Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Carter stood on the cabin’s rickety porch with his radio held high in the air. Travis sat in a rocking chair next to him with a shotgun across his knees.
“That ain’t going to help. Radio waves don’t work that way.”
“Oh, so you’re an engineer all of a sudden. How about you shut your mouth and watch those prisoners.”
Travis frowned and turned away from him.
“Yeah, sulk while I solve this damn problem.” As he turned his attention back to the radio he spotted movement on the trail that led through the plantation. It was a dog. To be more precise it was Bones, Hank’s dog. Something must have happened. That was why he wasn’t getting a response on the radio.
“Fuck.”
The dog made its way across to Travis and sat at his feet. “Carter, Bones wouldn’t leave Hank.”
“No shit.” He changed the channel on the radio and called his deputies. “Ed, you read me?”
“Yeah, boss,” came through immediately.
“I need you to get to Granite Hut. Is Harold with you?”
“Yeah, we found a truck down at Whistler’s Clearing. It’s one of the rangers.”
“Goddamn Jenny,” he said to himself. He depressed the transmit button. “Immobilize it and then get up to Granite. Something’s happened to Carl and Hank.”
“Yeah boss, you can count on us.”
Carter stepped off the balcony and strode across to the cage where he locked eyes with the grizzled old SEAL, if that’s what he actually was. “If your buddies killed any of my boys I’ll slit your throat.”
The man stared defiantly at him. Carter spat in the sand, turned and tossed his radio to Travis. “Watch them and keep an ear out.” Then he disappeared inside.
A moment later the older guy called out from the cage. “Travis, I don’t think he respects you very much.”
The overweight yokel racked the action of his shotgun. “Shut the hell up.”
“Just an observation. Looks like you do all the work around here and Carter gets to call the shots.”
Travis pried himself from the chair and waddled across to the cage. “I know what you’re trying to do G-man. Divide and conquer and all that stuff. I know exactly how you work, but it ain’t gonna work on me.”
“Hey, I’m just making an observation.”
“Yeah, well keep them to yourself.”
* * *
Ali slowed the buggy and came to a halt at a fork in the track. The GPS was struggling to keep up. She guessed it was because of the dense forest coverage. Idling she waited for the dash mounted device to update.
She didn’t hear the two ATVs that appeared on the opposite track. The noise of her engine masked their approach. They blasted around the corner, nearly collided with her as they shot past. She watched in the mirror as they skidded to a halt in a cloud of dust.
The idea of asking them for help dissipated as quickly as she spotted a weapon in the mirror. One of the ATVs turned toward her. The other zoomed off in the direction of the hut.
Ali dropped her Polaris into gear and floored it. The thousand cc engine roared, wheels spun and she rocketed down the trail. Branches slapped the roll cage as she accelerated, her eyes watering as she hit forty miles an hour. A glance in the mirror confirmed that one of the buggies was in pursuit.
She gritted her teeth and pushed the throttle harder. People were depending on her. Mike depended on her.
Spotting a sandy section ahead she backed off the gas. Then as she entered a corner she put the Polaris into a controlled slide narrowly missing a tree as the road snaked back into the woods.
Gunshots rang out and bullets cracked past her head. One ricocheted off a roll bar punching a hole in the plastic roof.
Ali checked the mirror. Her pursuer was only a few yards behind, close enough for her to see it was one of Carter’s deputies, Ed. “Son of a bitch.” She braced and slammed on the brakes. The other buggy hit hers with a thud.
The driver wasn’t prepared and was flung forward against the steering wheel. Over her shoulder she saw a pistol fly through the air.
She rode the impact, accelerating away. The track was rocky and she tried to check the GPS as the buggy bounced down the ridgeline. A spinning icon told her it was useless.
The track took a hard left and dropped away. She wrenched the wheel and jumped on the brakes, wincing as it jerked her injured arm. Sitting high in the seat she peered over the hood. It was steeper than anything she’d attempted in her dad’s farm buggy.
An engine roared behind her.
