Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Rick pushed through thick vines cursing under his breath as he extracted himself from their clutches and checked his watch. He’d been moving uphill for the better part of five hours. Sitting in a clearing he wiped the sweat from his brow. Surely he should have hit the fire trail by now. In the starlight he noticed that the clearing extended away from him to the west. A turn of his head confirmed it did the same in the opposite direction. Finally, he’d found TJ’s damn track.
He rested for a moment longer and then started off along the overgrown trail. Without the thick undergrowth he was able to break into a slow jog. The chafing from his wetsuit restricted his movement to more of a fast hobble.
As he jogged he ran through his plan in his head. He would get to town, alert the local authorities, and of course Ali, and then contact his boss, Commander Conner. The SEAL officer had contacts in the DEA. They would sort these pot-growing hicks out in no time.
Fixated on justice he almost missed the distant snarl of a small engine. There was a flash of lights and Rick leaped off the track into the bushes. Seconds later the first of two buggies roared past. In the headlights of the second vehicle he spotted a bloodhound sitting in the bed of the ATV. Other buggies raced past with more men, some wielding firearms. Jabba had assembled a posse of hunters.
Rick now faced a major dilemma. If he stuck to the track the dogs would be able to easily sniff him out and the buggies run him down. As much as he hated the thought he needed to use the cover of the woods.
A glance at the sky identified the North Star and orientated him. Then he shoved his way into the bushes and started walking. Behind him he heard the buggies roaring into the distance.
* * *
Mike and the others sat huddled together in the filthy cage in an attempt to keep warm. The rubber of their wetsuits gave them a little insulation, but not enough to ward off the temperature drop that came with early dawn.
All four men turned when the sound of engines reached them. They watched as two ATVs arrived at the front of the cabin. Gun-toting hicks climbed from the vehicles and reported to Travis, the obese caretaker. A dog gave a long howl from the back of one of the buggies.
“I’m sorry guys,” managed Dean between chattering teeth. “I should have kept my mouth shut.”
TJ grasped his shoulder. “Not your fault, bud.”
They listened as Travis addressed his posse of four gunmen. “Good thing y’all got here quick. Because we got ourselves a major problem.” He gestured to cage. “These assholes stumbled on the crop. They’ve got government written all over them. There’s one more out there trying to get out of the park.” He held up a life vest. “Carter wants him alive.” Tossing the flotation device to the men he waddled back inside the cabin.
One of the men released the bloodhound from the Polaris. It jumped down and sniffed the vest.
“Oh shit,” murmured Mike.
The dog let out a howl and dashed toward the cage. It sniffed the air, circled and then darted into the drug plantation. A moment later it let out a blood-curdling bay.
“What the hell does that mean?” asked Dean.
“It means he’s got Rick’s scent,” Mike whispered.
“He’ll get away, though, right?” asked Dean.
“Damn straight he will,” said TJ.
“He’s a SEAL essé,” he’ll run rings around these yokels,” added Ernie.
In the gloom, Mike caught the grim look on TJ’s face. They needed to come up with an escape plan.
* * *
Ali gripped the Ford pickup’s grab handle as it lurched over rocks and struggled for grip. Behind the wheel Jenny activated the diff lock and eased the truck forward. Spotlights illuminated the track in front of them, revealing a heavily rutted trail.
“Your sister and Maria are great,” said Jenny as they bounced over another boulder.
“Yeah, they’re the best.”
Jenny had picked her up at the resort at a little past four in the morning. Leonie and Maria had already been up packing sandwiches and coffee. They’d dropped the two women at the ranger station where they had insisted on helping man the phones in the operations room. The women knew they would be a liability in the field but that didn’t stop them from helping.
The truck rocked sideways and there was a bark from the rear of the dual cab.
“I don’t think Axe likes my driving.”
“Yeah, well I do. The further we go in the truck the less we have to walk, right?”
“Exactly.” Jenny changed gears as the track smoothed.
“I know I’ve said this a dozen times, but thank you.”
Jenny turned and smiled at her. “Hey, it’s nothing. I love getting out in the park. Your guys looked capable. I’m sure they’ve camped up for the night. We’ll find them in no time.”
