse to begin with –"

"The sheriff's always on a short fuse," Seth remarked.

"Yeah, I know, but this time it seems different somehow. And the way he's handling everything." Jake paused a moment, then continued. "He said he wanted the three of us to look for a gray car driven by a woman in her twenties, isn't that right?"

"Yeah."

"And if we found her to let him know right away. And did you notice all the supplies in the back of my truck?"

"Yeah," Seth answered, "but then you've always got gear in your truck."

"I know, but not that much stuff. Either he or his deputy put all that extra food and blankets in there, probably when he came to the store to enlist my help. I know I keep stuff in my truck, but not that much stuff. He expected us to be up here overnight. That creeps me out."

Seth nodded and waited.

"I don't know. It just seems weird to me, that's all." Jake lay down and stretched out. He looked up between the branches of the trees at the dark sky barely lit by stars and a rising half-full moon. "I should have left Tommy with my uncle." Jake said, still staring heaven-ward.

A chill had definitely settled in. Seth made sure they each had an extra blanket and pulled both of his up around his chin. "So, what do you think we should do tomorrow?" he asked Jake quietly.

"I don't know," Jake said. "I guess keep looking, but it seems unlikely _we're_ going to find any woman up here in the mountains—dead or alive."

"Dead?" Seth's voice sounded uneasy.

"You know what I mean. It's just a figure of speech." Jake backpedaled. "All I meant was that I really don't think there's any woman up here to find. It's almost like we're on a wild goose hunt, you know, like maybe decoys or something, while the sheriff is doing something else. I-I don't know."

"But why would he need to do that; have decoys for anything I mean? He controls this whole county."

"Oh, I don't know. I'm just trying to figure things out," Jake said. "I guess I'm too tired to think straight right now."

"I know what you mean," Seth said. "The sheriff's always doing weird stuff, and he's always acting like he's sitting on a bed of hot coals. I learned a long time ago not to ask questions, just follow directions. No way am I gonna cross that man!" he said. "Ever since we made that agreement after I got caught taking that tractor –" Seth's voice trailed off. He felt uneasy talking about it. Jake became very quiet and Seth wondered if he was already asleep.

Unknown to them, Tommy hadn't fallen asleep yet, but instead decided to turn on the CB radio again on his own. Suddenly, he was calling to them excitedly through the open window of the truck cab.

"Hey! Guys!" he whispered as loudly as possible. "Come here quick!"

Simultaneously, Jake and Seth sat up and looked toward the truck. By now, Tommy was hanging out the open window and waving at them emphatically to come to him. Pulling on their boots, they trotted over to the truck to see what Tommy was all excited about. They immediately realized the CB was on, with the occasional squawk and static.

"What d'ya turn that on for, Tommy?" Seth asked.

"I was just curious, that's all." Tommy defended himself.

Jake asked them both to shush, and all three quieted down to listen as they heard the same two voices once again.

# CHAPTER 12

Janet was lost in a strange dream of unfamiliar voices that seemed to echo.

Careful.

I am being careful but we don't have much time.

Just keep moving.

Janet felt like she was floating. It felt nice. Then the floating stopped and all was still and she drifted back into a deeper sleep as the echoing voices faded and were gone.

At some point, Janet roused slightly. _I'm cold,_ she thought _._ She shifted and tugged at her blanket then settled back into a quiet sleep. Sometime later, she stretched, moaned, and rubbed her forehead. A mild headache seemed to come and go. Finally, she opened her eyes, blinked and yawned then rubbed her eyes with one hand and blinked again. It was pitch black and for a moment she forgot where she was and struggled to sit up. Then she panicked before she remembered. _Yes, the cave, but my head hurts and where is the light? Where is the lantern light Greg left on so we could see in the darkness?_

"Greg?" she called softly. "Greg? Are you asleep?" Janet leaned across, reaching for his cot but couldn't fee; it, then leaned a little farther, but still nothing. She swung her legs off her cot, and sat on the edge, adjusted her unzipped jacket then bent over carefully to reach for his cot. Still nothing. Cautiously, she stood up and took a step then bent over swinging her arms gently back and forth trying to find his cot, hoping he was still in it and asleep. Still nothing.

"Greg. Are you here?" She listened, hoping to hear him breathing nearby. She heard nothing. Panic began to set in. She got on her hands and knees and began to crawl around, expecting to reach one of the crates or one of the chairs but all she could feel was the loose gravel on the cave floor.

Still on her hands and knees she reached back for her cot, finally touching one end of it, and got up to sit on it, still, listening. She became aware of the faint sound of dripping of water, but it wasn't as loud as she remembered it. Plus, the sound was coming from a different direction.

"Am I that turned around?" she said quietly but winced. The sound of her voice seemed almost too loud. _I thought the opening to our small room was at the foot of my cot, not to one side,_ she thought to herself.

_Shadow. What about Shadow?_ She took a chance and called to him as softly as possible. "Shad? Here boy." Nothing. _What time is it?_ She wondered. _Did Greg and Shadow go back out to the jeep to listen to the radio again? Is it morning?_

With growing uncertainty, and deepening concern Janet once again, lowered herself to the cave floor and carefully began a wider search of the room, staying close to her cot to begin with to keep her bearings. She couldn't find anything else. _My shoes. I left them under my cot._ She ventured back to the cot and felt around for her new walking shoes. No shoes. _Where are they?_ Mounting panic replaced uncertainty as she carefully crawled farther away from her cot until she found a wall and followed it, groping for anything.

Suddenly, her hand brushed against something metallic. She felt it first then snatched it up and felt it again. Elated, she realized it was a small pocket flashlight and flicked it on. The beam shone on an opposite wall. She slowly moved the light around. There was nothing else in the room except her cot! No crates, no lantern, and no Greg or Shadow.

Janet swung the light back toward the cave opening, then stopped with a start. "My shoes!" Her voice echoed out in the black space beyond but she didn't care as she quickly retrieved them. A quick scan for anything else proved futile. There was nothing else.

Shoes in hand, she returned to the cot to put them on and sat wondering why she was in this empty cave room and why her shoes were left by the opening, along with the small flashlight – though not in the same place.

Still sitting, Janet shone the light around again and frowned. _This is definitely not the same room Greg took me to when we first came into the mountain cavern. I'm in a different place but why?_

She stood up and walked to the entrance of the room and shone the light out into the darkness of the cavern. It all looked different; not like before. She shone the light to the left and the right. A path ledge went in both directions but twisted out of sight either way. She became aware of the movement of air from her right then studied the path just in front of her. She could see the surface of the path was disturbed. Footprints? _Did Greg carry me into this smaller space?_ She glanced back at her cot _. And my cot, and why didn't I wake up in the process?_

She shone the light on the path in both directions again. _The footprints stopped here_. Fear began to rise in her chest. _Why would he move me and leave me completely alone? Did he leave me here to die? But why? What did I do to deserve this?_

Swallowing hard to push the fear back, Janet set her jaw, determined to find a way out of the cavern and back to safety outside of the mountain. She thought about the slight movement of air. _I'll go that way. Besides that's the direction the footsteps seem to come from._

Janet carefully made her way along, grateful for the flashlight but her thoughts kept coming. _Did Greg leave the flashlight on purpose to find, or did he accidently drop it? But that doesn't make sense if he left me there to die. It had to be an accident._

Ducking from time to time to avoid banging her head on a low overhang jutting out or a lower ceiling, she continued to follow the narrow tunnel. As she did so, the sound of dripping water got louder and it was beginning to sound more like the same _drip, drip, drip_ she heard when Greg first brought her into the cave. But along with the dripping water, Janet listened for other sounds, especially voices.

Eventually, she came to a split in the tunnel passage and immediately remembered what Greg said about the network of tunnels in the cavern. _Just my luck,_ she thought. _Two tunnels, but which one do I choose?_

Janet examined the ground in front of each tunnel entrance for footprints. Both showed signs of usage. She hesitated as she felt for the slight movement of air in front of each tunnel to decide where that air movement was stronger. _Definitely stronger from this one,_ she decided and started to step into the left tunnel but stopped again. _Air movement is no guarantee this is the right tunnel._ She played the light on the ground, looking for some other clue to help her make up her mind. A tiny glint got her attention. She bent down and picked up a discarded gum wrapper! "Yes!" she whispered aloud then winced at the slight echo.

Entering the left tunnel, Janet let her thoughts wander. She remembered the simple meal of oatmeal Greg made for them and how good it tasted. She ducked to avoid hitting her head then returned to her thoughts. _And the cocoa. It was warm and smooth. Two_ _cups of cocoa._ She slowed for a moment. _Two cups of cocoa. And soon after I became very sleepy. Well of course. I was tired. It had been a frantic day._ She picked up her pace again but let her thoughts continue. _Greg wouldn't have put something in the cocoa, would he?_ Janet stopped this time. _But if he did, why?_ Now contemplating the idea that he may have put a sedative in the cocoa for some reason, she still wanted to know why. _Just to move me to the other cave area? I could have walked there myself. Or was it necessary in order to move me there – permanently._ _Then why leave my shoes?_ She started walking again, but began to wonder if she had foolishly fallen victim, once again, to misplaced trust in someone she didn't know. _Once again? Like going to that stupid party? Like that old boyfriend I had in high school who used me to get better acquainted with one of my friends he was more interested in? Yeah. All his promises turned out to be a ruse, just to use me to get a date with her._

Janet shoved those lingering thoughts aside as she slowly worked her way along, more determined than ever to find a way out of the vast cavern and to freedom, in spite of Greg's dire warning of getting lost forever. Her thoughts began to tumble, one after another. _I don't need help from anyone anymore. I will find a way out and I will find Sally on my own. I refuse to be used by other people. I refuse to be manipulated and intimidated by others any longer. It all has to stop. How could I have allowed myself to trust a strange man enough to allow him to persuade me to accompany him into to a cave, of all places?_

I wanted to believe him when he suggested I was in trouble with the sheriff, but what if it was all a carefully contrived deception? Manipulation! He created an entirely different story to deceive me. To take advantage of me, just like Joel did in high school. Or what if he's just a very patient pervert! Well good luck with that. I'm getting out of here.

The more she thought, the angrier she got. _How dare he drag me deep into this mountain and leave me here alone to die? I'll get out of here. I'll go find that sheriff and tell him everything that has happened. He's the sheriff, for crying out loud! It's his duty to help people; to help me not hurt me. That's what sheriffs and policemen do. They help people. They don't drag them into caves. Someone probably filed a missing person's report and broadcast it statewide. Yes, that's what happened. The sheriff is trying to find me. To help me!_

She abruptly stopped walking. _Janet. You're doing it again. Believing someone will actually help you. Stop it. Take control. You cannot believe anyone anymore. You can only trust yourself._

The dripping water had grown louder. Hopeful, Janet began to walk a little faster. She kept one hand raised over her head and slightly forward and held the flashlight with the other and had no idea how long she'd been making her way along, until the tunnel suddenly opened up into a larger cavern area. Stopping for a moment to play the light around and look at the formations, awed once again, just like the first day. Although it was beautiful, it was not the same cavern she had seen then. As much as she wanted to admire the beauty, time was of the essence, and she needed to keep moving.

Up until now, Janet hadn't thought much about what she would do if someone happened to come along the passage and run into her, but now she started to think about it. _What should I do if Greg finds me? Where could I hide so he can't find me? I cannot let him find me._ Determined to keep going, she decided she'd just have to deal with that when it happened, if it happened.

The passageway turned to the right slightly, and Janet stopped, facing another tunnel leading away from the open space she'd been in. She decided to wait and listen for a moment and to feel for that movement of air. No sounds. No noticeable air movement. Growing increasingly uneasy, she questioned her progress. _Did I miss a turn back there? Miss another tunnel I should have taken instead?_ She couldn't remember seeing anything else. _No, I didn't miss anything. I have to keep going this way._

With great trepidation, she entered the tunnel, keeping the light beam moving around enough to see low spots overhead, as well as disturbances on the surface of the path. There was little loose dirt or gravel in this tunnel. The path was bumpy but the surface was smooth. Moving ahead slowly, she strained to listen but all she could hear was the soft sounds of her own footsteps. She wished she didn't need the flashlight to guide her because she didn't want to give anyone advanced warning of her approach. On the other hand, if anyone else were in the passageway, they'd need a light too. Although not entirely reassured, she picked up the pace again and resumed her former posture of keeping one hand up to feel for low overhangs and the other holding the tiny light. The movement of air she had felt earlier was back and that gave her hope. Maybe she was getting somewhere, after all, or at least somewhere she wanted to be.

The passage turned slightly to the left, and she immediately flicked off her light. She could see a faint glow up ahead. Standing perfectly still she listened. No sounds. No voices. But that didn't mean no one was there. Unsure what to do, Janet tentatively took a couple of steps forward, doing her best not to make any sound, and then stopped to listen again. The air was still moving at her, which she hoped was a good sign. However, if Shadow were up ahead, he might hear her coming. He might not catch her scent, since the air was moving in her direction, but sounds were a different thing. _He definitely heard Greg returning to their hideaway the day before – was it the day before?_ She had no idea. Hearing nothing, she continued on.

With all her limited senses now alert as she watched the glow of light ahead, she suddenly stopped. What if someone were coming up behind her? She swung around and shone the light behind her but no one was there. Although relieved, she was tense and her fear increased. The lighted area definitely meant someone else was using that area ahead and the very real possibility of running into someone was of paramount concern.

Janet kept her flashlight aimed at her feet as she approached the lighted area ahead. Now within a few feet of the entrance to another cave room she paused to listen. That familiar drip-drip was much louder. She turned off the flashlight and with caution slowly walked to the entrance and carefully peeked inside then stopped in amazement. It was the original cave room she had been in with Greg! The lantern was set exactly as she remembered, with a dim glow. His cot and all the other supplies were still there, but the spot where her cot had been, was empty. She quickly examined everything in the room and found her purse, phone, and bag up against a wall. But something else she noticed was three coffee mugs. One had the remains of her cocoa in it. One was Greg's because she recognized the design on it, but the other one also had the remains of coffee in it. Three mugs. She felt Greg's mug and the other one. Both cold.

At the same time, her mind was reeling. _My mug and Greg's mug, but who used the third one?_ At that instant, Janet realized that Greg wasn't operating alone; there was someone else working with him or at least he had a guest! And that other person probably helped him carry her, cot and all, to that other cave.

She stiffened at a faint sound and quickly walked to the room entrance to listen. A voice? Yes. A voice. No. Two voices. Men. Quietly talking to each other and they were headed her way. Now what? That what-if situation had arrived, and she had to make a decision. Go back the way she had come? Or stay here and wait for whoever was coming? Neither option worked for her.

Although they spoke quietly, the men's voices grew louder. Still listening she watch up the path, waiting to see a light coming toward her. At the same time, she worked herself up into a serious state of panic. Their conversation became clearer and she recognized one voice. It was Greg, the other however, was unfamiliar. Janet did not want to be found.

The men were getting closer, but neither seemed concerned. As she listened, it was difficult to determine what direction they were coming from, as the sound echoed through the larger outer chamber and as they got closer, she could finally understand some of what they were saying.

"You sure, she'll stay asleep?" the unfamiliar man asked.

"She should be fine," she heard Greg say. "No one will find her in here but we need to hurry and we may have to move up our timetable."

Definitely Greg's voice but the sound of their footsteps was becoming clearer. It was in that moment that Janet realized the men were not coming in from the direction of the small outside cabin, but rather from the direction she'd just come from. In other words, they were coming in from behind her!

It took all of two seconds for a terrifying chill to run down Janet's spine and another two seconds to leave this cave room and get moving! Greg and his companion must have come from one of the other tunnels she had just passed. She stepped out onto the path, gauged the distance to the next short turn then shut off her flashlight and began to feel her way along. The voices and footsteps grew louder. She could hear them chuckle over something one of them had just said and was grateful they apparently had no idea she was so close by.

She reached the first turn on the path and looked back. A glow was growing from their own flashlights but she could not see them yet. She flicked on her light, quickly checked the path, then turned it off and felt her way along again. After several steps she looked back. She could see the glow but it wasn't moving any longer. They were at the cave room and still chatting. Janet turned on her flashlight again and began to hurry believing she actually had a good chance to get out before they would realize she was gone.

She managed to cover a good amount of distance when suddenly the unthinkable happened! She let out an involuntary sneeze!

# CHAPTER 13

"You think the sheriff's up to no good, don't you?" Seth asked Jake after they turned off the radio and walked back to their sleeping bags.

"I don't know, Seth," Jake replied. "It's just that nothing feels right about any of this. Nothing seems right. I just don't get it." He let out a tired sigh and stared out into the darkness at nothing in particular.

"I know. I don't like it either," Seth said as he crawled into his sleeping bag. He propped himself up on one elbow. "So, what are we going to do come morning?"

"I'm not sure. I'll think about it tonight. Maybe I can come up with something."

Seth lay down and stared up into the night sky. He listened as the tops of the trees sang their soft song as a breeze gently danced in among their branches. Jake had just taken off one of his boots when Tommy stuck his head out the truck window and called to them.

"Hey, guys?"

"Yes, Tommy, what do you need?" Jake asked.

"Nothing. But I was thinking about what the deputy said earlier today about the girl hiding out someplace."

"Were you?"

"Yup."

"Well, I wouldn't worry about it right now. Just get some sleep so we can get an early start in the morning." Jake yanked off his other boot and laid down. He was tired and wanted to get some sleep. With the orders from the sheriff earlier in the day, and the radio conversations they overheard, both from the sheriff and his deputies, plus the two strange men was concerning, but he really didn't know what to do. If the young woman was with Danes, he sure didn't know where they could have gone. It was a big mountain, and there were plenty of trails and fire roads he could have taken, but finding the right one was a challenge. He didn't know where they should begin looking.