“Here goes nothing.” She gripped the steering wheel tight and released the brake.
The little buggy gained speed as it slipped and skidded down what felt like a nearly vertical slope. Ali kept her foot clear of the brake, letting the gearbox manage the speed the best it could.
In the mirror she spotted the other ATV at the top of the slope. Ed handled the steep descent with skill. In a matter of seconds he was back on her tail.
The only saving grace was that he’d lost his weapon. Now he had to rely on his driving skills to stop her. What’s more, from a glimpse of his machine she’d deduced it was an older Yamaha, inferior to the Polaris she’d borrowed. That didn’t stop him from milking everything he could from the engine.
At the bottom of the descent the track dipped into a muddy stream. The wheels of Ali’s buggy spun and she slid sideways off the path onto the opposite bank. The bushes were sparse so she ran with the alternate route. Snaking around rocks and logs she felt barely in control of the snarling vehicle. A glance over her shoulder confirmed that the Yamaha was still on her tail.
As the scrub thickened she was forced to slow. Her buggy roared shoving its way through the thick undergrowth. Free to follow in her tracks the pursuer was soon right on her bumper.
“Pull over!” Ed bellowed over the engine.
Ali ignored him, working the steering wheel in an attempt to gain momentum. Through the branches she spotted a clearing. With a thump from behind her ATV’s nose lifted. She didn’t need to turn to know that the driver had jumped from his vehicle onto the back of hers.
As the Polaris burst out of the bushes into another clearing she gunned the engine, swinging the wheel from side to side. They fishtailed across wet grass, the knobby tires throwing up plumes of mud.
“Stop the damn buggy.”
She felt a hand grab at her hair and ducked forward. Through the trees ahead she spotted the river.
Ali gave the thousand cc engine its head.
“Fucking stop!” screamed Ed as he clung to the roll cage.
“Go to hell.”
At the last safe moment she spun the wheel and jammed on the brakes. Her intent was to throw the man into the river. However, she didn’t anticipate the slick grass.
The Polaris spun like a top, flinging the man clear. With the engine still racing it flipped and rolled down the embankment, tumbling into the river.
Ali clung to the steering wheel as the Polaris dropped through the cold clear water. It hit the rocky bottom upside down and rolled with the current, coming to a halt against a submerged log. She didn’t panic until she tried to leave the cabin and found her foot wedged under the accelerator.
With water pushing against her she couldn’t free her hiking boot. She lost her grip and the flow of the river grabbed her, twisting her torso out of the cabin. Panic escalated as she fought the current, her foot trapped. Her lungs burned, her injured arm screamed with pain as she desperately tried to pull her leg free. She spun back and forth, wriggling her toes in one last futile attempt to break free.
Blackness filled the edges of her vision as she looked up through the water at the light above. It was so close and yet so distant. Then, as she felt her strength ebb her foot slipped from the boot and she was free.
Her head broke the surface in a maelstrom of white water. She sucked in a lungful of air before being pulled back under. Managing to roll onto her back she lifted her legs and rode the rapids.
Minutes later the river calmed and she was able to swim to the bank. Lying on a pebbly beach she sucked air into her aching lungs. She allowed herself only a moment’s rest before climbing to her feet and checking her surroundings.
She’d floated at least half a mile downstream from where the buggy had sunk. That was faster than she could move on foot. The river was her best chance of getting help, quickly.
At the far end of the beach she spotted a plastic drum wedged in a pile of debris. Digging it out she checked the lid was tight and waded out into the freezing water with it clutched to her chest. When her feet left the bottom she let the current grab her and she floated downstream.
With the sun low on the horizon it wouldn’t be long before it disappeared completely, taking with it the last traces of warmth. Already she could feel the river sapping her body’s heat. She needed to find help before she succumbed to the cold.
* * *
As Ali fought hypothermia, Rick and Jenny were dealing with the other end of the spectrum. The pair was drenched in sweat and short of breath as they took a break so Rick could orientate himself to the ground.
