Chapter 9
NINE
At five after two, Kane’s phone rang. It was the snowplow driver who lived next door. “Afternoon. Is there a problem?”
Kane’s stomach clenched. “Okay, I’ll be right there. Tell people to leave the dog alone and we’re on our way. Thanks for letting me know.” He disconnected and turned to Jenna, who’d been listening. “Something’s happened to Raven.”
“Let’s go.” She ran to grab their gear.
Kane knocked on Raya’s door and when she came to the door he explained and she gathered up the children and took them into her side of the house. He ruffled the boys’ hair. “You be good now. We’ll be back soon.”
“Let’s bake some cookies.” Raya waved him away with a smile.
Uncertain what they might be facing after Rio’s call about Raven investigating armed men receiving a delivery of horse pellets, Kane handed Jenna her Kevlar vest. “We’d better not take any chances as Raven was trying to get evidence on that delivery.
” He dressed quickly and pulled on his snow boots and then dressed Duke in his waterproof snow coat.
“Ben wouldn’t leave his side if he’d been shot.” Jenna pulled the vest over her head and tightened up the straps. “He’s been trained to stay and give comfort and warmth, especially in weather like this. What is he doing in town? The BW Ranch is miles away.”
Kane collected their weapons from the gun safe and secured his holster. “Raven would have given him an order. That means he’s in trouble. Lock up and I’ll get the Beast.”
“Dave.” Jenna touched his arm. “He was climbing a tree, wasn’t he? Maybe we’ll need some ropes or gear. What if he got stuck somewhere?”
Considering Raven’s expertise in the forest, Kane shook his head.
“I doubt it, but I’ll take a climbing harness with us just in case.
There’s one in the truck.” He thought for a beat.
It was so cold, being stuck in the snow could be deadly.
“It wouldn’t hurt to take a couple of Thermoses of coffee.
If he’s suffering from hypothermia, he’ll need something hot to drink.
” He headed out into the freezing snowfall.
After wading through snowdrifts, he opened the garage door, stamped the snow from his boots, and climbed into the truck.
He allowed the engine to idle for a few minutes before backing out and heading toward the house.
White steam billowed out from the exhaust, creating great clouds around him in the snowstorm.
It would take more time than he liked to get along the driveway in the thick snow.
Moments later, Jenna came out and handed him two Thermoses.
She pushed Duke into the back seat and then climbed inside.
Kane headed along the snow-covered driveway, using the snowplow attachment to clear the way.
The highway outside their property had been recently scraped clean and a good coating of ice retardant had been spread, turning the white blacktop to rusty pink.
He lifted the snowplow attachment and accelerated.
A blinding-white landscape greeted them and they both reached for their sunglasses.
Across the lowlands, snowdrifts had covered the fences, making it resemble a moonscape.
In the distance he made out a herd of bison, with large clumps of ice hanging from their thick coats, making their way to higher ground.
“I wonder if the bison keep moving to stay warm.”
“They seem to survive okay.” Jenna frowned. “They have very thick coats but it must be hard on the younger ones. The snow is so deep.”
As they turned into Main, Christmas lights flashed red and green along the facades of the stores and reflected in the snowfall.
Mechanical Santas rang bells or waved and as they passed the park, townsfolk bundled up in bright colors worked on a Nativity scene alongside a red-nosed Father Derry.
Everything looked so peaceful and happy, but Kane had come to realize over the years that peaceful and happy never lasted very long.
When they arrived at the office, Kane buzzed his siren to clear the people crowded outside.
He pulled into a parking slot and jumped out with Jenna close on his heels. “Stand back. Ben is one of our team.”
To his surprise the dog came right to him, grabbed his sleeve, and tried to lead him away toward the forest. “Where’s Raven, boy?”
Ben dropped his arm, barked, ran in the direction of Stanton Forest, and then ran back and barked again.
Kane turned to Jenna. “He wants us to follow him. It will take forever and by the look of him, he’s been walking miles already.