"I'm just a dumb kid running a gas station and grocery store with my uncle in the valley. What do I know about these hills?" he muttered to himself.

"Hey, Jake?" Tommy called out again. "What about that old shack up on the side of Crocker Peak."

Jake rolled onto one side so he could see the truck. "What shack?"

"That old one on Crocker Peak, like I said," Tommy repeated. "It's just an old shack that nobody uses no more. Some old miner used to live in it; at least that's what my dad told me." Tommy was surprised that Jake didn't seem to know anything about it.

"Where is this shack, Tommy?" Jake was sitting up and pulling his boots back on, suddenly very interested in what his young friend had to say.

"Up on Crocker Peak, like I said." Tommy sounded exasperated.

"I know that's what you said, Tommy, but Crocker Peak is a big mountain. Where _exactly_ is this shack?"

"Up there." Tommy pointed in the general direction of the mountain summit.

The half-moon was bright enough that he could see Tommy pointing up the mountain side. "You're sure about this!" Jake asked and stood up.

"Sure, I'm sure. I've even been there a couple of times with my dad when we went hunting; just not in the dark." He hesitated a moment and then continued, "He won't take me anymore 'cause he says I –"

"Tommy!" Jake interrupted him. Do you suppose you could find it again? Could you show it to us?" Jake hurried to the truck; his eyes focused on his friend.

"Maybe I could, when the sun comes up."

"No. I mean right now. Tonight."

"Now? In the dark?" Tommy eyes were wide open. He wasn't so sure about that right now.

"Yeah. Do you think we could get to it from here? What do you think, Tommy? Could you do this? You could be the hero, if we find the girl. Wouldn't you like to be the hero?" Jake coaxed him.

"Me? A hero? Sure, I'd like to be the hero, but it's so dark out here right now. I thought we were going to sleep first and wait for morning." Tommy pulled back inside the truck and started to roll up the window, but Jake put his hand on it after a couple of cranks.

"That girl needs our help, Tommy. You'd like to help her, wouldn't you?"

"Yeah, I'd like to help her, but I thought the sheriff was trying to help her."

"Well, remember, he asked us to help too, right?"

"Y-yeah," Tommy stammered.

"And we're already up here."

"Yeah?"

"So, it makes sense that we try to find her right now, before it's too late."

"Too late?" Tommy asked.

"Y-Yeah. If something happened to her tonight and we weren't there to help her, well. Tom. We gotta try to find her." Jake hurried back over to rouse Seth who was sound asleep.

"What?" Seth asked groggily. "What's going on?"

"Time to go." Jake was matter-of-fact as he hurriedly rolled up his sleeping bag and gathered up a couple of other items.

"Hey! What's going on?" Seth demanded raising up on his elbows.

"We have to find a small shack."

"A what?" Seth was dumfounded.

"Tommy will explain. Come on. Let's go! Jake tossed his gear and other items in the back of the truck. "Come on, Seth," he demanded. "Toss your stuff in the back. We need to get going. Now!"

"What's got into you?" Seth was irritated at being roused from a deep sleep.

"I'm sorry, Seth, but I have this gut feeling that if we don't find that shack soon, it may be too late."

Without further discussion, Seth gathered up his things while Jake made sure their smoldering campfire was completely cold. He hurried to help Seth load up the rest of their gear then hopped in the cab and soon they were headed up higher into the hills. The road, if you could call it that, wound around and between the trees, often obscured by rotted branches and thick layers of pine needles. Even so, there was a slightly discernable trail that was wide enough for the laboring truck. The headlights cut through the darkness like a knife. Twice they startled some deer who froze for an instant then bounded into scrub and between trees to get away.

Tommy sat between Jake and Seth and gripped the dashboard, his eyes wide with anticipation and fear but he didn't say a word. He almost wished now he hadn't said anything about the shack until daylight. _How did I know that Jake was going to get all excited and decide to chase up the mountainside looking for the girl in the middle of the night? It would have been much better to wait for morning_.

After about a half an hour of rough driving, Jake brought his poor old truck to a stop. "We're gonna have to hike it from here."

"Hike?" Tommy seemed incredulous. "In the dark?"

"Yes, Tom, in the dark." As much as he cared for his young friend, his impatience was growing thin. But he also knew it was due in part to his exhaustion. He quickly apologized. "I'm sorry, Tommy, but we really need to find that girl."

"I know," Tommy said quietly.

Seth watched Jake. He really liked and respected his friend, but he now thought they were taking this a little too far. "Jake," he said. "I understand your concern for this girl. I'm worried about her too, but how do we know where to go?"

"We'll keep following this trail. If my truck had four-wheel drive, we could've kept driving, but it doesn't, and the engine was beginning to heat up. It just isn't cut out for this type of terrain." He looked at his friends. "I'm sorry, guys, but we really need to find that shack. I'm convinced that girl is in real danger. Don't ask me why because I can't tell you. I don't even know myself, but the feeling is so strong."

"Okay, Jake," Seth said. "Let's go." He opened the passenger door and hopped out of the truck cab. "Come on, Tommy. We'll be okay. There are three of us. Three men." He wanted to reassure him. "We can do this." Timidly, Tommy slid out of the truck while Jake quickly threw some items in a small backpack and put it on.

"I'm glad you're with us, Tom," Jake said. "You're the only one who knows about the shack, so you are in charge, okay?"

"I'm in charge?" He looked uncertain but perked up a little, suddenly pleased with the idea. Zipping up his jacket and pulling a stocking cap from one of the pockets, Tommy took the lead as the three friends continued up the mountain, playing the beams of their flashlights on the ground and doing their best to follow the meager trail.

For the next hour, they trudged along in the cold night air, stepping over rocks and debris and occasionally stumbling on half-buried rotted tree limbs. It was tedious going, but they kept at it moving along in silence, listening and watching.

Jake also kept looking at the ground for any signs of other vehicles using this route. If there were any, it was too dark to tell.

Seth was beginning to think it was a fictional cabin. _Who would build a place way up here_ , he wondered? _And as late and cold as it is, if we don't find something soon, we could possibly get lost in the woods and have to stop and wait until dawn to make our way back to the truck. And the worst-case scenario is we would still be nowhere in our search_.

The half-full moon, now high overhead didn't help all that much at the moment due to all the trees around them, and their flashlights could only illuminate a small swath of the terrain.

At last, Tommy got excited and stopped. He pointed at something up ahead. "I think I see it."

His excitement raised the hopes of Jake and Seth as they got closer and stepped into a small clearing. The silvery light of the moon barely lit the shape of a roofline and stovepipe through the tree canopy. They aimed their flashlights at the small structure.

"Yup. There it is!" Tommy exclaimed. "I told you."

"Shh!" Jake and Seth said together.

"Keep it down, Tommy," Jake cautioned. The three of them stopped and played their lights around examining the shack and the surroundings.

"Look over there!" Seth whispered excitedly focusing his beam. "A jeep!"

Parked in the shadows between some trees they saw a beat-up jeep. Seth stealthily made his way over to it and then hurried back. "It's Danes' jeep," he whispered.

"You're sure?" Jake asked quietly.

"Yeah, I'm sure. I recognize all the dings and the mud."

The trio looked up at the tiny shack clinging to the side of the hill.

"Doesn't look like much," Jake remarked quietly.

"I know," Tommy agreed excitedly, "but just wait!" He started toward the porch steps, but Jake stopped him.

"Wait a minute," Jake whispered, pulling him back. "We can't just go up to the door and knock, or walk in; not yet anyway. We need to check it out first."

"Okay." Tommy obediently stepped back to wait, realizing he was no longer in charge. At least he helped them find the shack.

Jake led the trio and cautiously approached the ladder posing as steps leading to the tiny porch. It required careful placement of his feet on each tread.

Now standing on the narrow porch, Jake tried to peer through the small window, but it was pitch-black inside. He carefully tried the door. It was unlocked, although that didn't surprise him. Opening it slowly, he waited for a sound of any kind, but heard nothing.

Seth and Tommy, in the meantime, waited at the base of the steps until Jake motioned for them to follow, which they did.

Jake turned on his flashlight and stepped inside, shining the light around at the interior as his friends joined him.

All stared in disbelief. Seth let out a gasp. "Wow!" he said. "You'd never guess it was this big inside!"

"I told you." Tommy was proud of himself.

"You're a good man, Tom," Jake complemented his friend as he continued to gaze in amazement. "A good man."

Each of them noticed the two cots, a small table with two chairs and a few other items that clearly indicated someone was using the shack; probably two people by the looks of things.

Seth walked to the closet door and carefully opened it. Inside were a couple of jackets hanging on nails on the back wall, but nothing more. He cast his light on the floor, looking for anything else then called to Jake. "Hey, come take a look at this."

Jake and Tommy joined him and looked at the floor where the light was shining.

"That's interesting," Jake said. "Why would there be dirt and gravel here but nowhere else?" Jake aimed his light back into the room. I don't see any of that in the rest of the cabin. He bent down to take a closer look and detected a slight draft of air. Standing up, he looked back at the cabin door. It was still standing open. "Hey, Tom, you wanna go close that door for us? Quietly, though, okay?"

"Sure, Jake." Tommy did as he was asked while Jake bent down again.

Even though the front cabin door was now closed, Jake still felt a draft of air coming from somewhere.

"Either one of you have a match on ya?"

"Yeah, I do," Seth handed him a book of matches.

Pulling one off, Jake lit it and then moved it around. It began to flicker more toward the back wall of the closet, then went out.

"What's going on?" Seth asked.

"There's air coming from behind this back wall." Jake stood up and began to feel around the edges. He pushed and pulled in various places, but nothing gave way. "I don't know," he muttered. "There's just something odd about this."

"Maybe there's a key in the pocket of one of those jackets," Tommy suggested.

"Uh, well that's a good thought, my friend, except I don't see any lock to open with a key."

"Oh," Tommy replied.

Even so, Jake decided to look in the jacket pockets anyway. There was an extra nail on the back wall, so he hung his flashlight on it to search the jackets, but in doing so, he heard a faint click, and the back wall moved slightly away from them.

All three boys stood motionless for a moment; then Jake gently pushed it. It swung back into a very dark void. He took a chance and shined his light into the darkness.

"Wow," all three said slowly. A tunnel seemed to go for quite a distance.

"What do we do now?" Seth asked.

"Follow the passage and see where it takes us," Jake replied as he stepped into it.

"Are you sure?" Seth asked with uncertainty.

"Well, it seems like this is the only real clue we have to work with. How else are we going to find that girl?" He looked back at the empty cabin. "With Dane's jeep out there and no one in here, the tunnel is the only other likely option, don't you think?"

"I suppose, but maybe we _should_ wait until the sun comes up."

"Well, I don't know if she's in here somewhere or not, but what difference will it make when the sun's up? It'll still be dark back in there." He shone his light down the passage again. "Come on. We'll just go a short distance and listen for voices. If we hear the girl, we'll keep going. If not, we'll turn back. How's that?"

"I-I guess," Seth replied. "But what if we _do_ hear other voices?"

Jake hesitated. "Good point. Well, if we hear any other voices, we'll just get the heck outta here, okay?"

"Okay," Seth and Tommy replied in unison.

Slowly, the threesome entered the passageway. Seth decided to prop the door open just in case it started to swing shut. He didn't want to get trapped. He found a small log near the old stove and used that for the doorstop, then joined his friends, taking up the position at the rear with Tommy in the middle. Jake led the way. Their feet made an eerie crunching sound in some places in addition to the fact that they found themselves shuffling rather than taking full steps.

The tunnel was spooky and even though they had three flashlights, they still couldn't generate enough light to brighten things up. They continued for about five minutes, ducking to avoid banging their heads on low ceilings, until they found themselves in a more open chamber filled with fascinating colors and shapes. They were awestruck with the sight, and paused for a moment but they knew they had to continue. The pitch-black darkness seemed to swallow the light from their flashlights as they entered another narrow passage. A couple of minutes later, they came upon a larger and smoother-looking tunnel. This one was obviously manmade, or at least widened by someone. They kept going deeper into the mountain keeping close ranks in the quiet darkness. All they heard was a steady _drip-drip_ of water from somewhere nearby. Then Jake held up his hand and motioned for them to stop and remain silent. He took a step farther in the passage and listened.

"Wha – ," Seth began.

"Shh!" Jake whispered back instantly. He took one more step then turned to his friends and whispered. "Seth, take Tommy and get out of here, now!" His voice was a tense whisper. "Now!"

Seth didn't wait for a third invitation. He grabbed Tommy and pulled him in the direction of the shack, not knowing what Jake was going to do.

Jake stayed put until he couldn't see them any longer, then slowly made his way farther along the passage. He kept shining his light ahead and then would dip it down to examine the ground every couple of steps. He stopped again and listened, thinking he could hear footsteps, but hurried ones, in the distance. They continued to get louder until he thought he could also hear the heavy breathing of someone headed toward him. He quickly went back to where the man-made tunnel began and flicked off his light, waiting. His heart pounded, and his breathing became rapid. _'Calm down,'_ he silently told himself. _'Just calm down.'_

# CHAPTER 14

Janet was beside herself. It was bad enough to find out that Greg was behind all of this, but then to sneeze! Sleeping people don't sneeze, do they? Well, even if they did, the point is she was ahead of Greg and his companion, not behind them. If they heard the sneeze, they'd be coming to see who it was.

Janet wasn't sure how far behind they were, but she was determined to get to the cabin before they could get to her! She continued along the path with flashlight in hand; staying crouched down as much as possible to avoid smacking her head on something. Even so, she kept bumping into the passage walls and scraped up the back of her hand a couple of times, wincing at the pain. She could hear hurried footsteps behind but didn't slow down.

"I'm know I heard something," the other voice said.

"Yeah, but who?" Greg replied. Their voices carried in the passageway. "Go check the other room. I'll wait here."

Janet could hear them; aware they had stopped. This was a lucky break, she decided. It would give her more time to get away. A few minutes later she could hear them coming again.

"Janet?" she heard Greg call out, his voice echoing throughout the cave.

"We don't know it's her," the other voice said in a hushed voice and stopped.

Greg stopped as well. "If not her, then who?" Greg asked quietly. "You said she's not in the other room."

"She could have taken a wrong turn and gotten lost in another tunnel," the other man said.

"That's true," Greg agreed. "Okay, let's split up. Go check the other two tunnels then meet me at the cabin. "I'll keep going this way."

Janet, in the meantime, continued on her anxious attempt to reach the small cabin before they caught up with her. A short distance farther, she came to another split. Two more tunnels, but which one? She didn't remember seeing two of them before, but then she was distracted by everything and kept following Greg. It would have been easy to miss. Using her one-time tried-and-true investigative technique, Janet bent down to examine the ground for footsteps or other clues. One definitely seemed to show signs of more frequent usage than the other, plus she could feel a stronger draft in it. Standing up, she chose that tunnel and continued at a quickened pace. Where was that colorful cavern she had seen? Still moving quickly, the passage made a sharp turn, and Janet ran smack into the wall, letting out a moan that seemed to echo throughout the cave. At the same time, she dropped her flashlight, and it went out.

"No," Janet cried out softly. Kneeling down, she groped around trying to find it without much luck. And worse, she could hear voices again farther back in the cave. Panic-stricken, she got up and began making her way along the tunnel wall in the dark. The going was slow, but she had no other choice. It seemed to go on forever as she groped along with her hands and shuffled with her feet, hoping not to trip and fall into a deep crevasse.

The darkness was so intense that her eyes hurt from straining to see even one little speck of light somewhere. She had totally lost her bearings. For all she knew, she could be going in the wrong direction.

"This is insane," she heard herself saying and began to cry. "Somebody; help me." Tears streamed down her face. "I don't want to die. I don't want to die." It was a desperate whimper.

With one hand following the tunnel wall and the other out in front of her, she felt and groped her way along, listening to the increasing sound of footsteps behind. She had just gone a few steps farther when in the darkness, she ran straight into someone. Immediately, two strong hands grabbed her and held her tight. Janet let out an ear-piercing scream that penetrated the entire mountain; then collapsed.

# CHAPTER 15

Seth and Tommy made it back to the shack. They anxiously waited, impatient for Jake to join them. They were getting ready to reenter the cave when they both heard a terrifying scream. Scrambling back into the tunnel, flashlights lit, they soon encountered Jake struggling to drag a lifeless form with one arm while shining his light with his other hand. He was grateful to see his friends.

"Give me a hand, Seth, will ya?"

"Sure thing!" Seth hurried to help Jake with the body. "Is this the girl?"

"Is she dead?" Tommy asked.

"Yes, I think it's the girl, and no, she's not dead." He panted with exhaustion mixed with a huge adrenaline spike. "We gotta hurry! Someone's coming after her!"

Seth handed Tommy his flashlight and then helped Jake carry the girl out through the cabin and down the steep steps.

"We should've blocked the closet door," Seth said suddenly.

"No time!" Jake replied.

"Let me carry her over my shoulder," Seth said. Carefully lifting her up, they all noticed how pretty she was in spite of cuts and bruises.

"That's fine, but we'll never get away on foot," Jake remarked.

"Let's run!" Tommy said and started off.

"Hold up there, buddy!" Jake called to him. "We can't outrun these guys."