“We’re close to the plantation. I remember this tree.” The SEAL pointed to a pine that had been split by lightning.
Jenny waited patiently as he scanned the terrain. Axe sat by her side, watching with his head cocked.
He pointed to a thick grove of trees. “This way.”
They set off and a moment later the dense underbrush parted revealing rows of planted marijuana.
Jenny looked up at the camouflage netting strung in the trees. “Holy crap. They’ve been growing this right under our noses.”
“Pretty slick little setup. Must be a couple of thousand plants under here. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are more plantations spread out in the forest.”
She nodded. “Could be. Apart from a few ATV operators no one comes out here. They usually camp at Granite Hut and then head west into the park.”
“That’s why Carter and his buddies chose this spot.”
“So what do you think? Should we wait for Ali’s help to arrive?”
“No, might be too late. We’re going to free the guys, but before we do that we need to even the numbers a little.”
“Lure them out?”
“Yep, and into a trap.”
“Do you have something in mind?”
He frowned. “Not really. I was hoping we might crack it together.”
“Teamwork, yeah I think we’ll be able to come up with something.” She shot him a coy smile.
There was a moment as they stared at each other. Jenny caught herself thinking about how good his lips would feel pressed against hers.
“Right.” He broke eye contact. “What gear do we have?” Rick emptied the contents of his backpack. There was a water bladder, a roll of tape, gas cylinders, a coil of nylon rope and ammunition.
Jenny did likewise adding more rope, a hand saw, bivy sack, small shovel, fire starters, medical kit, toilet paper and some rations.
They both sat silently staring at the gear.
“OK, MacGyver, I think I’ve got an idea,” said Jenny.
“Good, because all I’ve come up with is an exploding toilet paper bomb.”
* * *
Ali could no longer feel her hands and feet as she kicked ashore, released the drum and crawled up onto the beach. She lay there for a moment, gathering herself before she managed to climb shakily to her feet.
The sun had set and the light was fading as she climbed the riverbank. She recognized the park from where they had waited for the raft the day prior. Remembering the way to the road she hugged her arms around her body and hobbled toward it.
She waited beside the road for ten minutes without a car appearing. Shivering uncontrollably she started walking in the direction of the ranger station.
It wasn’t long till a flash of headlights warned her of an approaching vehicle.
She stood in the middle of the road waving her arms. A pickup stopped with a screech of tires.
A door opened and an agitated voice yelled out at her, “What the hell are you doing in the middle of the road, woman? I could have killed you.”
Ali staggered toward the truck. “I need help. I just came off the river. My friends are in trouble.”
The elderly driver was a sixth generation mountain man and immediately recognized the onset of hypothermia. He grabbed his jacket from the truck, threw it over her shoulders and bundled her into the cab. Moments later, with the heater blazing they drove toward town.
“I’m going to get you to the hospital.”
“No, no,” Ali managed through teeth chattering like a machine gun. “My friends need help. Please, take me to the ranger station.”
He frowned. “You sure? Those lips of yours are pretty blue.”
She nodded.
He reached across and popped the glove compartment. “Have a look in there. Should be something to keep you warm.”
She found a hip flask nestled among dog-eared manuals and paperwork.
“Best bourbon in Oregon.”
She unscrewed the lid, gave it a sniff and took a sip. The smooth liquid warmed her throat and then her stomach. “Thank you.”
“Tom, name’s Tom.”
“I’m Ali.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Ali. Now, we’re about twenty minutes from the ranger station. How’s about you tell me what happened to you and your friends.”
Ali took another sip then began the story.
* * *
Darkness had set in early under the thick forest canopy. Working more by touch than sight Rick hauled on a rope, looped it around a branch, pulled it tight and tied it off. “That’s a wrap.”
“Impressive,” said Jenny from the darkness. “Let’s hope it works.”
Rick made his way across to where she was consolidating their supplies. Axe sat next to her, watching intently.
“No reason it shouldn’t. Your plan is good.”