Ali nodded. “Yeah.” She sat silently as they wound their way up a hill. Minutes passed before a wide clearing appeared in the spotlights.
Jenny brought the truck to a halt and killed the engine. “This is far as we can drive.”
They climbed out of the cab and Ali snapped a lead onto Axe’s collar. Jenny handed her a backpack before reaching for her own.
“Base this is Jenny, over,” the ranger spoke into her radio.
A moment later Maria’s voice replied. “Go ahead, Jenny.”
Jenny smiled. “Wow, already on the airwaves.” Lifting the radio to her mouth, she replied, “Base, we’ve reached Whistler’s clearing. My handheld will probably drop out soon. We’ll check in at Granite Hut no later than zero nine hundred.”
“No problems,” replied Maria. “The chopper will be flying through at zero six thirty.”
“Copy that, Jenny out.” She adjusted a headlamp then took a pump action shotgun from the truck and strapped it to the side of her bag. “Right, let’s get moving.”
Ali activated her own light and gripped Axe’s lead tight as she followed the ranger along a track into the woods. The dog stepped out in front, pulling eagerly.
They only needed their lamps for another half hour. Soon the soft glow of dawn penetrated the forest and it came alive with the call of birds.
“It’s so beautiful,” said Ali as they descended a steep ravine.
“Beats the hell out of working in an office.”
“You said you were a lawyer, right?”
“Worked corporate law in New York for almost ten years. Came out here to escape.”
“And is there a Mr. Park Ranger?”
She shook her head. “No. I had a guy in New York. He turned out to be a thief and a cheat.”
“Oh, so sorry to hear that.”
“My fault for dating a banker.”
They reached the bottom of the gully and Jenny unslung her backpack. “How about we have a short break? Coffee and a sandwich?”
“Sounds good.” Ali’s stomach had been grumbling for the last fifteen minutes.
Jenny poured coffee from a flask as Ali unwrapped the sandwiches. Axe licked his chops as he sat at her feet.
“So, was Axe a military dog?” asked Jenny as she sipped.
“Still is, he and Mike are teammates.”
Jenny reached over and ruffled his ears. “He’s a handsome boy.”
As they ate Ali heard a faint sound in the distance. The noise grew louder and she identified it as a helicopter.
Jenny unhooked her radio. “That’ll be the search chopper.” She checked the channel guide taped to the back and made an adjustment. “Fire Spotter, this is Jen.”
Ali looked up through the forest canopy for the helicopter as she listened.
“Jenny, this is Ed. You down there?”
“Yeah, we’re on our way to Granite Hut.”
“Roger, look we spotted what we think is a raft on Whistler’s Bend. No sign of any bodies though.”
Ali’s heart leaped as she locked eyes with Jenny.
“OK, Ed. Look, we’re not far away. We’ll go down and take a look.”
“Roger, I’ll do one more pass and then I’m heading back to base.”
“Thanks, bud.” Jenny reattached the radio to the shoulder strap of her backpack. “Ali, this is a good thing. If they got separated from their raft they’ll be trying to walk out. No mean feat in this terrain. We’ll head down to the bend and check it out. Any luck, we’ll meet up with them on the way.”
* * *
Rick skidded down a steep slope, snagged a branch on his wetsuit and lost his footing. Tumbling through the bushes he rolled off a ledge and hit the ground with an almighty thud. On his back he stared up through the forest canopy. “Fuck my life.”
As he lay motionless a chopper thundered overhead. He jumped to his feet ignoring the chafing between his legs and ran in the direction of the aircraft. A moment later, realizing how futile the gesture was, he sat on a boulder and gathered himself.
Things had gone wrong when he was forced to abandon the track and make his own way through the thick forest. ATVs racing along the trail had pushed him further and further off course until he was well and truly lost. He knew he was somewhere between the river and the ridgeline.
Taking his phone from his backpack he powered it up; still no reception. His stomach growled loudly, reminding him that he hadn’t eaten since the night before.