"Here, take the girl," Seth said and unloaded her. Jake grabbed hold and watched as Seth ran to the jeep. Within seconds, it sprang to life. Easing it out of the trees he got it turned around and drove up to his friends. Tommy helped Jake get the girl in the back then hopped in the front with Seth.

"Hot dog! You hot-wired it!" Jake was ecstatic.

Seth smiled and let out a "Yaaaahoooo!" as he put the jeep in gear. At the same moment, two men burst from the cabin and quickly jumped down, avoiding the steep steps.

"Hey!" they both yelled. "Stop!" one shouted, accompanied by a gunshot.

"They're shooting at us!" Tommy yelled and ducked down in front.

Seth also crouched down but continued maneuvering the jeep between trees and over rocks, causing the vehicle to lurch and bounce.

"Take it easy!" Tommy yelled at Seth. "You're gonna kill us!"

"Just shut up and let me do the driving!" he screamed back. The adrenaline was pumping hard as the occupants of the jeep, fearing for their lives, tried to set a new record for descending a mountain in the dark at top speed.

"Turn on the headlights!" Jake shouted.

Seth did so then maintained their reckless escape, bouncing and jerking down the mountainside. All were confident they had satisfactorily distanced themselves from further gunshots and stopped crouching as the jeep lurched and heaved side-to-side over the rough terrain. Seth suddenly came to a stop. He left the engine running, put the gear in neutral, and set the brake then leaned back for a moment, breathing hard.

"Why'd we stop, Seth?" Tommy asked.

"I needed to start breathing again," he said. "I think I held my breath all the way down." He continued to pant hard. His hands still gripped the steering wheel as he gazed ahead. He finally released his grip and turned around to look at Jake and their new passenger who was wide-awake and staring at all of them in disbelief.

"Are you okay?" Jake asked her.

"I-I guess so," she stared at him and then the others. "But who _are_ you guys?"

"Oh, well, I'm Jake Hanley." He held out his hand to shake hers. Mechanically, she obliged. "Our reckless driver is Seth Cullins." He pointed. "And –"

"I'm Tommy – er, Tom," he said excitedly, then gave her a funny smile and looked away, embarrassed.

"Nice to meet you, Tom." She managed to say. He was grinning from ear to ear but didn't look back at her. "And you too." She looked at both Jake and Seth. "But what are you doing here?" Janet asked, looking behind the jeep nervously. "Where did you come from?"

"We're rescuing you!" Tommy said excitedly, looking at her again.

"Rescuing me?" Secretly, Janet was relieved to have rescuers but uneasy about trusting anyone anymore. "What makes you think I need to be rescued?"

Jake gave her a curious look then said, "Well, in the tunnel back there, I thought I heard you say you wanted help from someone. And the sheriff has been trying to find you, at least I think it's you."

"The sheriff?" she asked nervously. "Are you helping him find me?

"Well, sorta, but –"

"Are you going to take me to the sheriff?"

"No," Jake finally said. "At least not yet."

"Not yet?"

"What I mean is we don't know who to take you to for help just yet, so we're going to take care of you ourselves until we do." Jake was matter-of-fact. "Anyway, right now, we need to get moving again, Seth." Then turning back to Janet, he said, "What did you say your name was?"

"I didn't." She looked at him.

"Oh. Right." He felt sheepish. "You didn't."

"But it's Janet."

It wasn't long before they reached Jake's truck. Seth kept the jeep running while Jake, Janet, and Tommy hopped out.

"What do you want me to do with the jeep?" he asked Jake.

"Hang on to it for now. We don't want Danes and that other guy to catch up to us any time soon."

"Right!"

"Tommy, you can ride with me and Janet in the pickup, okay?"

"Sure, Jake." He headed for the truck as Jake helped Janet out of the backseat of the jeep.

"Come on, Janet. You can sit between me and Tommy, and Seth's gonna follow in the jeep."

She stared at him. "Do you know Greg Danes?"

"Not really," he said as then both got settled in the truck.

Both vehicles headed back down the mountain, but at a safer speed. The sky was starting to show signs of daylight. It would be dawn soon. Jake hoped they could get all the way back to Cold Creek before the sun was completely up. He debated about whether or not to turn on the CB but decided not to for now. No telling what he'd hear and he didn't want to upset Janet or Tommy.

Janet sat quietly as she rode in the truck with both men, but her thoughts were running. _They know Greg Danes, but didn't say how well. Are they all friends? And it sounds like they've been working with the sheriff to find me. As nice as these guys seem to be, I may need to run away from them too. We'll see._

Even though they had taken their time heading up the mountain the day before, coming back down was different. They weren't looking for someone this time, and going downhill is always easier that going up. They were getting closer to Danes' cabin, and the sky was definitely showing signs of dawn, but sunrise was still about an hour away. They finally came within about an eighth of a mile of the cabin where Jake pulled up and stopped his truck. Seth pulled up beside him, and they had a brief conversation.

"Now what?" Seth asked.

"Well, I think I want to hike down to the cabin and check around first."

"Good idea. You want me to come along?" Seth asked.

"How about you come halfway, just in case?" Jake said. "If something goes wrong, you can hustle back up here and take off with Tommy and Janet."

"But where would I go?"

"Back up into the hills, I guess," Jake replied. I don't know. But what I do know is we gotta take care of Janet."

Janet stared at them, now realizing they really did want to help. But she wasn't happy about this stop nor about Jake and Seth leaving her and Tommy behind and said so. "Wouldn't it be better if we all stayed together?" she asked.

Tommy nodded in agreement.

"I mean, what if Greg and h-his _friend_ show up?"

"His friend?" Jake asked and looked at her. "Do you know who that other man is?"

"No. I only know Greg – sort of. I thought he was helping me."

"And you don't who that other guy is?" Jake asked.

"No. I never saw him. I just heard him and Greg talking – about me."

"You trust Greg?"

"I don't know. I thought I could, but now I'm not so sure."

"You trust us?" Tommy asked.

"I-I don't know. Maybe."

Tommy frowned. "But we saved you. We rescued you."

Janet managed a smile. "Thank you for rescuing me."

"You're welcome." Tommy grinned.

"But I still think we should all stay together," she said. Isn't there another way to get back to the highway besides driving past Greg's cabin?

Seth wasn't too concerned. "We got their jeep which means they're on foot," he said. "You should be okay for a few minutes. We just need to check out the cabin, that's all."

"Well, you may have Greg's jeep, but what about the other guy? How's he been getting around?" She made an excellent point.

"Uh, well, that's a very good question." Jake looked at Seth. "I don't know, but for right now, I think you and Tommy should stay here in the truck. Seth will follow me partway down, and I'll go on to Danes' cabin and see what's going on there."

"Like what?" she asked. "If Greg and his friend are behind us, who would be at his cabin?"

"Well, there are other people out looking for you too," he said. We'd rather get you back to Cold Creek safe and sound. My uncle will probably know what's best to do. That's all."

"Your uncle."

"Yeah. He and I operate the gas station and mini-market on the south end of town.

Janet smiled. "I think I met your uncle. I needed gas and he filled the tank for me."

Jake grinned. "Yeah. He does that for everyone. Locals and visitors. But as for Dane's cabin, I still want to go check it out. So please stay here. Don't run off." He had made up his mind, and there was no changing it.

Although not at all happy with the plan, Janet slumped back against the seat and gave in. "Just hurry back."

Instructing Seth to park the jeep among some nearby trees, Jake led the way as they headed down the road towards Greg's cabin while Janet and Tommy watched. In the meantime, she adjusted the rearview mirror so she could see anything coming from behind. Tommy figured she was just checking her hair and smiled at her.

"You look real pretty. Even with the scratches."

"You are very sweet, Tom." She smiled at him and took his hand. "I know you will protect me."

Tommy blushed but agreed. "Yes, I will."

Janet rested her head against the back window of the truck cab but kept her eye on the mirror. Tommy just stared ahead watching and waiting for his pals to come back.

Jake and Seth hurried down the road, listening for anything unusual. They tried to keep to areas with lots of pine needles to mask the sound of their approach and eliminate footprints in the process. Jake finally indicated for Seth to stay put, which he did, and crouched down. Jake then went ahead listening and watching for anyone or anything.

He finally came within sight of the cabin. He didn't smell any smoke from the wood burning stove and didn't see any trailing wisps of smoke coming from the stovepipe either. He heard no sounds. Approaching from the rear of the cabin, he crept around one side until he could get a clear view of the open area in front. It was still early and though the sun had not yet crested the eastern range of mountains, the sky was pretty light already.

Happily, he didn't see any vehicles or other evidence that anyone had stopped by the cabin yet. He retraced his steps around to the back of the cabin and over to the other side to check it out as well. Nothing.

Glancing around, he then eased around to the front of the cabin and mounted the steps to the porch and front door. Carefully peering in a window, he couldn't see anything for the darkness, but hoped no one was looking at him either. He quietly tiptoed to the front door and tried the latch. It released easily, and he eased the door open.

Seth, in the meantime, was getting anxious and beginning to wonder if he should go find Jake or hurry back to the truck when his friend returned to report that the cabin was empty and there were no signs of anyone else around. Together, they headed back to the truck to tell the others.

Tommy squeezed Janet's hand the moment he saw his friends. She sat up straight and silently chided herself for dozing off. "What took so long?" she said in a strong voice, hoping to mask her inner fears.

"Yeah!" Tommy joined in. "What took so long?"

Jake looked at Tommy somewhat amused and then glanced at his watch. "We've only been gone for about twenty minutes." He said. "Besides, I had to make certain no one was at Danes' cabin since we have to drive right by it."

"Fine," she acknowledged. "Can we go now?" Janet's nerves were definitely on edge. The last few days had been the worst she could remember. She was cold, tired, hungry, and just wanted to find Sally, go home, and forget about mountains, and caves, and drips, and dogs.

"What happened to Shad?" she suddenly asked.

"Who?" all three friends asked together.

"Shad. Shadow. Greg's dog?" Janet's voice trailed off.

"Didn't know he had a dog," Seth answered then hopped into the truck bed to sit on top of their sleeping bags.

Jake climbed in the driver's side and started up the engine. They headed on down and around Danes' cabin taking the same route she and Greg had traveled a couple of days before.

"My car!" she blurted out suddenly.

_"Your_ car?" Jake asked. "Where? What about it?"

"It's back up the road somewhere. Greg hid it in some trees."

"I'll bet the sheriff has found it by now and probably towed it into town. Besides, we don't have time to go back and look for it."

Jake carefully guided his truck along the dusty road. The sky was getting lighter, and he really wanted to get on the paved road and head for Cold Creek as fast as they could. It wasn't long before they reached the place where Janet spent her second night. It was the hollow, where she'd been startled by the two deer. Everything looked different to her now. She began to relax and rested her head against the rear window again, closing her eyes. She could hear Jake saying they were almost to the highway. She smiled at the idea of getting out of the mountains and back to a town with a room somewhere and a hot shower and comfortable bed. Even the Cold Creek Motel next to Rosie's café would work for another night.

The truck jerked and wobbled over potholes and rocks as they headed around one more bend in the road. Suddenly, Jake slammed on the brakes, throwing everyone forward. Instinctively, Janet thrust out her arms to stop her momentum then sat up with a start. Positioned in front of them and blocking the dirt road were two patrol cars and standing in front of both vehicles were Sheriff Wilcox and Deputy Walters.

# CHAPTER 16

As the dust settled, the sheriff sauntered over to Jake's window and his deputy approached the passenger side. Tommy impulsively locked the door. Janet knew locking the door was useless but didn't say a word. The deputy ordered Seth out of the back of the truck and to come around to the front. He also ordered Jake out of the truck and asked him to place his hands on the hood, "In plain sight." With great reluctance, Jake did so.

Seth walked toward the sheriff but stopped about six feet from him.

"What's the matter boy?" he asked. "You done good. Real good." The sheriff laughed and stepped over to him to slap him on the back. "Yes, sir. Followed directions real good."

Jake maintained his position up against the front of his truck but stared at Seth, who lowered his gaze to the ground. Jake then looked at Janet through the windshield of his truck. She stared back at him. _So much for protecting her,_ he thought to himself, then shook his head slightly and looked away.

The sheriff invited Janet to step out of the truck, but she sat frozen to the seat.

"Now, looky here, missy. It'd be best if you did what you was told to do. I'd hate to have to make you do anything. You hear what I'm saying? I'd feel real bad if I had to hurt you or anything. So why don't you just slip on outta that there truck and be real nice about it?"

"I'll get out. But I won't be nice at all!" She was defiant.

"That suits me just fine since we're not really looking for nice girls. Just one's that do what they're told to do. Now, you come on over here!" The sheriff indicated that he wanted her to stand next to him.

Instead, Janet walked over to Jake and stood next to him.

"Well, I guess we'll just have to teach you some manners, won't we?" The sheriff jerked his head at his deputy, who approached Janet and grabbed her by the arm. "Put her in my car," he said.

"Let go of me!" Janet screamed, struggling.

Jake spun around and reached for Janet then tried to slug the deputy, without success.

"Now hold on there, Jake," the sheriff said. "You don't want me to arrest you for assaulting a po-leece officer do you?" He let out a belly laugh. "Oh. That would be good. So good. Don't you think so Bernie?" He looked at his deputy.

"Yes, sir, sheriff. It would." He grinned big.

"Seth!" the sheriff bellowed. "Take the girl! Put her in my car!" Seth hesitated. "Now, boy, or you'll be sorry. And you know what I mean. Do what you're told!" The tone of the sheriff's voice meant business.

Seth reluctantly walked over to Janet and relieved the deputy of her. Glancing at Jake and Tommy, he led her to the sheriff's squad car and put her in the backseat.

"Seth," she pleaded. "What are you doing?"

"I'm sorry, Janet," he spoke softly and apologetically, "I'm really sorry." He shut the door but stood next to the patrol car.

"Now, that's a good boy. You go on over there and get in the deputy's car."

Seth hesitated then did as he was told.

"And as for you, Jake, just be glad you missed Bernie with that swing of yours. Like I said, I might have had to lock you up for assaulting a po-leece officer." With that, he laughed again and walked to his car. Both officers turned their vehicles around, and headed for the highway in a flurry of dust and debris, lights flashing. Janet stared back at Jake and Tommy, from the back seat of the patrol car, fear in her eyes.

The cars disappeared from view, leaving Jake standing in the wake of their dust. Tommy climbed out of the truck cab and stood next to Jake. "What happened, Jake?" he asked, confused by everything.

"I wish I knew, Tommy. I wish I knew."

He and Tommy headed back to Cold Creek. His thoughts were spinning. _What did happen back there? And what about Seth? Why was he helping the sheriff?_ "I thought Seth was on our side," he said aloud.

"Me too," Tommy replied quietly. "I thought he was our friend, and Janet's friend."

"Yeah."

They rode the rest of the way in silence. By the time they reached Cold Creek, the store and filling station, it was about nine o'clock in the morning. He pulled in around back to the house he and his uncle lived in, and parked, then got out with Tommy and went inside. Pete greeted them instantly, with concern written all over his face.

"Jake!" he exclaimed and hurried over to embrace his nephew. "I've been so worried. Been listening to the CB this morning, too. Didn't like what I was hearin', neither. And Tommy!" He hugged him too. "I got Andy watching the store for us right now. Come sit down."

"It's a long story, Uncle Pete. I think Tommy and I both need hot showers, first, and some breakfast, then we'll fill you in on everything."

"Okay! I'll start breakfast, and you two go get showered up." Pete headed for the kitchen while Jake gave Tommy a towel and some clean clothes. "You shower first."

Forty-five minutes later, both were sitting at the table enjoying a hot breakfast, talking to Uncle Pete, and filling him in on everything the best they could. A lot of it didn't make sense to them and certainly didn't make sense to Uncle Pete either.

"What about them other two fellers up there in the mountain?" Pete asked.

"I have no idea who they are or what they are doing up there," Jake replied. "Well, sure, we know about Greg Danes, but I don't know who the other guy is. I barely got a look at him when he and Danes came running out of that cabin and took a shot at us. I don't think I've ever seen him around here before." Jake took another bite of his eggs. "Oh, heck, Uncle Pete, maybe we _have_ seen him around. I really don't know."

"It's okay, son. It's okay," he reassured his nephew. "Just finish up and we'll think about this some more later on. You two need to get some rest first."

"You're right. I am exhausted," Jake agreed.

"Me too," Tommy said with a yawn.

Pete began to clean up and ordered Jake and Tommy to go lie down. They didn't argue. Tommy curled up in Uncle Pete's bed and was soon sound asleep. Jake lay down on his own bed but couldn't shake thoughts about Seth. Soon, though, sheer exhaustion took over and he fell asleep as well.

It was nearly five-thirty in the evening before either of them began to stir. Jake was the first to get up and walked into the kitchen looking for his uncle. Not finding him, he stepped out the back door and headed around to the front of the property and the store. A friendly _ding-ding_ signaled to Jake that someone either just pulled in for gas or was just leaving. Rounding the corner of the building, he stopped short. It was Seth. He pulled up to the front of the store and parked. Jake hesitated a moment and then decided to confront his former friend.

"What are you doing here?" Jake demanded, glaring at Seth, his arms folded tightly across his chest.

"Jake, just give me a chance to explain," he started to say.

"Explain what? You sold us out. They have Janet." His fists were clenched.

"Please!" Seth pleaded. "Just listen. Please, Jake."

"Fine! Explain!" There was no mercy in Jake's voice.

"I had no choice."

"No choice? No choice? Yeah, like I can believe that." Jake started to walk away.

"Jake!" Seth called after him. "They said they'd kill my mom if I didn't help them."