” He opened the back door to the Beast, took out a bowl and filled it with water for the dog.
When it had been licked dry, he snapped his fingers. “Ben, get into the truck. Seek Raven.”
To his surprise the dog jumped in but clawed at the window.
“He wants the window open.” Jenna frowned. “We’ll freeze.”
Hurrying behind the wheel, Kane backed out of the parking space. “I’ll head for the forest near the BW Ranch and then open the window and we’ll see what happens.”
As they got closer to the ranch, Ben’s excitement rose and he barked short sharp barks that Kane couldn’t understand.
Dogs and their handlers understood each other but it was plain that they were getting close to Raven’s position.
When the dog started to turn around on the seat and then tried to hurl himself out of the window, Kane pulled to the curb.
He jumped out from behind the wheel and ran around to open the door.
Ben took off and Kane stopped to help Duke down from the back seat.
Ben stopped frequently to bark at them before bounding off again.
Kane let him go ahead, Duke, his bloodhound, would follow Ben if they lost sight of him.
They grabbed their gear, and with Jenna at his side, Kane ran through the forest with Duke out in front, tail up high and big ears flopping from side to side.
Heavy snow-laden branches dropped freezing clumps on them as they crunched along the ice-covered trails.
The forest was eerily quiet, apart from the tinkling of icicles turned into windchimes by the breeze.
Ahead, Ben would stop, and as they got closer, he’d turn around three times and then continue.
“I know that signal. That means he’s found something.
I guess it also means, This way. Follow me. ”
Approximately one hundred yards through the frozen forest and along twisting trails they came to a clearing.
Kane rushed forward and then stopped to scan the area.
In the middle, Ben dug at the edge of a huge hole partially covered by a rotting wooden cover.
It had been covered with brush and pine needles. “It’s an old bear trap.”
“They have sharpened wooden stakes at the bottom.” Jenna shuddered. “Hurry, he might still be alive.”
When Ben barked, wagged his tail, and then sat down beside the hole, Kane moved closer, checking his footing with each step.
“Good boy.” He shone his Maglite down the hole.
It was deeper than he’d imagined and on one side an old broken ladder hung in midair.
Something moved at the bottom and he swept the flashlight beam back and forth. “Raven, are you down there?”
“Is that you, Dave? There’s an active shooter up there—well, there was. I haven’t heard anything for hours.” Raven covered his eyes as the beam of light washed over him.
“There’s no one around.” Jenna moved closer. “It’s creepy quiet.”
“Thank goodness. I’m freezing down here.” Raven rubbed his hands together and stamped his feet. “Did you bring a rope?”
Kane smiled at Jenna. “Yeah, we did, but Ben wasn’t very specific about what had happened to you.
” He chuckled. “Although, he got his point across that you were in trouble. You’ve trained him well.
” He peered down the hole. “How long have you been down there? Ben made it to the office and just stood there and barked until someone came along.”
“Hours. I gave him the order to get help.” Raven’s voice sounded a long way away. “I told him to seek Dave. I was hoping you were in the office today.”
“Are you injured?” Jenna peered down the hole, her face filled with concern.
“Only my pride and maybe a few scrapes and bruises.” Raven rubbed his beard.
“There’s an old mattress down here, and it broke my fall.
I figured it was an old bear trap when I fell, and I was waiting for the stakes to go through me.
” He sighed. “Not a bear trap. It has an old ladder, so someone has been using it for a survival bunker, going on the trash down here. It was very well concealed and covered in snow. I didn’t see it.
I don’t figure it’s been used for a long time.
The wood covering the entrance had rotted through. ”
Relieved at finding his friend, Kane nodded. “I’ve got climbing gear with me. I’ll throw down a harness attached to a rope. I’ll use one of the trees as a pulley and drag you up. Give me five to get organized. I’ll toss down my Maglite so you can see what you’re doing.”