He sipped water from the bladder in his pack and slung it over his shoulder. Then as he was about to set off there was a rustle in the bushes.
Turning slowly he spotted a large black shape among the foliage. A bear emerged from the undergrowth and sat on its haunches. It inspected him through small inquisitive eyes.
Rick’s pulse raced as his brain screamed orders to his legs to turn and run. “Jenny said you were more afraid of me than I am of you. In which case, you must be scared shitless,” he mumbled, fighting the urge to bolt.
The bear ambled forward and sat a few yards from him. Yawning it scratched its belly. Rick’s heart rate dropped as he studied the animal. Jenny was right it didn’t seem to be a threat. He spotted a tag in its ear and recalled that she’d said they were after easy food.
“Hey, I’m sorry. I haven’t got anything to eat. In fact, I’m starving. So if you could point me in the direction of a Jack in the Box that would be killer.”
The animal turned its head away from him, angling its ears up the hill.
“What can you hear?”
Suddenly the bear rose and dashed past Rick, disappearing into the bushes. A moment later the baying of a dog reached his ears. “Oh shit.” He turned and sprinted after the bear.
* * *
Mike inspected the lock on the heavy chain that secured the cage as he rubbed the lump on the back of his head.
“What’s the prognosis?” asked TJ.
He sighed. “Nothing serious, just a bruise.”
“No, the lock.”
“Oh, not good. This is high-grade and the chain’s tempered steel. We need to find another way out.”
The sound of the cabin door opening caught his attention. He watched as a tall square-jawed cowboy appeared. He wore a Stetson, jeans, checked shirt and a pistol on a belt with an oversized buckle. At a guess, this was the boss, Carter.
The man swaggered across to the cage and stood in front of them with his thumbs tucked behind his buckle. “So, these are our nation’s finest.” He sniffed and spat in the dust. “Y’all gonna tell me what you were doing sniffing around my business?”
“Looking for Bin Laden?” replied TJ, deadpan.
“Hilarious. Didn’t you guys already kill him?”
“That’s what the government wants you to believe,” added Ernie.
“Regular fucking comedians, aren’t ya.”
“We try,” said TJ. “Now, how about you let us out before you find yourself in a whole lot of trouble that you don’t need.”
Carter flashed a broad smile. “Yes, sir. Right away. While I’m at it, I’ll whip you up some eggs for breakfast.” He took a step closer. “You smart ass city boys better enjoy your last few hours. Because, as soon as I find your friend I’m gonna let the river finish what it started.”
Behind him, Travis appeared carrying a water jug and a funnel with a length of hose attached to it. The overweight caretaker dumped the items alongside a chair.
“Y’all get some rest now.” Carter turned and returned to the cabin.
“What the hell is that for?” Dean gestured to the funnel and hose.
“They’re going to fill us full of water and dump us in the river,” replied TJ. “That way, everyone will assume we drowned.”
Mike rattled the bars in frustration. “Four SEALs drown in a river. Are they stupid? No one is going to believe that.”
“Don’t count on it. This river has killed far more experienced rafting crews.”
He turned from the bars with his jaw clenched. “And you thought it would be a good idea to bring a team of first timers out on it, the week before my wedding.”
“Relax, we had it well in hand.”
“Apart from the whole losing the raft and ending up in a drug baron’s prison thing.”
“I think baron is a long bow to draw. He’s more of a weed growing yokel. Compared to Barbosa, he’s los bajos fondos ,” added Ernie.
“Barbosa, I’d forgotten about that piece of shit. Why is it that every time you guys interfere with my love life it ends up involving a criminal?”
“To be fair, this hasn’t got anything to do with your love life. It was just an excuse to get away and bond,” said TJ.
“Yeah, well it’s working. You don’t get a better bonding experience than being locked in a POW cage on a dope farm.”
Dean managed a chuckle. “True, I mean you couldn’t plan this shit.”
Mike turned to TJ. “Now would be an excellent time to tell us this is all a hoax.”
The look on the veteran SEAL’s face told him it wasn’t. They were actually facing death and it looked as if their only hope was Rick; a man who hated the outdoors even more than he hated his ex-wife.