Jake stopped and spun around, looking at Seth. "Your mom. Kill your mom?" Jake was not buying this story. "You said she ran off with some jerk salesman!"

Seth shook his head and stared at the ground. "No," he said. "I lied. She didn't run off. She's been working for the sheriff. A-A-At the Quail Club." He looked up at Jake. His eyes were troubled, and his face drawn with the exhaustion of their recent ordeal.

"The Quail Club," Jake repeated. "What's she doing for the sheriff at the Quail Club?"

"I-I-I," Seth stammered.

"And where's Janet?" Jake broke in.

"Same place."

"The Quail Club." It was a statement.

"Yes," he replied. "You know. Where fellas go t-to relax – and stuff." Seth felt sheepish and awkward talking about the subject.

"Yeah, I know what they do there!" Jake snapped. "And that's where they took Janet?" He was furious. "All of this running around and spending all night in the mountains was to grab Janet for the sheriff so he could take her? Why Janet? Heck. There are all kinds of crazy sleazy woman who'd _sign up_ to work at the Quail Club." He gestured in a wide sweep with one arm. "Janet didn't want any part of that! At least I don't think so."

Pete overheard the commotion and came outside to see what was going on. A couple of older gents stood in the doorway of the store to watch, pool cues in hand. "Why don't you boys go on back to the house to talk?" He glanced in the direction of the store and their impromptu audience.

Jake noticed. "Sure thing, Uncle Pete." He took Seth by the arm and headed to the house and in through the kitchen door. Both stood staring at each other for a moment. Then Jake spoke first. "I just don't understand you, Seth. I thought you were my friend. I thought I could trust you." He tried to keep his voice down so as not to wake Tommy.

"Look, Jake," Seth began, "I wanted to tell you everything that's happened for the last couple of years, but I was scared. If I told anybody, the sheriff threatened to kill my mom." He paused. "And me too."

Jake's eyebrows shot up. He took in a deep breath and exhaled loudly. "Dang, Seth." He looked at his friend. "Dang," he repeated and took a step toward him. "I-I'm sorry. I'm really sorry, but –"

"I'm sorry too."

"So okay, now what are we going to do?"

"About what?" Tommy broke in.

"Tommy." Jake spun around. Their young friend was standing in the doorway. "Hey. Did you sleep well?" Jake tried to divert the conversation.

"What's Seth doing here?" Tommy asked suspiciously.

"It's a long story, Tommy, but it's okay. Seth's okay. We're, uh, just talking – about some stuff."

"What stuff?" Tommy still wasn't too sure about seeing Seth.

"Well, nothing really, just –"

"About Janet?" He looked at both of them.

"Yes, Tom," he let out a sigh. "About Janet."

"Are we gonna rescue her again?" he asked.

"Well, we're not sure, Tom," Jake replied. "That's what we're trying to figure out. We would need a plan to do that."

"You're not gonna rat us out again, are ya, Seth?" Tommy asked sternly.

"Rat you out?" Seth chuckled. "No, Tom, I'm not going to do that. I promise." Then he looked at Jake. "I don't care what happens to me. We need to find Janet." His tone was resolute.

Jake nodded, equally determined. "Okay, then let's see what we can figure out." Jake stood in the middle of the kitchen with his hands in his pockets, obviously trying to think. Seth and Tommy stood by waiting for him to say something.

"So, Seth," he finally said, "have you ever been to the Quail Club?"

"Inside the compound? Once, about a year ago. But it was just for a few minutes while the sheriff talked to someone in one of the buildings."

"So, what's the layout? I mean is there any way we could sneak into the place?"

"I-I don't know, Jake." Seth said, trying to think. "I remember it being pretty wide open. Not many places we could hide as I recall, but then it has been about a year. I really don't remember it all that much. All I know is that I wanted to leave. The place gives me the creeps."

"And you say your mom is there?" Jake asked carefully, now feeling upset with himself for being so angry with Seth in spite of how things had turned out.

"She used to be. I really don't know about her anymore either." Seth looked away. It was obviously a painful topic.

"Okay. How about if we hop in the truck and take a ride up the road to the pullout? You know, where we can park and see the whole valley floor. We'll take binoculars and see what we can make out about the Quail Club. What do you think?"

"Let's do it," Seth agreed.

"Yeah," Tommy chimed in.

Jake faced his friend. "You sure you wanna go, Tommy? You don't have to, you know." Jake didn't want his friend to feel obligated in any way.

"I _wanna_ go!" Tommy was determined. "I wanna help Janet and Seth's mom too."

Seth looked at Tommy and smiled. "You're a very good friend, Tom. Thanks. You too, Jake."

They grabbed a pair of binoculars from Jake's room and headed out to his truck. Jake poked his head in the poolroom long enough to tell his uncle that the three of them were taking a ride up to the pullout.

"Everything okay?" His uncle asked, with a measure of concern.

Jake reassured him that everything was fine then joined his friends. Soon they were headed up and out of Cold Creek, into the nearby foothills west of town. They had driven about two miles up a winding two-lane road when Jake pulled over into a wide area and parked. Below them lay the valley floor. They could see for miles around including the few buildings that lined the main street of Cold Creek, plus the scattered homes here and there. They could also see the road that headed east to the Quail Club.

A typical afternoon breeze had picked up, and the sun was nearly to the crest of the mountain range behind them. It wouldn't be long before they'd be in the shadows, but the valley would remain lit for a few more hours.

Using his binoculars, Jake focused on the narrow road leading to the club. "Have you ever seen any quail around here, Seth?" he asked as he gazed through the glasses.

"Maybe once or twice I guess," he answered. "Not many though. There might be some out there away from town, though."

"What do you see?" Tommy was anxious.

"Not much yet," Jake replied, then focused the lens. "Wait a minute. I see a car headed out that way. A dark-colored car, but that's about all."

"Let me take a look," Seth said. Jake handed him the glasses and he scanned the distant buildings of the club. "Okay, I remember the one building where the sheriff went in." Looking some more, he continued, "And that looks like a recreation hall or something. I don't know about that other building, but it could be a place for people to stay." He kept looking then put down the glasses. "I saw a guard gate or something like that at the entrance."

"Keep looking," Jake said. "Watch to see what that dark-colored car does."

Seth looked again and trained them on the car as it approached the club entrance. He could see it pull up to the gate. The driver talked to someone who stepped out of the tiny building. A moment later, the car headed on into the grounds and drove up to the first building Seth mentioned. "I think I see two guys getting out of the car. No. Wait. There's three of them. Wait." His voice got excited. "They have someone with them. I think it's a girl and she's struggling with one of them!"

"Is it Janet?" Jake and Tommy eagerly asked together.

"No," he finally said in disappointment, "it was a blonde not a brunette, and her hair is shorter than Janet's, plus she's wearing a dress, not pants. It isn't Janet." He handed the glasses back to Jake, who wanted to see for himself, but by now the three men and the woman had entered a building and were out of sight.

"We're going to find a way to sneak into the grounds and try to find Janet and your mom." Jake spoke with conviction.

"Okay, but how?" Seth wanted to know.

"I have no idea. I just know we have to, and soon."

They all got back into the truck and headed down the hill to the gas station. Pete had already started to close things up for the day and looked up as Jake drove in and around back to the house. All three friends hopped out and were still in the midst of excited conversation as they headed inside.

A few minutes later, Pete joined them. "You boys have a nice drive?"

"Uh, yeah, Uncle Pete, we did," Jake replied.

All three sat around the kitchen table bouncing ideas off one another.

"Say, you boys seen the sheriff today?" Pete asked them.

They looked at one another and then back at Pete. "The sheriff?" Jake replied. "Besides this morning when he grabbed Janet? No. Why?"

He came by earlier while you and Tommy were sleeping, and I told him to come back later. Then he came by again while you were out fer yer drive then took off in a great big hurry toward town." Pete looked at the trio for a moment. "I jest wondered."

"Did he say what he wanted?"

"Nope."

He started to head back out the door when Jake called out to him. "Uncle Pete?"

"Yeah?"

"What do you know about the Quail Club?"

Seth and Tommy both looked at Jake wide-eyed.

"The Quail Club?" He stroked his chin then asked, "Well, what d'ya want to know about it fer?" He gave them an odd look.

"Well –" Jake hesitated. "I don't know, I just –well, I thought maybe, oh, heck, Uncle Pete, we all know what goes on out there!" He looked frustrated.

"Yup," was all Pete said, looking at each boy in turn then said, "You mean you want to –"

"Oh, heck no! That's not why we're asking."

"Well, what then?"

"We just wondered." He looked at his two friends. "Well, okay, I was wondering if you knew much about the place. That's all." He reddened and felt awkward, avoiding his uncle's gaze.

"Maybe."

Jake looked embarrassed, Seth kept his eyes on the floor, and Tommy just looked completely bewildered.

"I-I'm sorry I asked, Uncle Pete. Just forget it. We'll figure something out."

"Well, what d'ya need? Maybe I _can_ help ya some."

Jake drew in a deep breath. "Okay," he replied. "Last night, when I radioed you to let you know we were going to camp out and start looking for that girl and Danes again this morning, well –.

"Well what?"

"We did find her but really early this morning. While it was still dark. and Tommy here," he looked his friend and grinned, "well, he remembered a small cabin that's way up on the side of Crocker Peak. Turns out, it has a secret entrance to a cave."

"A cave?" Pete was definitely interested.

"Yeah. Did you know about it?"

"Not sure. There was some old guy that used to live up in the hills looking for gold. Rarely saw him and then nobody saw him. We figured he moved on or died up there."

All three briefly exchanged looks realizing how easy it would be for someone to die in that cave and no one would know.

"Yeah," Jake said, then continued, "well, that girl the sheriff's been looking for was being held in the cave and we did rescued her but by the time we got back down the mountain, the sheriff was waiting for us, like I already told you." He glanced at Seth again.

"Yeah," Tommy said, "and we need to rescue her again!"

"Right. That's what we want to do but what we need is to find a way to get into the Quail Club property without being seen so we can look for her. Her name is Janet and she's in trouble."

"Yeah!" Tommy blurted out, "and we want to help rescue Seth's mom too." He understood that much of the conversation.

"Seth's mom?" Pete looked at Seth. "I thought yer ma –"

"I know," he said, "E-Everybody thought she ran off, but the truth is the sheriff forced her to work out there at the club." Seth got up and walked out the back door, letting it slam behind him.

Jake looked at his uncle. "Uncle Pete? Is there any way we can do this? Do you have any ideas? Anything?"

"Well, let me think a piece." He stroked his chin again then cocked his head to one side. "Ya know, Carl Teller goes out there nearly every afternoon to make deliveries to the kitchen. Maybe you could hitch a ride with him."

"You think he'll be going there tonight?"

"Reckon so," Pete looked at his watch. "In fact, he's 'bout due to stop here first, with our order and to fill up his truck in a short while."

"Right! I forgot I was expecting a delivery." Jake's mind was swimming with thoughts. "A delivery truck. Yeah. But we need to sneak in. We wouldn't want Carl to know we were using his truck to do that. But if we could hide in the back of his truck, that might work. Okay!" Jake was excited. "Plus, we don't want Carl to get in any trouble, and we don't want him to accidentally tip anyone off." He looked at his uncle again. "Do you think you can help us?"

"Yup," was all he said, but he smiled a big grin. "There's just one thing, though, that you might'a forgot."

"What's that, Uncle Pete?"

"Carl drives a refrigerated truck. 'Ra-ember? It'll be mighty cold back there." He checked his watch. "You better get hoppin'. Carl'll likely be here any minute. I'll sign for your order, if you like," Pete said. "So's you can get ready."

# CHAPTER 17

A flurry of activity erupted as Jake scrambled to gather whatever he could to prepare for their clandestine excursion to the Quail Club, by way of a refrigerated delivery truck.

Seth came returned in time to see Jake rushing around and Tommy watching in bewilderment. Jake explained what they were doing, including his Uncle Pete's suggestion that they not waste any time.

"Get hoppin'?"

"That's what he said," Jake replied.

"Get _hoppin'!_ " Seth repeated. He faced Jake in a panic. "We'll need jackets and socks and gloves and –"

"Go to my room and grab anything that looks warm." Jake said. "I'll get heavy duty gloves from the shed out back."

Seth took off down the hall while Jake headed to the back door.

"What about me?" Tommy suddenly asked.

"You can help me. Come on!" He raced to the back door with Tommy right behind but stopped long enough to give Tommy a chance to think about what they were going to do. "You don't have to go with us this time, Tom. It could be dangerous," he said.

"I don't care. I wanna go, Jake. I wanna help Janet too."

"You're absolutely sure."

"Yeah!"

"Okay, let's go find work gloves and a few other things." They burst into a shed behind the house and feverishly gathered up what they could.

In the midst of it all, Carl Teller slowly rolled into the filling station, driving over the black hose that activated the familiar _ding-ding._ Jake started at the sound. "We gotta hurry, Tom!" The two of them ran from the shed with their items and back into to the house to meet up with Seth who had gathered everything imaginable out of Jake's room and dumped it all on the kitchen table.

Living in snow country meant having cold weather gear, and Jake had plenty of it. They quickly selected thicker socks, sweat pants, flannel shirts, stocking hats, and rolled them in ski jackets. They hurried to the back entrance of the store just as Pete was signing the paperwork for the things Jake had ordered. Carl headed out to his truck while Pete hung back.

"So, what's the plan, Uncle Pete?" Jake asked breathlessly when he and his friends joined him in the store.

"He makes three more stops after this one. The club is the last one," he said casually as he rang up the gasoline bill. "I'll block his view while you fellas get in the back of his truck. Take it easy, though, so's he don't wonder what's going on. Get in nice and easy like." He grinned again, and with a chuckle, walked out to take Carl his receipt and change for the cash sale. The boys waited for a moment until Pete was in position then stealthily followed, grateful that Carl had pulled in for gas at the farthest of the two pumps facing away from the front of the store. He wouldn't be able to see them except for a brief moment in his right-hand side mirror. They just hoped Pete could keep him distracted long enough so he wouldn't see anything and give them the time they needed to climb into the back of the truck.

With Jake in the lead, they hurried to the back of the truck just as Carl started the engine. Hoping the engine noise would cover any sounds from the rear of the truck, Jake carefully unlatched the large rollup door and pulled it open just enough for them to crawl inside. Pete was still taking to Carl as Seth carefully pulled the door back down.

He suddenly jerked his head around and looked at Jake. "We won't be able to latch the door shut! If Carl finds it unlatched, he might suspect something!"

Jake immediately understood but what choice did they have? "We'll just have to take that chance," he said. At that moment they heard Pete outside the back of the truck

"Hey, Carl! Yer back door ain't shut tight! You want me to latch it?"

"Sure thing, Pete!" Carl hollered back to him.

Pete slid the door up enough to look at the three would-be rescuers. "You boys be careful, you hear me? Be mighty careful out there."

"We will, Uncle Pete," Jake assured him, "and thanks!"

Pete carefully pulled the door down and securely latched it shut. He banged twice with his fist, and Carl put it in gear. The truck lurched forward and then rocked side to side as they pulled out onto the road. Jake hadn't thought to ask what the other four stops would be, but then maybe his uncle didn't know. All they knew for sure was that the club was the next to the last stop.

"It sure is dark in here and _cold._ Tommy said, shivering.

Jake turned on his flashlight and wedged it between a couple of boxes. "Let's get these other clothes on," he said.

Shivering, they quickly pulled on thick socks, flannel shirts, stocking caps, and ski jackets. Jake handed out the work gloves then settled back and looked at his friends, but especially Tommy. "You okay, Tommy?"

"Yeah. I guess so."

"We might be able to sneak you out of the truck at the next stop if you want. You could hitch a ride back to the store with someone."

"Nope." He straightened up. "I'm going. I want to help Janet and Seth's mom."

"Good for you, Tom," Seth whispered to his friend. "And thanks." Then he looked at Jake. "So, what happens when he makes his next stop and opens that door?"

"I've been thinking about that," Jake answered. "We need to find places to hide in here. Maybe we can move some of these boxes around and make little cubby holes to sit in." The three of them tried to steady themselves as the truck bounced along. "But we'd better hurry since we don't know how soon he'll reach his next stop."

They quickly squeezed past a few of the front boxes and managed to rearrange some others toward the front end of the cargo area of the box truck and away from the large roll-up door at the rear. They didn't want anything to look out of place that would raise any concerns or suspicions.

Seth noticed labels on each box. "Hey," he said. "I know where he's going. Boxes for each stop are grouped together. See?" He pointed. "Let's see. There's Rosie's, the Quail Club, and that new bed and breakfast place just south of town."

"Okay," Jake said. "Rosie's is closer, maybe he'll go their first, then the bed and breakfast. Makes more sense."

"Yeah, and most of this stuff is for the Quail Club."

With that little bit of information, each settled into a small space to wait, sitting on boxes of refrigerated food.

Not much longer and they could hear Carl gear down and felt the truck slow. He pulled up and then backed up to the sound of a _beep-beep-beep_. They heard him slam his cab door shut and greet someone.

"Sounds like Rosie's cook," Seth said.

"Jake turned off the flashlight just as Carl released the latch on the back door. Suddenly, the compartment was awash with late-afternoon sunlight. Carl hopped in and shoved a few boxes toward the opening, then hopped down. They could hear him stack each one on a dolly, and the large door rattle as he closed it then all was quiet. After several minutes, Carl returned, opened the door enough to shove the dolly back in then latched it tight. He repeated the routine for the next stop, and once again, only needed a few things easily reached close to the large door. Each time the boys sighed with relief after he left to make his delivery then tensed up with each return.