She handed him a granola bar. “I think your knots are the key.”
He unwrapped the snack. “Knots are all I’ve got. I’m a SEAL out of water.”
“You’ve done pretty well so far,” she murmured as she glanced up at the sky. “Rick, it’s getting dark. Should we wait for morning?”
“Yeah, I was thinking we attack at the crack of dawn. They’ll be up all night, tired and more likely to make mistakes.” He chewed the bar.
“Makes sense.” Jenny opened a packet of jerky and fed some of it to Axe. “How long have you been in the navy?”
“Twelve years now. I started in the fleet and moved across to the SEALs about eight years ago. What about you? How long have you been a ranger?”
She offered him a piece. “Not long.”
He waved it away. “Axe needs it more than me.”
“I was a lawyer in New York, hated it. Threw it all in to move out here and become a ranger.”
“And part-time pole dancing instructor slash torture consultant.”
She laughed. “Yeah, that too.”
“So, is there a man in your life?”
“No, I left a guy in New York. Not about to go jumping back into a relationship. What about you?”
“I got married a few years back.”
Jenny felt disappointment wash over her.
“Worst decision of my life. It lasted a little over eight months. Fortunately, we didn’t have kids.”
Axe let out a sigh as he lay next to Jenny. She turned and ruffled his ears, hiding her smile. “Too much time away?”
“No, she wasn’t a good match for me. TJ would call it a poor life choice.”
“Is TJ your boss?”
“Yeah, he’s in that cage with the rest of my team. Best friends a guy could have.”
“Ali said you guys were a tight crew.”
“She’s part of the family. Even passed selection.”
“Selection?”
Rick’s teeth flashed in the darkness. “You know, we should get some sleep. It’s going to be an early one.”
Jenny pulled a Gore-Tex bivy and a sleeping bag from her backpack and passed them to Rick. “I’ll keep the first watch.”
“No need. Axe has the best nose and ears in the business. Anyone comes within a hundred yards and he’ll wake us. I’ll take the bivy. You’ll stay warmer in the sleeping bag.”
“That thing’s not going to keep you warm.”
“It’s OK. I’ll snuggle with Axe.”
“Don’t be silly. The best way to conserve body heat is to share it. Stuff the bag full of pine needles, it will insulate us from the ground.
Rick did as he was told and when the bag was full he handed it to Jenny who laid it on the ground. Then she unzipped the sleeping bag. “Sorry, you’re going to have to be the big spoon.”
“I’ve got to warn you,” said Rick as he placed his shotgun within arm’s reach, “I smell pretty bad.” He lay and Jenny wiggled in front of him. Axe lay alongside her.
“Hey, at least you’re not wearing that wetsuit anymore.”
He draped the sleeping bag over her.
Jenny was overcome with a sense of well-being. She felt safe lying next to Rick. It was a sensation she’d never experienced with her ex.
A strong arm reached over and pulled her in tight. She could smell his sweat mixed with the damp of the forest. A smile formed on her lips as she realized this was the first time she’d laid with a man since moving to Oregon.
“Are you comfortable,” he asked softly.
“Yeah, the smell isn’t too bad. What about you?”
“Remarkably so.”
There was a moment’s silence. It was Rick who broke it. “Brown bears, mild concussions, gunfights, hostages and shotgun-toting yokels aside, this has been a very rewarding trip. I sure am glad I met you, Jenny.”
“Let’s keep it professional,” she murmured as she drifted off to sleep.
“Yes, ma’am.”
* * *
Less than half a mile away inside Travis’s cabin Carter had assembled his men. Ed, Harold, Hank and Carl, with his arm bandaged, sat around the table. Travis had been relegated to guarding the prisoners.
“So, let me get this straight. You idiots let an unarmed man, two women and a dog get the better of you?” growled Carter.
“One of the women drowned,” said Hank.
“Oh, that makes this so much better.” Carter fixed him with a steely glare. “That SEAL bastard and that bitch, Jenny, are still out there. I want them found.”