“Thanks.” Raven coughed. “I hope you have water up there. I’m parched. My water bottle was crushed when I landed.”
“I’ll throw a bottle down to you.” Jenna pulled off her backpack, took out a plastic bottle, and carefully dropped it down to him. “When you’re out of here, I have coffee in the Beast. Where did you leave your truck?”
“On the fire road about fifty yards right of this position.” Raven drank the water and wiped his mouth on the back of his hand.
“There’s an entrance into the forest that joins the fire road almost opposite the BW Ranch.
I discovered it when I was fixing the trail cams. My camera is up there somewhere.
It flew from my hand when I fell. I would have called for help but there are no bars down here. ”
After attaching the rope to a nearby pine tree, Kane went back to the hole and lowered the harness.
“I’ve attached the rope to a tree.” He waited for Raven to pull on the harness and took hold of the rope.
“Jenna, grab the rope as well. We’ll need both our strength to pull him out of there.
” He raised his voice. “Ready on the count of three?”
“Yeah.” Raven’s muffled voice came from a long way away.
Bracing his feet, Kane nodded to Jenna, who did the same. “One, two, three—pull.”
Glad of his thick leather gloves, Kane strained on the rope as it slipped around the tree. His feet slid on the icy ground. “Wait! I need to get a better foothold.” He rolled a few large rocks into the brush and pushed his feet into the indents. “Okay, Jenna. Pull.”
They heaved and a twinge of pain echoed through an old injury in Kane’s shoulder. He bent his knees and leaned back. The first part was the hardest, lifting a man almost the same weight as him would be a challenge, but with Jenna’s help they moved him the first few feet.
“Hold! I can grab part of the old ladder.” Raven’s voice came from inside the hole. “Okay, pull.”
The next part was easier as Raven found footholds and they managed to haul him up and over the edge.
Kane slumped against the tree as Raven rolled out of the hole and lay panting on the snow, with Ben licking his face, tail wagging wildly.
Raven was covered in leaves and dirt and had a scrape on one cheek, but looked okay.
After taking a few minutes to catch his breath, Kane tied crime scene tape from the trees in a triangle to warn others of the hole, although it was plain to see.
He turned to look at Raven. “You were lucky you didn’t break your neck. ”
“Someone was shooting at me, so we weaved through the trees. I got caught up in the branches and didn’t see the trap.” Raven blew out a long breath. “I hope I haven’t compromised the mission.”
Kane shook his head. “No, they wouldn’t have seen you.
Not from the BW Ranch and there’s no way they’d have spotted your camera.
” He glanced behind him. “They’d need a sniper to get you from that distance, so not the drug dealers.
I’m guessing it’s more like an illegal hunter.
I’ll call the forest warden and he’ll check it out.
” He stared at the overgrown hole. “This old trap has been here for years. No wonder you didn’t see it. ”
“I’m lucky I had Ben with me.” Raven ran a hand down his face. “You would never have found me. There’s absolutely no way out down there. The ladder was just out of reach, and trust me, I jumped a thousand times to catch hold of it.” Raven smiled wearily as he sat up and hugged his dog. “Good boy.”
“Let me look at that graze.” Jenna knelt to tend the graze on Raven’s cheek and checked him out for injuries.
“You’ll live.” She pushed the first aid kit into her backpack and smiled.
“Oh, look! There’s your camera.” She rolled to one side and reached under a clump of bushes and then held it up like a trophy.
“It looks okay. Did you get any evidence?”
“Yeah, I did. More than enough for a search warrant.” Raven looked at Jenna.
“I watched them unload the flatbed through the camera lens. I could see right into the open barn. They dropped a pallet near the door and unpacked it. The others went to the back of the barn. Hidden in the pallets was one different bag. Small, only a few pounds maybe. The guy who handled it used gloves and a face mask. I figure it’s fentanyl tablets made up ready for distribution.
” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Enough to kill thousands.”