"Two down," Jake remarked with chattering teeth. "Next stop should be the club."

The drive out to the Quail Club took longer. They could tell when the truck left the main highway and turn east. By now they were very cold, in spite of the additional clothing they wore. All were eager to get out into the warm afternoon sun, but at the same time, their greatest concern was getting locked in for a long period of time or being discovered.

"J-Jake," Seth called out quietly.

"Yeah?"

"If C-Carl pulls out what he needs and then closes the door and latches it, then what?"

"I thought you said the rest of these boxes are for the Club. Besides, he hasn't been latching it anyplace else until he brings the dolly back." Jake said. "We should be fine."

"I know, but our luck may be running out."

"Yeah, but there's still a lot of stuff in here and I figure he'll probably have to make more than one trip to unload it all. So we need to be ready to climb out in between those trips. He won't latch it until he's done and ready to leave."

"I sure hope you're right."

They could hear the engine noise change again, as Carl geared down and rolled to a stop. They could barely hear him talking to someone for a brief moment, then slowly drive ahead.

"That must have been the front gate and he was checking in," Seth said.

A few moments later, the truck pulled to a stop but didn't back up, and unlike the previous stops, Carl shut off the engine this time before he slammed his cab door shut. They heard other voices outside and some laughter as Carl released the latch and rolled up the large door. There wasn't quite as much light outside anymore since the sun had just dipped behind the mountain range to the west but the momentary sensation of warmer air was a welcome relief to the stowaways.

"Yeah, I got your order," they heard Carl say to someone. "Everything's here."

"That's good," the other man said. "We're expecting a bigger crowd than usual this evening."

"A big crowd, eh?" Carl remarked as he climbed inside the truck and shoved boxes toward the opening while Jake, Seth, and Tommy did their best to stay low and not make a sound. Soon Carl climbed down and began loading his hand truck.

"One day I gotta git me one of them delivery trucks with a lift gate," he said to the other man. "Big crowd, eh?" he repeated.

"Yeah, a group of guys from Los Angeles," the other man said. "High rollers and big spenders I hear. Good thing we got a couple of new girls."

"New girls?"

"Yeah, and one of 'em's pretty feisty according to the sheriff. Wilcox says he'll tame her hisself if need be." There was a chuckle from both men. "You need some help with this stuff?" the other man asked.

"Naw. I can get it. I'll just make a couple more trips."

"Well, let me catch the door for ya."

"Thanks," Carl said. "Just pull it partway down."

Jake and his friends could hear the door rattle down and the shuffle of feet on gravel as the two men walked away with the loaded hand truck. "It's now or never!" he whispered tersely to the others. "Let's get moving!"

All three squeezed out of their hiding places and carefully made their way to the back of the truck. Seth lay on his stomach and looked outside. "Wait here and I'll check around." He slid out under the partially closed door and was back in seconds. "Come on!"

Without hesitation, Jake and Tommy rolled out from under the door and crouched down next to Seth. Using hand signals, he indicated for the three of them to make a dash to some shrubbery under a window of the building close to the parked truck. Hearing voices, they didn't waste time making a beeline for the bushes. They shoved their way through prickly branches, and sat on the ground, trying not to breathe too loudly. At the same time, with the dim light from a setting sun, they hoped it would be difficult for anyone to see them back in the shadows.

Carl returned with his hand truck and loaded up more boxes. The other man came back with him and both were still talking about the big crowd expected to arrive in a couple of hours. "Guess I'll have to make at least one more trip out here. You ordered a lot of stuff."

"Too bad you can't hang around here a while longer and have dinner," the other man said. "The cook's fixing a real nice meal for everyone, 'cept the girls o'course."

"What's he feeding the girls?" Carl asked, apparently surprised they would get something different.

"Heck, I dunno. I jest know they eat different, and in their rooms."

"How many girls you got here now, Earl?"

"Oh, 'bout sixteen or so, I reckon," he thought for a minute, taking a mental count and drawing imaginary lines in the air. "Yep. Sixteen, countin' that feisty new girl they brought in today."

"Don't the sheriff ever worry about gettin' caught?" Carl asked.

"Naw. Why should he? Anybody complains, they'll go to him 'cos he's the sheriff. He jest tells them he'll look into it and that's that."

Carl made one more trip to the kitchen, then returned, securely latched the roll-up door, bid farewell to Earl, and rumbled away, his truck tires grinding and crunching on the graveled space. As the sound of the truck faded, it became very quiet. All three remained in the shadows of the shrubbery, waiting. Listening. After another five minutes, Jake debated what they should do and decided to stay put for a while longer until it was darker and hopefully safer to emerge without being seen. They unzipped their jackets and removed stocking caps, but were glad for the extra clothing to help protect them from the prickly branches of the bushes.

Dusk settled in quickly around the facility, now that the sun was well behind the mountain range, but they could still see pretty well. Peering through the foliage, they noticed several buildings close together and one other off a short distance to their left. Jake studied it closely and decided it looked almost like a dormitory. The thought suddenly occurred to him that maybe that was where all the girls were living. A few of the windows were lit, but curtains were drawn. There was a long porch that ran along one side and a main door and it appeared the ground sloped away alongside the back of the building.

Seth was getting fidgety. "What do you want to do first?" he asked. But before Jake could answer, they heard the honk of a car horn around the side of the kitchen building. Staying in the shadows of the bushes, all three watched as two nice luxury sedans pulled into the compound. They drove past the kitchen building and parked in front of another building a short distance beyond. Seth snuck out of his hiding place just enough to take a look. Four well-dressed men climbed out of each car. They were laughing and obviously ready for an exciting evening. Entering the building, the laughing and talking became subdued but still audible enough to know they had met with several others who were either the hosts or other guests. It didn't matter as long as they stayed occupied and away from any windows.

Climbing back into the shadows, he and his friends turned their attention to the compound in general and quietly surveyed their limited options before discussing a plan of action.

"How about if we try to get over to that building and around the far end of it," Jake whispered, pointing to the structure he thought was a dormitory.

"Okay, but we need to be sure we don't get caught," Seth replied. "Where's that gatehouse?" He strained to look then quietly crawled away from the bushes, once again, staying in the shadow of the building to take a peek. The gatehouse was a distance away, but he could see someone standing in it. It looked like his back was to them as he focused on approaching vehicles, their headlights aglow. Hurrying back, he motioned for Jake and Tommy to join him. Still whispering, he suggested a plan.

"Let's wait till just before one of those other cars reaches the gatehouse, then make a dash for the end of the bunkhouse like Jake suggested. The guard will be distracted by the cars, but at the same time we don't want to get caught in the headlights. Someone in one of the cars might see us and say something."

Jake nodded. "Okay. But instead of running, let's just walk across the area as if we work here or something."

Seth watched the gatehouse, and Jake kept his eyes open for any movement of people around the other buildings. With a nod to Seth, he whispered a terse, "Let's go."

All three walked across the wide space toward the bunkhouse and around the far end, doing their best to appear as if they belonged there. The only other buildings close by appeared to be either storage areas or simply abandoned. They skirted around to the back side of the building to try to calm their pounding hearts fueled by an adrenaline rush.

Jake and Seth examined this side of the building. The ground dropped away from it putting exterior windows roughly fifteen feet above their heads. Some of the windows were lit and others dark. But given how high up they were, there was no way they'd be able to listen, unless one of them stood on the shoulders of another.

"Now what are we gonna do?" Tommy asked anxiously.

"I don't know," Jake said, beginning to feel discouraged as he glanced up at one dimly lit window directly above them. "I really don't know."

An evening breeze picked up, and a glow to the east signaled that the moon was rising. It would be a little brighter tonight, but not by much. Good enough, he guessed, to help them see things but also good enough for anyone else to see them if they were out in the open. The point was to stay out of sight as much as possible.

Seth summed up their dilemma. "We'd better do something pretty soon," he said, "because once that moon is up and without a lot of trees around here, even a half-full moon can cast a heck of a lot of light out here. It'll be like a giant flashlight!"

Jake began walking along the base of the building, stopping below each window to listen before moving on. Seth and Tommy followed. His hope was he'd hear someone, especially Janet, and maybe Seth's mom. Only Seth, though, would be able to recognize his mother's voice. They had almost reached the end of the building when they heard muffled voices under the next window. A light suddenly flicked on, and they heard an angry voice. It was the sheriff.

"You'll do what I say, little missy!" they heard him shout.

"No one touches me!" was the defiant reply.

All three boys looked at one another and whispered in unison, "It's Janet!"

"I'll do whatever I like!" he bellowed again. They could hear scuffling, and something heavy fall over. "I'll tie ya down if I have ta!"

"You'll have to catch me _first!_ "

"That won't be a problem!" The sheriff bellowed. "I'll git help if I need to!"

"Fine!" Janet yelled back, still defiant _. "Bring 'em on!"_

A moment later, a door slammed, and the room became quiet until they could hear Janet struggling with her window.

"Give me a boost!" Jake whispered to Seth. "Hurry up!"

Seth helped hoist Jake up well enough to reach the windowsill. Hanging on with one hand, Jake lightly waved with the other to get Janet's attention, but got no response. Taking a chance, he tapped. This time, a curtain parted, and he could see Janet's silhouette against the windowpane.

"Janet!" Jake whispered as loud as he dared. "It's me, Jake!" No response, and then the light went out. Jake was getting ready to hop down from Seth's shoulders when he heard a slight tap in return. Looking up, he could see Janet again. She was looking out the lower portion of her window and gave a quick wave and another tap. Jake returned the tap and tried to talk to her again, but she shook her head vigorously and waved him off.

"Get away from here!" Her voice was muffled but he could hear her concern. "It isn't safe."

"We've come to rescue you!" he whispered back.

"We?"

"Yes. Me and Jake and Tommy."

"You're all in danger! You need to leave! Now!"

"No! See if you can open your window!"

"It's stuck!" Janet said as she tried.

Jake realized the window had been painted shut at some point, but the paint was beginning to peel and flake off. "Hold on!"

"We don't have much time! The sheriff will be back," she replied anxiously, "and I think he's bringing others with him!"

Jake managed to reach into a pants pocket withdrawing a pocketknife. Struggling to maintain his balance, he pulled out the blade. "You okay, Seth?" he asked.

"Yeah," he groaned, "but hurry it up!"

Jake frantically started to dig away at the paint with the blade, blowing on the flakes as he went. Janet, in the meantime, kept trying to pull the window up. Finally, it began to give way, and Jake was able to force his blade into the space to try to wedge it up some more, but without much luck. Carefully reaching up, he attempted to push up on the upper window frame of the pane to help Janet's efforts. She suddenly froze and glanced toward her room door.

"I hear someone coming!"

Jake could hear the panic in her voice. "Pull harder!" he commanded. Together, they gave one more collective shove, and the window gave way rising up a couple of inches. A little more effort and the window opened up about fifteen inches more, but that was all.

"You'll have to sit on the sill," he said, "and I'll lower you down to the ground."

Quickly, Janet thrust one leg through the opening, followed by the other and began to ease her way out. She kept a grip on the window frame to keep from falling in the process. Seth braced himself but winced at the added weight as Janet slid through and into Jake's grasp. Tommy stood by with his arms raised up not knowing what else to do. They could hear footsteps and an angry voice talking, but apparently to someone else.

Suddenly, the door burst open as the sheriff was giving orders, "You grab her arms and I'll get her feet!" he said to someone, then said, "Little missy, you're in real trouble now!" The light flicked on along with a moment of silence following until the sheriff realized his prize was missing. "What the –" then seeing the curtains of the window fluttering in the evening breeze, he was at the window in an instant with his head stuck out. "You cain't get far!" he yelled as he stood at her window gazing out at the field beyond. "I'll find ya, and when I do, you'll be mighty sorry! Yes, you will! _Mighty_ sorry!"

# CHAPTER 18

Lying in a heap directly below Janet's window, and in the shadow of the foundation of the building, the foursome remained motionless hoping the sheriff and his wrangler couldn't see them. A moment later, the light went out and a door slammed shut. Systematically, a few other lights went on in some of the other rooms, accompanied by shouts.

Untangling themselves at the base of the building, they wasted no time getting to their feet.

"Where to?" Jake asked Seth.

"Over there!" He pointed to the outer buildings a short distance away.

"Wait!" Janet whispered tersely. "Not without Sally!"

"Sally?" Tommy asked.

"My friend! The one I came looking for in the first place! She's here. I can't leave her!" She deliberately marched toward the east end of the building, but Jake grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

"We can't do anything about her right now," he said, his voice equally terse.

"I _won't_ leave her!" Janet pulled away.

"Calm down and stay quiet! We're not going to leave her, but we have to find a place to hide first and make a plan." He pulled her in the opposite direction. "Come on! Before someone finds us!"

Reluctantly, Janet complied, and they all hurried down the slight incline to the west end of the bunkhouse. Seth looked around the end of the building then motioned for everyone to follow. They used the shadow of one lone tree between them and the buildings for cover.

Seth reached the first building, checked the door, but it was locked. He led the group to the second building which looked like a shed more than anything else. Locked. He motioned for the others to get around the back of the building then hurried to join them. Hiding in the shadows of the of the structure they took a few moments to calm their hearts and rapid breathing. The soft light of the rising crescent moon began to cast its bluish glow on the surrounding landscape.

To the west and across the valley, the peaks of the towering Sierra Nevada mountain range glowed in the wash of moonlight. The few high-altitude glaciers and remaining snowpack glistened above the tree line. Far below the towering peaks, a few scattered lights from town started to come on, appearing calm and surreal. In that moment, Jake, Seth, and Tommy were torn between a great desire to help Janet find Sally and being safe at home settling down for the night.

That short-lived respite was interrupted by the arrival of more vehicles to the Quail Club compound. In an instant, a flurry of increased activity drew their attention as they watched from their tenuous hiding place. The activity specifically focused on the guest lodge and dining hall. Janet quietly described the layout of the buildings but especially the large dining hall, with the kitchen at one end.

"That's where we got out of the delivery truck," Seth said. "That's where Carl delivered all those boxes."

"What delivery truck?" Janet asked.

"We'll explain later," Jake said. "What else can you tell us?"

"Only that this evening was to be quite a big 'to-do'," she said in disgust.

"That confirms what we heard," Seth remarked.

Janet gave him a quizzical look but didn't say anything.

Seth focused on the dormitory building where they found Janet. "So, what's your plan, Jake?" he whispered.

Before Jake could respond, they heard a soft click behind them. All four froze then slowly turned around and faced two dark-clad figures wearing facemasks. One held a rifle pointed directly at them. Four sets of hands slowly went up. Four hearts stopped beating for an instant and then sank to the pits of their stomachs. They had been caught!

The two men never spoke a word but motioned for them to follow. One led the tiny group around to the front of the building; the other followed behind with the rifle pointed at the ground. At the door, the first man quickly produced a tool and picked the padlock. He pulled the door open just enough for everyone to squeeze through then closed and locked it again. Jake tried to look through the cracks of the siding to see where they went, but without success.

"I wonder who _they_ were?" Seth asked aloud.

"Do you think they'll come back and let us go if we promise not to tell?" Tommy tried to sound hopeful.

"Tom," Janet said. "I just want you to know how much I appreciate you trying to rescue me _twice_ – all of you, in fact." She glanced at all three, but took Tommy's hand and pulled him closer to her. He obliged and held on tight, mostly out of fear.

"Well, I'm not gonna sit around here and wait for those guys to come back," Jake said. "We have no idea who they are. They could be on the sheriff's payroll, for all we know." He looked around them and flicked on his flashlight. "Heck, they could be going to get the sheriff right now!"

"So, what are we going to do?" Janet was anxious and less defiant.

Jake continued to shine his light around the interior. They could see a few metal paint buckets piled in one corner and a couple of apparently empty and rusty-looking gas cans tossed in another. A few sacks of fertilizer lay nearby the gas cans, split open with some of their contents spilled onto the earthen floor of the shed. "Well, that's a disaster waiting to happen," he muttered. He continued his sweep with the light. There was an old wooden ladder leaned up against the back wall, in addition to an assortment of ropes, tools, and other items either hanging from nails on the walls or lying around.

"You might want to turn off your light," Seth suggested. "Someone might see the glow through some of these cracks." He was particularly interested in one space between two boards. "I can barely see anything out there.

Jake flicked off the light and returned to the door. He noticed a small knothole about three feet up from the floor. Kneeling down, he was able to see well enough to watch for the sheriff or anyone else who might approach.

"See anything?" Seth asked.

"Not yet."

Seth walked to the back of the building. He examined a few of the wall boards and pulled on one. It was loose. "Hey. I think I might be able to budge some of these boards loose. We might be able to squeeze through and get out."

Jake watched him. "Okay. You keep working on that and I'll keep watching on this side in case anyone comes back for us."

Seth pushed aside some of the clutter to get better leverage and pulled. He immediately stopped and winced at the screech of rusted nails rubbing against weathered wood. "Sorry Jake."

Jake nodded but quickly resumed looking through the knothole. "Try again," he said as he continued to watch. A few more tugs and pushes and Seth was able to dislodge two boards enough to create an opening about sixteen inches wide at the base. "Okay," he said quietly. "I think we can all squeeze through here."

Jake remained at the knot hole while Seth worked his way out of the shed then assisted Tommy and Janet. Jake hurried to join them and wiggled through as well then all four sat on the ground for a moment to listen and figure out what to do next.

"It sure seems quiet over there," Jake remarked.