Ed frowned. “Boss, we go out there now and we’re going to blunder around in the darkness till we run into them.” He gestured to Hank and Carl. “And, thanks to these two they’ve got guns.”
He considered the point. “We go at first light.” He turned to Hank. “That hound of yours going to be any use?”
“He can track them, but we need to put a bullet in that mongrel of theirs.”
“Well, I’m sure between the four of you, it won’t be a problem. Travis and I will hold the fort. I’ve got two of my deputies patrolling the main road in case they try to make a run for it. They’ll hand ‘em over no questions asked.”
“They’ll have to walk out. I fixed that ranger’s truck good,” said Harold.
Carter nodded. “There are only two of them, they’ve got no comms and they don’t know this area like we do. It shouldn’t take you long to wrap them up. Get some sleep. We roll at dawn.”
“You want us to swap with Travis?” asked one of the men.
“No, that slug has been sitting on his ass all day. I’ll take over from him in a few hours.”
“And the prisoners?”
“Tomorrow they go in the river, with or without their buddies. Then we’ll harvest the crop, burn this place to the ground and get the hell out of here.”
“Why don’t we burn them with the cabin?” suggested Hank.
Carter’s lip turned up in a sinister smile. “Yeah, I like that idea. Fire will rip through this area. By the time they find the bodies we’ll be long gone.”
“That means we can shoot the nigger and the girl?” asked Ed.
He nodded. “And the mongrel. Kill all three of ‘em.”
* * *
Maria poured fresh coffee into Leonie’s cup and patted her shoulder. “It’s going to be OK.”
“We haven’t heard from them in…” She glanced up at the digital clock on the wall. “Five hours. Something has happened. We need to get a search party out there, right now.”
Ben, the ranger, looked up from his workstation. “The search party’s heading out at first light. You shouldn’t worry. The radio probably went down at Granite Hut. It can be a bit patchy. I wouldn’t be surprised if Jenny has them all there.”
“I shouldn’t worry? My kid sister’s out there along with her fiancé, their dog, Maria’s husband and the rest of their team. If something’s happened to them I won’t be able to live with myself.”
“We’re doing everything we can,” said Maria as she offered the pot of coffee to Ben.
Leonie sighed and turned her attention back to the computer monitor that showed all the incoming communications traffic. The last message from Ali at Granite Hut had been received at lunchtime.
An alarm chimed telling them that someone had opened the front door. Leonie glanced at the monitor that displayed a video feed from the reception area. She instantly recognized her sister wrapped in a jacket. There was a man with her. She leaped from her chair. “It’s Ali!”
Dashing through the office she burst into the waiting area and wrapped her sister in a hug. “Oh god, I thought I’d lost you.” She immediately noticed how cold Ali was. “Maria, we need coffee and blankets.”
She bundled Ali through to the living area at the back of the station and sat her on a bunk.
Maria appeared with a pile of blankets and piping hot coffee. “Let’s get her out of those damp clothes.”
Ali waved them away. “No, first we need to contact Commander Conner.”
Ernie’s wife frowned. “Why? What’s happened?”
“The boys have been captured by drug growers. They’re being held in a cabin in the hills.” Ali took a sip of coffee.
Leonie’s eyebrows rose. “You’re kidding me?”
She shook her head. “No, they flipped their raft. Tried to walk out and ran into a dope plantation. Rick and Jenny are still up there. We need to get them help.”
“Seriously, those boys could stir up trouble in a cemetery.” Leonie turned and bellowed through the open door, “Ben, we’ve got ourselves a situation. I’m going to need a direct line to the DEA.”
“I’ll call Conner,” said Maria. “You get a warm shower. Jenny’s locker is over there. Her clothes should fit. Don’t you worry about any of this, Leonie and I will sort it out.”
Ali followed them into the command room and watched as the two women snapped into action. Suddenly overwhelmed with fatigue, she sat in a chair and sipped her coffee. Finally, she felt like she could rest. Help for Mike and the others was on the way.