"They're probably having dinner," Janet replied smugly, "getting ready for their _big_ evening."

"Yeah," Jake said then did a double-take as he stared at Janet. He was suddenly aware of her appearance. She was wearing a very short and flimsy sleeveless pink dress that easily fluttered in the evening breeze.

"What," she said.

"Uh, well, you just look – different."

"Never mind how I look!" She knew the dress revealed far more than she wanted any of them to see. "We need to get my friend out of there before it's too late!" Her defiant stubbornness was back. She stood up and started for the corner of the building.

"What are you doing?" Jake jumped up and grabbed her arm. "You can't go back.

"I'm not leaving without Sally!" she replied. "I did drive recklessly through the night, get abandoned in a creepy cave, caught by the sheriff and get rescued by all of you, twice now, just to walk away from my friend! Now let me go!" She tugged at his grip.

Jake held tight. "You can't just _sashay_ back into that bunkhouse! You think the sheriff will let you sidle up to your friend, and calmly invite her to accompany you off the premises?"

Janet managed to wrestle from his grip and rubbed her arm. "Listen to me and what I'm trying to tell you!" she said sternly as they kept staring at her. "Oh, good grief!" she was disgusted. "Jake! Give me your jacket," she demanded. He complied, and Janet tied it around her waist. "Okay, _now_ can I have your attention? Look into my eyes!" She pointed to her face with two fingers.

"Yes," Jake replied. "But let me explain to you one more time –"

"I'm tired of explanations!" she replied, anger rising.

"Look!" He raised his voice. "I want to get your friend as badly as you do. No one should treat women this way! Okay? But we _have_ to go about this the right way! Storming into that bunkhouse right now isn't going to help." He paused long enough to take a deep breath. Then lowering his voice, he continued, "Look. We need to get away from here as quickly as possible without being seen. We need to find an _honest_ sheriff who can raid this place legally."

Janet stood her ground but she knew he was right. At the same time, she desperately worried about Sally and what she might be going through. Tears came. She nodded her head in agreement then turned away so they couldn't see her crying.

"Hey, Janet," Seth called to her gently, "I know how you feel. I want to find my mom too."

Janet turned around and wiped her face. She looked at Seth, incredulous. "Your mom?"

"Yeah. It's a long story," he began.

"But we don't have time for long stories right now," Jake interrupted. "We have to get moving – _now!"_

Jake worried that they had been standing around far too long as it was. He couldn't understand why someone hadn't already been out actively looking for Janet. Even so, he didn't want to stick around to find out. He carefully peeked around the side of the shed at the main buildings and the open area of the compound where several vehicles were now parked. He turned back to the group and suggested a plan.

"Let's just start walking away and out across the open fields toward the lights of town. We can use this shed as a shield for as long as possible."

"Sounds good to me," Seth said. "Let's go." He motioned to Tommy and the two of them started out.

Tommy stuck close to Seth. He'd been taking everything in, wide-eyed and uneasy. Even though Jake had cautioned him about their second rescue attempt and how dangerous it could be, he hadn't fully realized what Jake had meant. This was definitely intense, and the sooner they could get back to town, the better he'd like it.

"You coming?" Jake asked Janet as he started to follow the others.

"Yes," she said and sounded defeated. "I'm right behind you."

"We'll get help for your friend. I promise." The two of them took off after Seth and Tommy, using the light of town as their beacon and the shield of the shed to cover their escape.

The going was rough. The ground was uneven with rocks underfoot and wild grass brushing against their legs. They hadn't gone too far when Jake turned around to see how Janet was doing in her skimpy clothes and dainty shoes, except she wasn't behind him anymore. He could see she was approaching the outbuilding they had just left, but staying in the shadows.

Jake called to Seth and Tommy to wait up. "We have a problem."

"What?" Seth asked looking around.

"It's Janet. She's back at the shed. I have to go get her. If she's discovered, there's no telling what will happen to her. You both wait here! But stay down. If we're not back in twenty minutes, go get help as fast as you can!"

Seth and Tommy crouched down in the dry grass but kept an eye on Jake as he hurried back to the shed and Janet.

Jake was within a few feet of the shed and called to her. She either didn't hear him or didn't want to because she started to move around the side of the building heading in the direction of the bunkhouse.

"Janet!" he whispered loudly.

She froze for a moment and ducked back into the shadows of the shed staring out into the darkness of the field.

"Janet! Wait up!" Jake was now close enough for her to see him.

"You didn't need to come back," she said stoically. "I can take care of this myself."

"Yeah, I can see that." There was a tone of sarcasm in his voice as he finally reached her side.

"I am not going to _sashay_ back to the building, as you suggested I would, but I _am_ going to go get Sally!"

"And just exactly how to you plan to do that?"

"If you must know, now would be a _perfect_ time to rescue her because everyone is eating, even that stupid sheriff!"

"And you think no one will be guarding that bunkhouse, especially after you escaped?"

"I –" she hesitated then replied, "No! I don't! I think everyone is eating. Why wouldn't they be?"

"Right. Like the sheriff is okay with the fact that you just took off. Sure. He's not worried that you might make it back to town and get help. Yeah, everyone is eating, and no one is looking for _you_!"

"Don't tell me what to do. I don't care what you said and I don't trust you. I don't trust anyone. I will take care of this myself."

"Well, you do need to trust someone. We really want to help you but what you plan to do is flat out crazy. You're gonna get caught and then what? How's that going to help Sally?" He grabbed her arm again. "No. You're coming with me and the guys."

Janet resisted. Jake kept his grip and attempted to pick her up to throw over his shoulder. She started to fight back and screamed at one point. Clapping his hand over her mouth, Jake whispered in her ear with as much authority as he could muster. "Either shut up and come with me or I _will_ leave you right here where they can find you." He had barely made his remark when they heard voices coming from across the compound.

"Oh, no," Janet said.

"Yeah," he replied. "You just alerted everyone _where you are!"_

"No!" she was trembling. "If you had just left me alone, I could have handled this!" She attempted to sound convincing, but without success.

"You have two seconds to make up your mind. Stay here, or come with me!" his voice was terse.

"He's right," an unexpected voice broke in.

Janet froze, and Jake whipped around to look at a dark-clad figure standing behind them. An icy chill ran down his back. They'd been found. Again.

# CHAPTER 19

Jake and Janet stood facing the man who had just spoken to them. He reached up and removed the ski mask covering his face. Janet gasped! It was Greg Danes. Her face displayed a mix of confusion, relief, and fear. After all, the last time she saw Greg was at the tiny cabin hiding that cave high in the mountains. The cave where he had left her drugged and alone. She stepped behind Jake and clung to him. He immediately accepted the role of protector.

"Don't worry," Greg said. "We're not going to hurt you. In fact, we thought we had all of you safely locked away in this shed. We just didn't figure you'd find a way out!"

"We?" Jake asked and looked around. "Where's your friend?" His voice was flat.

"Nearby."

"I don't understand," Janet said peeking from behind Jake's back. "What are you doing here?"

"My job." His answer was firm.

"Your job?" She asked, startled. "You mean you work for the sheriff and patrol his-his – _this place_? Janet demanded.

"I do not work for the sheriff." Greg said firmly.

Janet released her grip on Jake and approached Greg stopping three feet from him, her eyes full of fire.

He waited for a heartbeat then finally said, "We were hired to conduct surveillance on this place and gather information to report to the authorities."

"We, again," Jake said. "Where is this other guy?"

Greg ignored him and continued. "My partner and I have been watching the sheriff and his cronies for quite some time. Seems they've been operating a rather lucrative business out here. Illegally. Time to shut them down."

"But I don't understand," Janet began. "The cave. You left me there –"

"I was trying to protect you." He chuckled. "You know you are a very stubborn woman!"

"Tell me about it," Jake agreed with a wry smile then quickly glanced away when Janet gave him an accusatory look.

"Okay, I'll explain later," Greg said, "but right now both of you and your other two friends need to get away from here before everything starts to hit the fan." Greg took Janet by the arm and started back toward the field where Seth and Tommy waited.

"But Sally," Janet tried to break his grasp.

"Your friend will be okay, I promise." he said. "But you have to trust me." Still holding her arm, they walked a short distance farther when Greg added without looking at her, "Nice outfit, by the way."

"Shut up," she mumbled in disgust.

Greg chuckled.

Jake followed, keeping an eye on him. Maybe Janet felt comfortable with this guy, but he wasn't so comfortable with him, at least not for the moment.

A short distance farther and they rejoined the others, along with Greg's partner, Frank, who was waiting with them.

"Everyone accounted for?" Frank asked.

"For the moment, yes."

"So, this must be Janet," Frank remarked. "Too bad we don't have time to get better acquainted. He leveled a steady gaze at her for a couple of heartbeats, as if studying her face, then turned to his partner. "We have a date with some idiots." He and Greg checked their gear and got ready to return to the compound.

"Okay, kids," Greg began. "This is the deal. You make a beeline for those lights over there," he pointed toward Cold Creek, "and don't stop until you get there. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir," Tommy and Seth replied together. He'd get no argument from them.

"Jake? Janet?" Greg looked at both of them.

Jake nodded his head in agreement. "Yes, sir."

Janet looked back toward the bunkhouse.

"Janet! We don't have time to play games!"

"I'm not playing games!" she retorted.

"Look! If you interfere in any way with this operation, I will personally arrest you and throw you in jail!"

She immediately recoiled. "You wouldn't do that to me."

"Try me." His voice meant he wasn't kidding. "I've been trying to keep you out of the way and safe ever since I found you on that back road to my cabin." He walked right up to her and stared her down. "Do not go back there and that's an order!" His tone was sharp and commanding.

"Okay," she agreed finally. "I'll stay with these guys."

"Good. Now, everyone, get going!" He started back to the compound and thought of one more thing and called back to them. "And don't use any flashlights out there. Just the moonlight. That's it. Understood?"

"Yes," they all replied.

Frank paused for a moment to watch the group head away before he joined Greg as they returned to the compound. Think they'll listen this time?"

"We'll see," Greg replied and glanced back one more time. "They'd better."

Seth led the group, hunting and pecking his way along. Tommy carefully stepped wherever Seth did. Janet was having more difficulty due to her party shoes. The air was chilly, and she finally untied Jake's jacket from around her waist and put it on. He still wore his T-shirt and flannel shirt, but watched Janet struggle in her flimsy shoes. He finally offered to carry her piggyback. She gratefully accepted. Once settled, Jake made better time, catching up to Seth and Tommy. They finally reached a wire fence. Seth decided they'd have to climb through it. Taking off his jacket, he laid it across one of the middle wires and carefully pulled the top one up to make a larger crawl space. Jake helped Janet to the ground. They let Tommy go through first followed by Janet. Jake went next and then held the wires apart for Seth who retrieved his jacket. The group started off again until they heard popping sounds coming from the compound.

All four stopped and looked back at the Quail Club. They could see the silhouettes of people running and then heard shouting. More popping.

"Gunfire!" Seth exclaimed.

"Oh no!" Janet was anxious and took a step toward the commotion.

"Stay here!" Jake ordered. "Remember what Danes said."

"I know, but Sally!"

Then they heard a small explosion, and women screaming. Janet was tense; riveted to her spot. "No," she whimpered in defeat, tears streaming once again as they all watched in horror as the bunkhouse erupted in flames. "No-no-no," she repeated as her tears developed into hysterical sobbing.

"Take her!" Jake ordered Seth. "But stay here!"

"Where are you going?" Seth called to him, but Jake had already taken off in a full sprint back toward the compound in spite of Greg's warning.

Panting heavily, he reached the wire fence and scrambled through, oblivious to any cuts or scratches. Track and field had never been his athletic passion, yet here he was, making the dash of his life. The moon was sufficiently high enough now to cast some decent light on the field, at least well enough to illuminate where he was going, even if he did miss seeing some of the potholes and larger rocks along the way and stumbled.

As he approached the vicinity of their previous temporary confinement, he stopped to catch his breath and survey the scene. More shots rang out, and he dropped to the ground, lying flat but raised his head just enough to see what was going on and where everyone seemed to be. For once in his life, he wanted to do something significant. Helping Janet rescue her friend was going to be his opportunity. Even so, he was scared to death. In fact, now that he had gotten this far, he didn't know what to do until he heard someone coming.

Scrambling to his feet, he ran to the backside of the shed and crouched down in the shadows, waiting. He could hear the panting and footfalls of someone coming closer. He also heard the voice of a woman, pleading to the person she was with to let her go.

"You shut up!" a man's voice yelled at her. "Just shut up!"

"Please!" she pleaded again until Jake heard a slap and the girl's whimpered response. A moment later, a short stout man rounded the end of the building, jerking the young woman along with him finally thrusting her to the ground.

"You ain't nothing but trouble, missy!" Sheriff Wilcox said. He stood over her, snarling. " _Nothing_ but trouble! You and that-that _friend_ of yours! She's run off, and now you was trying to run off. Well, this here's the end of the line fer you!"

Another explosion startled the sheriff. He hurried to the corner of the shed to take a look. More gunfire erupted. Jake could tell the bunkhouse was completely engulfed now. Red and orange light from the flames lit up the sky and the surrounding area, and he could smell the acrid smoke swirling around. Jake pressed his body into the ground as flat as he could, hoping his dark clothes would help keep him camouflaged long enough for the sheriff to move on and not discover him. The grass and weeds growing around the base of the back wall contributed some cover as well although a few burning embers landed nearby. He just hoped none of the grass would catch fire.

Evidently the sheriff got spooked. He kicked at the woman where she lay lifeless and took off toward the open field and in the direction of Seth, Tommy, and Janet. Jake hoped his friends were staying alert and watching. He knew they were waiting for him but would not expect to see the sheriff coming instead.

Jake counted to ten before he dared raise his head to look around. Everything was illuminated in the light of the inferno. He could see the young woman lying in the weeds nearby. A few curls of smoke rose from nearby stray embers. He rolled over those, hoping to extinguish them then crawled to the woman. He tried to determine if she were dead or alive grateful for a slight moan providing an answer. He looked off toward the field but saw nothing. In the distance, the lights of Cold Creek seemed almost unreal. How he wished he were home in bed right now or having a late-night snack with his uncle and talking about the day's events. There usually wasn't much to talk about, but that was all changing now.

He heard another popping sound only closer and realized it wasn't gunfire. Jake rose up on his knees and looked at the shed. The sound was coming from inside it. Wisps of smoke began to drift from cracks between the wallboards. The shed was on fire! With all the debris inside, it wouldn't take long for it to become completely engulfed as well. He stood up and quickly pulled the young woman up then carefully hoisted her over his shoulder to carry her as far away from the burning building as he could. He didn't hesitate and took off toward the lights of Cold Creek as he heard more shouting. He desperately hoped no one had seen him amidst the chaos, commotion, and smoke.

Minutes marched by slowly as he labored under the dead weight of the woman in his desperate attempt to escape the growing, raging inferno and flying bullets. At last, he reached the wire fence and sat the woman down on the ground. He crouched next to her, keeping her propped up. She started to moan again and finally looked up at Jake, squinting.

"Who are you?" Her question was weak and almost inaudible.

"My name's Jake," he replied. "I'm a friend of one of the girls the Sheriff had locked up in that bunkhouse. Her name is Janet."

She reacted and looked at Jake, bewildered. "Janet? You-You know Janet? Where is she?" The young woman looked around but seemed dazed and confused.

"She's safe," he reassured her. "In fact, she's nearby. But we need to keep going if we want to catch up with her." He kept looking at her then suddenly asked, "What is your name?"

"My name?" she blinked at him. "Sally," she answered groggily. "My name's Sally."

"Thank God!" Jake stood up and pulled Sally to her feet. "Do you think you can walk for a little while? It might help clear your head. Do you think you can do that?"

"I'll try but my side hurts."

Jake remembered seeing Sheriff Wilcox kick Sally in the side before he took off. He pulled off his flannel shirt and laid it across one wire while pulling up the one above so Sally could squeeze through. Then he followed, grabbing his shirt. He was about to put it back on when he noticed she was dressed similarly to Janet.

"Let me help you put this on. It'll help keep you warm."

"Thank you," she replied weakly.

Jake took one more look at all the devastation behind him. On the road leading to the Club he could see the flashing red, blue, and amber lights of fire trucks and other emergency vehicles and heard the sirens as they raced along the access road to the compound. For sure, he and his uncle would have plenty to talk about in the weeks ahead.

Sally struggled in her party shoes.

"Here. I'll piggyback you." He helped her up onto his back and continued. Soon they heard muffled voices ahead and approached with caution, watching for any signs of danger.

Sally appeared to be getting her wits back from the cold night air. "What's going on?" she whispered. "Who's yelling?"

"I'm not sure, but we need to be as quiet as possible." Jake eased her back down to the ground. And held her hand as they continued toward the area where he'd left his three companions. The muffled voices grew louder as they approached. Finally, they could make out the voice of Janet who was extremely agitated and vocal with someone.

_"You!_ You underhanded _snake!_ You vile and putrid _slime ball!_ You disgusting, poor excuse for a human being! You don't deserve to live! It would give me _tremendous_ pleasure to kick your big, fat, sorry – "

"Janet! Calm down!" Jake heard Seth yell over her screaming tirade.

"Calm down? Calm _down_? After what he's done? He doesn't deserve to live. He doesn't deserve to breath! He doesn't deserve to –"

"Okay!" Seth yelled again. "I totally agree with you. And if we could string him up by his –"

"Hey guys!" Jake interrupted as he and Sally came closer.

"Jake!" Tommy ran to greet his friend. "Jake. You're alive. You're –" Tommy stopped short when he saw the young woman with him. "Who's that?"

Janet spun around, hesitated for a moment then gasped. _"Oh my God! Oh my God! You're safe! You really are! You're safe!"_ She ran to Sally and the two friends embraced, tears of relief streaming down their faces.

"Who _is_ that, Jake?" Tommy whispered.

"It's Sally, Tom," he answered in a tired voice. "It's Janet's best friend, Sally."

"Ohh." His eyes were wide.

Jake joined Seth who was sitting on the pudgy body of a struggling Sheriff Wilcox. "What 'd'ya got there, Seth?" he asked then bent down to look the sheriff in the eye. "You are such a disgrace to law enforcement," he said calmly. "I can hardly wait for the feds to get their hands on you." Looking closer, he could see that the sheriff was hog-tied with Seth and Tommy's belts. "Nice touch." He patted Seth on the back. " _Nice_ touch."

Overhead, they heard a different sound headed their way then they saw the blinking lights of an aircraft. It was a helicopter.

"Everyone!" he called out. "Turn on your flashlight if you have one! Shine it toward that helicopter coming in!" Jake, Seth, and Tommy each flicked on a light and aimed it skyward. "Wave them back and forth to get the pilot's attention!"

The chopper passed overhead but kept going toward the fiery compound and circled it a couple of times then landed for a moment. It looked like someone got out before it took off again and headed back in their direction.

"Keep waving your lights!" Jake called out again.

By now, the girls were waving their arms and screaming for help, not that they could be heard over the sound of the pulsating rotors as the aircraft approached. It circled overhead and turned on its landing light, illuminating the ground. Everyone frantically waved and shouted as it hovered. The helicopter finally landed a few yards away, kicking up dust and debris in the process. A side door slid open and a man hopped out, along with a dog. He raced to the group with a gun drawn. The pilot remained onboard; the rotors of the aircraft still fully rotating.

The dog arrived first, growling, snarling, and barking at everyone. Janet immediately recognized him as Shadow and wanted to call to him, but changed her mind as the man ordered them all to stay where they were.

"Keep your hands in the air!"

"Okay!" they all responded. He radioed to someone and they could hear a crackled response but kept their hands high. He shone his light on the bedraggled group then caught sight of the sheriff tied up on the ground gagged and struggling.

"Who's that?"

"Sheriff Wilcox," Seth volunteered quickly. "We caught him!"

Again, the man radioed to someone saying the sheriff had been apprehended and was in custody, along with five other suspects.

"Hey!" Seth shouted to him. "We're not the bad guys, he is!" He pounded on the back of the sheriff.

"Yeah!" Tommy joined in. "We were just on a rescue mission!"

"A what?" the man asked.

"A-a-a rescue mission?" he answered more quietly, not wanting to get into any more trouble.

Shining the light back and forth between all five companions, the man steadied his light on Janet and Sally. "Rescue, huh?"

"It's not what you think!" Jake snapped at him. "These girls were abducted and we saved them." He struggled to calm down.

"It's true," Janet shouted over the sound of the helicopter. They rescued both of us!" She looked at Shadow who hovered over Sheriff Wilcox, still growling menacingly. Maybe Greg was right, Janet suddenly thought. Maybe Shadow would have attacked her if he ordered him to.

"We're going to have to make two trips to get all of you outta this field," the man said.

"Are you government agents?" Janet asked.

He turned to her. "What do you mean?"

"Well, like Greg Danes."

"You know Danes?"

"Yes. He said he was trying to protect me from the sheriff."

The man ordered Shadow to stand down then looked at Seth. Untie him." He gestured at the sheriff.

"But –"

"Just do it and get him on his feet."

Seth did so but held onto the sheriff. Instantly the man shoved handcuffs on the sheriff and pulled off the gag then grabbed his arm to lead him away.

"Thanks," he said to Seth.

_"You lousy kids!"_ the sheriff shouted as the man marched him to the helicopter. _"You lousy kids! You'll pay for this! You'll pay!"_ Shadow let out another bark and took one long look at Janet before he followed.

The man shoved the sheriff into the passenger cabin of the helicopter. Shadow jumped onboard as well. The man looked back at the group and shouted, "We'll come for the rest of you. Wait here."

As promised, the helicopter returned about forty-five minutes later. The same man approached the huddled group. Tommy quickly put his hands up again and waited.

The man smiled as he drew closer. "You can put your hands down."

Tommy did so but looked embarrassed, realizing no one else had their hands up.

Janet eyed the man and stepped up to him. "You have a name?"

He eyed her. "Hector. My partner, John, and I work with Danes on occasion." He nodded his head toward the helicopter. "John's the pilot." Hector surveyed the group. "Who's ready to get outta here?"

# CHAPTER 20

Jake woke with a start. He'd been dreaming. It was a confusion of images and people and flashing lights and chaotic sounds. Sitting up, he looked around and realized he was in his own bed at home. Sunlight illuminated the curtained window. Stiffly, he got up and stretched. His body ached in several places and he winced as he walked to the window and pulled aside the curtain to gaze outside. The sky was blue, and a breeze rustled the leaves of an elm tree nearby. Memories flooded back, and he immediately wondered how Janet and Sally were doing. He wandered into the kitchen and found his uncle busy at the stove.

"Morning, Uncle Pete," he greeted his uncle, still feeling groggy.

"Afternoon's more like it," Pete said and turned around with a big grin. "You hungry? I thought I heard you gittin' up."

"Yeah," he replied. "Something to eat sounds good." Jake sat down at the small kitchen table and gazed at the tiny kitchen window over the sink. The curtain was drawn shut. Pete followed his gaze.

"Don't want no nosy reporters trying to look inside. I got all the curtains and drapes closed up tight and the doors all locked.

"Reporters, huh?" Jake nodded and let out a heavy sigh. "How long have I been asleep?"

"Nearly all day," he answered, bringing his nephew a plate of hot food. "It's about three in the afternoon."

"Wow," Jake responded and stared at the plate. He slowly began to eat. "Have you heard from Seth? And where's Tommy?"

"Haven't heard from Seth and Tommy's still sleeping in my room."

"Your room?" Jake shook his head.

"Yeah, I took the couch. Don't you remember?"

"I guess. It's just that so much has happened." He took another bite. "It all seems like a bad dream. I wonder how Janet and Sally are doing."

"Well, I did hear a little about that," Pete replied. "They were both airlifted to the hospital in the next county. You know that big newfangled one. Other than that, I don't know anything else about how they're doing."

Jake smiled at his uncle. "Well, at least they're both finally safe." He finished the rest of his meal in silence, still thinking about the events of the past several days. It all seemed so unreal now and he shook his head again. The phone rang and Pete answered.

"I reckon so," he said to the caller. "Okay." He hung up.

"Who was that?" Jake wanted to know.

"That fella, Greg somebody."

"Danes," Jake filled in. "Greg Danes. What did he want?"

"He's coming over in about an hour to talk to you and ask you some questions. I figured you might as well get it all over with as quick as possible so's they can wrap this thing up and go home."

"Wrap it all up?" he asked absently.

"Yep. It's been all over the news on TV. There's all kinds of reporters and TV crews in town, and we've been selling a lot of gas and snack foods and stuff," his uncle reported. "That much is good anyway."

Jake stared at the window again and the drawn curtains then got up and took his dishes to the sink. He looked at his hands and arms for a moment, all scratched but beginning to scab over from the wire fence they had to crawl through.

"You should probably see doc Yates about them scratches," his uncle said.

"Yeah. I suppose so."

"Well why don't you step outside for some fresh air and sun before it gets dark?" Pete said. "Might do ya some good."

Jake nodded. "Yeah, okay. I think I will." He headed out the back door and stepped off the porch when his uncle popped his head out the door.

"Might be best if you stay back here outta sight for a while, though," Pete said, "unless you _want_ to talk to some of them nosy reporters."

Jake grinned and shook his head but wondered where he could go and _not_ be seen. He ended up just sitting on the back-porch steps listening to a bird chirping in a nearby tree. The breeze was comfortable as he mulled over everything again and again. He thought about his friends, Seth and Tommy. Poor Tommy. He sure hadn't planned on a week quite like this one when his parents left for their cruise. Jake was sure they wouldn't let their son hang out with him anymore; not after this.

He heard excited voices and looked toward the store and gas station. A couple of reporters spotted him and were coming his way with their cameras and microphones. Jake jumped to his feet and ran back inside locking the kitchen door. He headed for the living room to find his uncle peeking through the curtains of a front window and muttering something unintelligible. Jake let him mutter and instead went to check on Tommy. Poking his head in the doorway of his uncle's bedroom, he found Tommy still in bed but staring at the ceiling.

Hearing Jake, he looked at him. "Hi, Jake." He was grinning.

"Hey, Tom," he said and sat on the edge of the bed. "How are ya doing?"

Tommy raised up on his elbows. "Good!" he replied, his eyes wide with excitement. "We did it, didn't we? We really did!" He was exuberant. "We rescued Janet _and_ her friend! We did good, didn't we, Jake?"

"Yes, we did." Jake couldn't help but smile at his friend, relieved he didn't seem to be upset. "Did you sleep good?"

"Yup!" He climbed out of bed and walked to the window to part the curtains and look outside. "What time is it?"

"It's a little after four in the afternoon."

"Really?" he seemed surprised. He turned around and faced Jake. "When did you get up?"

"About an hour ago," he answered. "You hungry?"

"Yeah. I'm starved!"

"I'll go tell Uncle Pete you're up. Come on out when you're ready. We'll have some food for you."

"Thanks, Jake." Just then they heard a tap on the front door. "Who's that?" Tommy looked at Jake.

"I don't know. Guess I'd better go find out." Jake walked down the hall to the living room in time to see his uncle open the door.

"Sure thing, come on in," he was saying. A moment later, Greg Danes stepped inside, along with a dog; the black lab they'd seen the night before when the sheriff was apprehended.

"Sit down, boy." He made a hand gesture and his dog sat then laid down. Greg looked up at Jake and smiled. "Good to see you again, Jake." He walked over and shook his hand. "I hope you slept well. I got here a little sooner than anticipated. Hope that's okay. There's quite a crowd of reporters out there." He nodded in the direction of the store and gas station.

"Yeah, I guess so, and yeah, I did sleep pretty good. Mostly because I was so exhausted, I think." He smiled at Shadow. "Nice dog."

"Yeah. We're pals. He's a good partner."

"I thought that guy Frank was your partner."

"He is, on occasion, but Shad, here – he and I are together twenty-four-seven. He's like family. Aren't you boy?"

Shadow looked up and wagged his tail.

Pete directed everyone to sit down and get comfortable then disappeared into the kitchen. They could hear him clanking around, opening and shutting cabinet doors. Jake called out to his uncle, nearly forgetting that Tommy was awake.

"Hey Uncle Pete? Tommy's awake and says he's _starved_."

"I'll fix him up." his uncle called back.

"How's Tommy doing?" Greg asked.

"Good." Jake let out a little laugh. "He's all excited that we helped save Janet _and_ Sally. I think he really likes Janet." Jake smiled then felt a little embarrassed and looked away.

"I like her too. She is quite – spirited I think." Greg grinned. "I needed to ask you a few questions; just routine stuff. I've already talked to Seth."

"You have?" Jake seemed surprised.

"Yes, well, Frank and I asked him to stay with us last night when we found out he lives alone. We didn't think it was such a good idea for him to be by himself just yet."

Jake nodded, moved by the compassion Greg expressed for Seth and his circumstances. "That was nice of you, although he could have stayed here with us."

Greg smiled then said, "Frank's bringing him over in about twenty minutes. We want to fill you boys in on some of the details of what's been going on around here over the past several months. We thought it might be more appropriate if you heard it from us rather than getting it piecemeal and embellished by the media."

"Thanks," Jake replied. "It would be nice to know." He hesitated then asked, "Is Greg Danes your real name?"

"My real name?" There was a slight smile on Greg's face. "Does it matter?"

"I don't know. I guess not." Jake grinned.

"It's my real name." He paused. "Any more questions?"

"Not at the moment," Jake replied.

He and Greg spent the next few minutes going over some details of Jake's participation of the previous night's events. Then, after Tommy finished eating, Jake left the room and let Greg talk to him. Eventually, Frank and Seth arrived, but came in the back door in an attempt to avoid the media. Everyone took seats in the living room, anxious to hear what the two men had to say.

"First off," Greg began, "Frank and I apologize for any misunderstandings that may have developed recently in the community, but we had a job to do."

Everyone nodded.

"This case has evolved over the past few years, actually, but we didn't get involved until just a few months ago when some missing persons reports were brought to our attention." He paused for a moment then continued. "Local law enforcement agents in several states were beginning to notice a pattern of activity involving the disappearance of young women. These gals would attend a party at someone's special invitation then suddenly disappear without a trace."

"You mean like Janet's friend, Sally," Jake volunteered.

"Exactly, and because it involved similar activity in more than one state, we were called in," Greg said.

"Yes," Frank agreed, picking up the story, "except in Sally's case." he said. "Janet was not only a witness to what had happened but also managed to follow the kidnappers, driving all night and ending up right here in Cold Creek. Once in the area, however, she lost sight of the kidnapper's car, and ended up spending the night in the local motel, but you probably know the rest of that story."

Actually, Jake and his friends didn't know all those details, but it didn't matter now. They just wanted to hear what else the two men had to say about the Quail Club in particular, and how the sheriff was involved.

Greg and Frank both continued to tell them of the events that led up to the reasons why they came to the area and hung out in the mountains. Frank explained that he tried to stay out of sight as much as possible. It turned out that he had actually become an infrequent visitor at the Quail Club in an attempt to gain some inside information from any of the women living and working there. He was lucky to have met an older woman, named Claire, who had been at the club for quite a long while; several years, in fact.

At the mention of the woman's name, Seth sat up straight and stared at Frank intently. "Do you know where she is now?" he asked, anxiously.

"She's safe. We had her taken to the hospital, along with the rest of the girls from the club, except for two who didn't make it. There will be charges filed for those wrongful deaths."

Everyone sat quietly for a moment then Greg looked at Seth. "So, you know Claire?"

Seth nodded. "Yes, sir. She's – she's my mom," he said quietly and exhaled, leaning back on the sofa, his eyes closed tight.

"I see," Frank said but continued. "Well, after I met Claire, I showed up for visits, explaining to the management that I often passed through the area on business. Didn't want them to get suspicious so my visits were about every four or five weeks apart and I always asked for Claire. But she and I spent our time talking about what was going on out there. She wasn't happy and attempted to escape a few times but always got caught, hauled back, and beaten up."

Frank looked at Seth. "I suggested I could get her out of there. I was sure if I offered enough money to someone, I could take her away. She seemed to like that idea, but I also asked if she'd be willing to stay and be an informant for us. I told her we'd pay her instead. She thought about it and finally agreed. She became our inside person."

Frank paused, waiting for Seth to say something, but he didn't so he continued. "We weren't thrilled with the idea of asking her to stay there and keep up appearances, you understand, but she said she'd do it if it meant breaking up the racket."

Both Frank and Greg went on to explain that the Quail Club had become a trafficking operation, involving both women and drugs. The Club had become part of a national network that sought out certain types of women and had them transported to the Quail Club and other similar establishments around the country. They were even exporting women overseas via online auctions. Many of the women had also became drug mules. Those who cooperated received some compensation in the form of money or drugs, whichever they preferred.

"Early on, Claire accepted the money from us," Frank said. "It was during one of my visits that I discovered that she was planning another escape. She felt she'd done as much as she could for us. She'd been saving her money to help with the escape, hoping to pay off one of the guards." He looked at Seth again.

"I knew about the money," Seth said. "I used to sneak onto the property late at night to meet my mom. She'd wait until everyone was asleep and crawl out her window. We'd meet at an old broken-down tractor that had been sitting in the field for years. She'd give me the money to hide and then hurry back to her room before anyone would notice." Seth teared up and quickly wiped his face.

He continued. "One night she didn't come and I began to worry. So, I finally decided I should leave and that's when someone came up behind me. It was the sheriff. It turns out that he caught my mom sneaking out and beat her bad. She finally told him what she had been doing to get him to stop. So, he came to meet me instead. He told me to keep my mouth shut, or he'd shut it permanently." Seth looked at his friends who were listening quietly, completely dumfounded.

Seth took a deep breath then exhaled and continued. "He made a deal with me, that if I worked for him, he wouldn't hurt my mom anymore or me. But I had to do whatever he asked. If I didn't, he swore he'd kill my mom and me too." He looked at his friends again and pleaded, "Please don't hate me, guys."

"We don't hate you, Seth," Jake responded quietly. "I just wish we could have helped you. I wish you could've said something to us."

The mood was somber.

Greg and Frank revealed that after the fire was put out and the authorities investigated the cause that they discovered the bunkhouse and several other buildings had been rigged with explosives.

"The evidence is compelling." Greg said. "The plan was to destroy any evidence of their activities, including the women and some of the staff, if they had to. Dead people don't tell tales, at least not directly."

"That's terrible!" Tommy finally spoke up.

"You're right, Tom," Greg agreed. But we want to thank you for helping, in spite of the challenges you three presented us over the last few days." He gave them all a wry smile then chuckled. "And Janet. That girl has a lot of spunk." He smiled again. "A lot of spunk and she's stubborn."

"That's for sure," Frank said. "Plus, we've also been able to collect other evidence that will help us close down some of the other places in this network." He explained that several of the guests who had shown up last night had posed as interested buyers and dealers. The sting was supposed to go down without a lot of issues but someone panicked and set off the explosives in some of the buildings. Fortunately, we were able to confiscate most of the files, computers, and other information before the fire destroyed nearly everything else.

"Heck! This was some kind of a big deal," Pete finally said, letting out a low whistle.

"Yes, a big deal indeed!" Frank said.

Both men stood up. "We need to get going," Frank said, "unless you have any questions for us." No one did. Greg gave a hand signal and Shadow stood up too. Both men shook hands with everyone and started to leave.

"S-so, uh, Greg – I mean, Mr. Danes," Jake stammered. "I guess I do have a question."

"Yes?"

"So, uh, what now? I mean where are you guys going?" He suddenly felt awkward asking.

"I'm headed home," Frank said.

"Where's home?" Seth asked.

"Idaho for me," Frank answered. "It's been a long assignment." He walked over to Jake and patted him on the back and shook his hand. "Greg and I will be out of the area by tomorrow morning."

Greg was at the window peering through the drapes. "Mind if we head out the back door?" he asked, noticing several news people had gathered out front in spite of law enforcement officers maintaining a buffer.

"Not at all," Pete replied. "If ya like, I kin distract them media folks while you get away."

Frank chuckled. "Actually, that's not a bad idea, if you don't mind. Just don't share any of what we just told you. Plus, we'd prefer to stay anonymous, if possible, so don't mention our names either. I think everyone was inside the store getting coffee and donuts when Seth and I showed up but apparently they saw us come here and started to gather outside."

"I'll take care of them folks," Pete said.

"Let them know there will be a news conference in front of the sheriff's office here in Cold Creek in about an hour," Greg said. "Some of the other agencies are handling that."

He and Greg headed for the kitchen, while Pete stepped out on the porch and started to talk to the reporters in his easy country way. A few minutes later, he was back inside and locked the front door.

"Uncle Pete?" Jake asked. "Do you mind if we just hang out here for a while?"

"Not at all. You boys jest stay inside."

"Who's minding the store?" Jake suddenly wondered.

"Oh, I got Andy to do that," his uncle smiled. "He's feeling mighty important talking to all them reporters and getting his picture took and all." Pete wandered into the kitchen and left his nephew and friends to themselves.

"Wow," Jake said. "I still can't believe everything that's happened," He slumped down on the sofa. "How are you doing, Seth?" he asked his pal. "Really."

"I'm okay. I'm just glad my mom is all right. I worried that she was dead after the sheriff found me that night. I hadn't heard from her since then." He joined Jake on the sofa and Tommy chose Pete's old recliner and popped up the footrest.

"So, what are you gonna do when she gets out of the hospital?" Jake asked.

"I don't know," Seth said. "I think I'll let her decide what we should do. I still have the money she'd given me, plus some of my own I'd been saving. We'll just have to wait and see."

Jake looked at Tommy. "Hey, Tom. How are you doing?" Now that they all knew more of the whole story, he wondered if Tommy was still as excited as he had been earlier.

"I'm okay," he said. "I can hardly wait to tell my folks all about this though," he added. "They _won't_ believe it!"

"Well, I'm sure they will hear about it before they get home from their trip, what with all those reporters hanging around out there and the news cameras."

"Oh, yeah," he seemed a little disappointed that he wouldn't be the first to tell them.

"But you can fill them in on some of the details, Tom. All the stuff the reporters don't know about."

"Yeah!" He pushed down the footrest and hopped out the recliner and headed for the kitchen. He and Seth could hear him asking Pete if there was anything else to eat.

"I wonder how Janet and her friend, Sally, are doing." Seth said.

"Me too," Jake replied. "Let's see what's on TV. There might be something about them and the others." He reached for the television remote and flicked it on, selecting a network station. They caught a brief announcement indicating an update regarding the events of the previous evening following a commercial break.

Tommy returned with a plate of oatmeal cookies, which he passed around, then hopped back in the recliner, and settled in to watch too.

Moments later Jake called out to his uncle. "Hey, Uncle Pete! Come see this!"

Pete hurried in just in time to see a quick live interview with Andy in the store. He was beaming with pride at his brief celebrity status, acting as the spokesperson for Jake and his uncle.

"He's got no idea what you boys have been through," Pete remarked.

"That's okay," Jake said smiling. "Let him have his moment." The levity actually helped ease the strain of the afternoon.

They also found out, via news reports, that the Crocker County sheriff's office was now under investigation for criminal activities. State Police would be filling in until a new special election was held to elect a new sheriff.

_"You can be sure all candidates running for sheriff in this county will be closely scrutinized and fully vetted moving forward,"_ one reporter remarked.

"Sounds like you boys might all want to jest hang out here for the next couple of days," Pete suggested. "We got plenty of food."

They spent the rest of the evening clicking from channel to channel, hoping to hear something substantial about the women from the Club, other than the fact that they had all been admitted to the hospital for treatment and observation. Seth had hoped to catch a glimpse of his mom, but everyone had been whisked into the hospital and no cameras were allowed inside.

Late in the evening, the phone rang. Pete answered, then walked over to Seth and said it was for him. He gave Pete a curious look then went to the phone. They heard him exclaim, "Mom!" Turning away from everyone, they could tell he was crying. The conversation didn't last long, but when he returned to the sofa, he managed a smile and said, "She going to be fine. They're going to keep her in the hospital for a few days though."

"That's great news, Seth," Jake responded and gave his friend a gentle pat on the shoulder. "I'm glad she's okay."

Pete left the room and came back later with an old army cot and began putting it together. "I reckon I can sleep on this so Seth can have the sofa."

Seth began to protest, but Pete told Seth he deserved to have a soft bed for a couple of days after all he'd been through, even if it was just an old sofa, and there'd be no arguing about it. Seth gratefully accepted.

They ate a late dinner and watched more news until Tommy began to yawn and rub his eyes.

"Ready for bed, Tom?" Jake asked.

"I guess I am kinda tired," he said.

"I think we all are," Jake replied.

Within an hour, everyone was in bed, including his uncle who was completely content to sleep on the old cot. Jake lay awake for a while letting his thoughts drift. He realized things would be different in Cold Creek for a while, at least until the excitement wore off, but that was okay. Along with his two friends, they had helped put an end to a very nasty business in their area and he felt good about it. It was something significant. A short time later, he was sound asleep.

# CHAPTER 21

"Ah, dang! What a shot!" Seth moaned with a grin. He and Tommy agreed to meet Jake at the store for a game of pool. It had been nearly a week since all the excitement had taken place. The media was gone in search of new stories to pursue, and Cold Creek once again, became just a dust speck on the map. The townsfolk were glad things had settled down after all the frenzy of cameras, microphones, and law enforcement personnel everywhere. They preferred their quiet little town to be just that – quiet. Even so, a buzz still persisted about the events that put their tiny town in the spotlight for a while. If nothing else, it provided them with a lot of things to talk about rather all the usual gossip. Plus no one was complaining about the extra revenue it generated for a few days.

"So, Seth," Jake began then took another shot. He sunk a ball and walked around the table to take aim on another one. "Have you and your mom had much time to talk yet?"

"Yeah, but she doesn't feel real comfortable getting out right now. People stare at her and avoid speaking to her. She figures they all think she's a tramp of some kind. They just don't understand things."

Jake stopped in mid-aim and straightened up. He looked at his friend. "Think you might move?"

"She wants to, but I don't know where. She has a sister living in the Midwest and thought we might at least go for a visit, just to get away for a while."

"That might be a good idea, Seth, especially after all she's been through; and you too." Jake took his shot and missed. "Your turn, Tom."

While Tommy lined up a shot, Jake walked over to Seth. "I'd sure miss you, but things can't always stay the same, can they?"

"Nope. They can't." Seth let out a heavy sigh. He watched Tommy sink a ball with great delight, then asked Jake, "Have you heard anything about Janet or her friend?"

Jake shook his head. "Not a word," he replied, then congratulated Tommy on sinking another ball. "And I don't expect to. I'm sure Janet and Sally want to get away from here as fast as they can and never come back."

His uncle poked his head in the doorway. "You boys want something to eat or drink?

They each asked for a soda, just as the little bell at the front of the store rang indicating a customer had come in. "I'll bring you back something, jest as soon as I help this customer," Pete said and hurried away.

Tommy missed his next shot, and it was Seth's turn again. He lined up his cue stick and took an erratic shot that sent the balls scurrying all over the table.

"What d'ya call _that_?" Jake laughed, then laughed even harder when two balls dropped into opposite pockets. "Geez! Maybe I should try that technique!" All three laughed heartily. It felt good to laugh.

"Do you think she'll ever come back?" Tommy asked.

"Who, Tommy?" Jake asked.

"Janet," he said.

"Did I hear someone mention my name?" All three spun around and stared at the doorway. There stood Janet, struggling to hold on to four bottles of cold soda. "Someone wanna help me with these?" They quickly hurried to her, each grabbing a bottle.

"Wow!" Seth exclaimed. "Look at you!" He let out a low whistle. "You're all – all –"

"Cleaned up?" Janet laughed and opened her soda, taking a swig.

"Well, y-yes," Seth stammered, "but you're so – _pretty_!" he blurted out. Everyone laughed. Seth hung his head for a moment feeling foolish.

"Why thank you, Seth!" she replied and smiled.

"H-How's Sally doing?" Jake asked, trying not to stare at Janet, but Seth was right. She was very pretty. Her hair was fixed nicely, and her clothes were definitely better looking than what she was wearing a week ago. Even so, he thought she was pretty even then.

"She'll be fine, eventually," Janet replied. "At least I hope so. They kept us both in the hospital for observation for a few days and ran a lot of tests checking for –" she paused. "Well, you know, for stuff."

Jake understood and nodded. "So where are you off to now?" He tried to sound casual.

"Well, we're all leaving for home first thing in the morning. Sally's folks showed up a couple of days ago. They drove up from Los Angeles as soon as they were notified. My mom flew out from Wisconsin this morning. They were all quite worried, you know." She took another sip of her soda and slowly walked around the room, looking at the miscellaneous posters and other odd assortment of items tacked to the walls.

"Y-You know, we don't even know your full name," Jake said. "It wasn't in the papers or on the news." He suddenly felt embarrassed and almost ashamed of his rundown place now with Janet standing there. "Hey, why don't we all step outside and get some fresh air? It's kinda stuffy in here." He motioned to the door. They all did and gathered out in front of the store on the graveled lot next to Janet's rental car. "They found your car?" Jake asked.

"No," she replied offhand. "My mom rented this at the airport when she arrived." She looked at the ground for a moment. "I told my mom I needed to come say goodbye and thank you – all of you, for your help. I mean with Sally and everything."

"Your mom should have come with you," Tommy said.

Janet smiled. "My mom's really camera shy; doesn't like to have her picture taken, not that you were going to take her picture or anything like that, but she's been staying out of sight. It's been a lot for her to take in too. Janet looked at the ground again. "Anyway, I really had to say thank you before we left." She looked up. "I mean, you guys saved my life and Sally's too."

"We know!" Tommy stepped closer and grinned. "We're heroes!"

"Yes, you are." She grinned then leaned over and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

Tommy touched his cheek and smiled. "Wow!" He was pleased.

"You _all_ are." She gave Seth and Jake hugs as well and stepped back, but kept looking at Jake. "You really are heroes."

"You wanna have dinner with us?" Tommy asked, still smiling.

"I wish I could but I have to go. I just had to say thanks." Reluctantly, she opened the car door, paused for one last moment then climbed in. "Bye, guys," she said through the open window. "Oh, and it's Feldman. My last name. I'm Janet Feldman."

All three boys stood and watched as she pulled out and drove south, out of town. No one spoke for several minutes, each playing with his own thoughts.

"Do you think she'll ever come back?" Seth finally asked, restating Tommy's question.

"I suppose anything's possible, but I doubt it," Jake replied. "She's a pretty city girl, who is used to bright lights and excitement."

"Yeah, but she might come back," Seth said.

Jake didn't respond. He was just a backward country boy who worked at a little county store and a filling station in a little town that was nothing more than a little speck on a map. With a loud exhale, Jake looked at both his friends and smiled. "You guys hungry?"

"Yeah!" they replied together.

"Well, what d'ya say we all go up to Rosie's for some supper. My treat."

"Sounds good to me!" Seth said.

"Me too!" Tommy grinned.

"So, Tom," Jake began as they started up the street, "you say your folks were proud of you?"

"Yup! They said they couldn't believe I was so brave and everything!" Tom bubbled on about his parents' reaction to the events while they had been away.

Jake didn't tell him he'd already had a long talk with them. He wanted to apologize and reassure them that he never intended to put Tommy or any of them, for that matter, in any kind of danger. Things just kept getting more and more complicated, he had explained.

Tommy's parents reassured Jake, that they were actually very grateful to him for protecting their son and very relieved with the way things turned out.

Seth and Jake walked along, happy to listen to Tommy's chatter and grateful that he was still allowed to hang out with them. The sun had already dipped behind the looming mountain range to the west. A slight breeze picked up, and the few streetlights in town started to flicker on. A local vehicle drove past. The driver honked his horn and gave a big wave. The boys waved back. They would be local celebrities for a while longer but only until the excitement finally wore off. Jake was hoping it would be sooner rather than later. As much as it felt good to have helped take down an illegal operation, it felt even better to be safe and home again with his friends.

Janet watched the open desert landscape as she drove back to Los Angeles. Her mind was full of many thoughts. She and Sally were both safe. Jake and his friends had been wonderful. She wondered what direction her life would take now. The idea of staying in the Los Angeles area wasn't very appealing any longer. She'd had enough excitement for a lifetime. Maybe she should go back home to Wisconsin and spend time with her mother and sister. She'd think about that. Then there was Greg. There was something about him. She scolded herself and her sudden thoughts then smiled. Shadow; she'd think about him instead, and what a good dog he was.

Janet turned on the radio and found a station playing familiar music and continued to think about her life. "All the things I have experienced that brought me to this moment in time; the choices I've made, like going to that party," she said aloud. "If I had only stood my ground and refused to attend." She shook her head. "Sally. Always adventurous. Always getting into something mischievous, but never before with the dire consequences that came with the decision to go to a party in Bel Air. Choices. What choices do I make now? And based on what? Excitement? Adventure? Or to remain cautious?"

She shook her head again. "I need to figure out where I want to go in my life. What I really want to do." She turned off the radio. "School? Find a new job? Move out of Los Angeles? Go back to Wisconsin?" She pondered on that, especially since she mentioned it to the guys. "Maybe that's what I should do. Just go back home and stay put."

She continued to reflect back on that fateful party and Sally's devastating experiences as a result. That invitation was bait, she was told by Greg and Frank. "But why send it to me?" She had no clue. But no matter who sent it or why, she and Sally both paid heavily for their folly; Sally especially. They had allowed themselves to be lured into a dangerous situation. But how many other women were also abducted that night? And with the same type of a lure – a fancy invitation to an exclusive and exciting party. Or maybe there were other ways women were baited and entrapped. "I don't know."

Janet shivered involuntarily and focused on the road again as she drove through the same open rangeland, she'd driven through that terrifying dark night not that long ago. Today, however, the sun was shining and the open expanse didn't feel so foreboding or frightening. She took in the views, seeing the sights, but only vaguely aware of her surroundings as thoughts continued to run through her mind. _I made a desperate attempt to rescue my dear friend and was successful, but not without the help of a lot of other people._ _As a result, I survived and Sally was rescued, but we will never be the same again._

"This entire experience has changed everything, but how our individual lives will change moving forward is yet to be seen," she said as she sped across the vast openness of the high desert.

The sun continued its westerly march toward the horizon. Distant mountain tops to the east basked in the late afternoon sunshine while traffic on the highway moved steadily in both directions; people headed for destinations unknown to her. She fixed her gaze on the road ahead but pondered on her own destination – not just the route back to Los Angeles, but the direction of her life.

"What was I thinking when I frantically followed that car? It was foolish and I nearly lost my life in the process." She angrily wiped away a tear. "I need a new direction – a new course – but doing what? And where?" She continued to play with the repetition of her thoughts. _Where should I be headed? What course should I take? And is there anything good waiting for me out there?_

Her questions continued to tumble and repeat until she tried to push them into a sheltered recess somewhere inside her mind along with others that lingered – also unanswered. _But they will surface again_ , she thought as she gazed out at the bleak landscape of the desert. _They always do._

She inhaled deeply and let it out carefully, deliberately. "Beginning today, right now, my very existence has taken on a new life. Everything has changed." She gripped the steering wheel and set her jaw. She thought of Greg Danes and the cave. She cringed at the thought of what could have happened to her there, relieved at the same time that nothing did. _He really was protecting me._

She pulled herself back to the moment. "I may have had a part in the rescue of Sally, but now – I desperately need to rescue myself."

#

# OTHER BOOKS IN THIS SERIES

Follow the continuation of the story with these other books in the series: _Duplicity:_

A Relentless Pursuit scheduled release date: September 2, 2019

A Calculated Risk scheduled release date: November 4, 2019

A Conditional Trust scheduled release date: December 26, 2019

An Unwitting Alliance scheduled release date: February 3, 2020

A Cunning Deception scheduled release date: April 6, 2020

A Justified Betrayal scheduled release date: June 1, 2020

An Uncertain Future scheduled release date: August 3, 2020

Find ongoing updates and announcements at:

https://peggyleabaker.com/ _and_ https://www.facebook.com/peggyleabaker/

For Questions, to leave Comments, or to join our email list  
to receive 'first to know' messages, inside info just for you, and special offers, contact us at:

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