Chapter 63
SIXTY-THREE
Katie and Chris had studied the property from the city’s reports and whatever else they could get their hands on at the department.
They looked at the topical maps and could see the property outline.
Like most of the properties owned by Martin Sills—except for the cabin—this one didn’t seem to have been taken care of for a long time.
The buildings seemed old, the piles of junk scattered throughout looking like predators in a cage.
“How do you want to handle this?” said the deputy.
“My plan was to do a thorough search, but at a distance. We still don’t know if this place has any connection to the killer,” she said.
Chris looked at map and the topical view. “It looks like there’s only one road coming in and going out. But see where a farm road comes in from the south? It’s the best bet to get in unnoticed. I think we could approach without being seen and then we can take a closer look through binoculars.”
“It’s near the old part of Pine Valley where there were once a lot of junkyards and manufacturing companies.” Katie was impressed and agreed with his assessment. “Let’s go.”
Katie had brought extra supplies and made sure her backpack had the necessary items they might need.
“Is Cisco coming?” said Chris.
“No, he’s sitting this one out. Not sure what we’re running into—if anything.”
“I think I might want to be a K9 handler.”
“It’s the best,” she said.
They took Katie’s Jeep due to its off-road capability.
She drove to the boneyard of Pine Valley, which used to be brimming with energy.
Times had changed, and so many manufacturers had either gone somewhere else or their work had simply dried up due to other technology and opportunities.
She wondered how McGaven was doing and wondered if he was unhappy about going to the ranch acreage on his own.
“I think we take that road,” said Chris, pointing.
“That’s not a road.”
“Yeah, turn there.”
Katie made the right turn onto a track that hadn’t been used for a while.
You could tell water ran straight down it when it stormed; any gravel that might have been there had been washed away.
She glanced at the sky, it looked like they might run into some rain, but it wasn’t the rainy season yet, so she wasn’t worried.
The Jeep bounced and bobbed and weaved for a little ways as they slowly climbed the incline of the land. There were more trees than on the topical map, which worked in their favor. Her speed was about twenty miles per hour, pushing them closer to the time she didn’t want to be stuck out there.
“Cisco definitely wouldn’t have liked this,” she said as the Jeep continued to bounce.
Chris laughed as he hung on to the handle above the doorframe.
Finally, they approached the property. There was a dugout area just below the road leading to it, which was perfect to park in and gave them more cover if needed.
“This looks good,” she said. “There’s no way anyone would have seen us coming.”
Chris nodded as he took a serious look around. Each prepared their packs and weapons before moving forward.
“Remember, we’re doing reconnaissance to find out if there’s anything off here, or if the killer is here—highly doubtful, but we have to check.”
“What if there’s something going on?”
“Then we report it so our colleagues know before coming all the way out here. I don’t want any traps or unknowns to hurt or ambush any officer or SWAT operator… that’s why we’re here checking it out.”
Chris nodded. “What’s that?” he pointed to what appeared to be some type of piping.
“Not sure, but it looks like drainage or a conduit for electrical or plumbing.”
The two of them carefully climbed the hill until they reached a flat area behind two trees where they could hunker down. The air suddenly turned cooler and the wind dropped. The overcast sky made the surroundings darker than usual.
Katie removed two walkie talkies from her pack. “We might need these since cell connection is sketchy out here.”
“Wow,” said Chris. “I haven’t seen these for a while.”
“Don’t laugh, it might save your life.” Katie looked through her binoculars and scanned the yard. It looked abandoned, but there were two newer structures. One was a storage barn and the other some type of building or low-maintenance modular house.
“I don’t see any cameras or anything resembling technology,” said Chris.
“Nope. No one has been here in years—maybe longer.”
“I can’t quite see the barn,” said Chris.
Katie scanned the area where the piles of junk were. It was clear they had been there a long time—years. “I want to get a closer look.”
“There’s no one there. It’s an abandoned junkyard. More like a ghost yard.”
She smiled. “Maybe you’re right… but just the same I’m going in closer to make sure.” She turned to Chris and smiled. “Due diligence.”
“Due diligence it is.”
Katie stood up and made her way across to the yard. There was an old chain-link fence around the property. She put her hands on it to feel where the weaknesses were and found a spot where she could slide through. Knowing Chris was watching, she turned and waved to let him know everything was fine.
Once on the other side, she paused and looked around.
The piles of steel from buildings, manufacturing businesses, and other construction projects were in separate areas.
Some piles were old and rusting, and showed definite signs of deterioration from being out in the elements.
She glanced back from where she had entered.
There was no movement or sound. It felt as if she had gone deaf.
She took a deep breath just to hear herself inhale.
She moved down a row that weeds had overtaken. There was nothing to indicate anyone had been there for a very long time—and there were no notes directed at Katie. She almost breathed a sigh of relief.
She wanted to see the newer barn, so headed in that direction.
When she walked around the corner she stopped and immediately retreated.
She’d almost run directly into a black truck.
She stopped cold. Was it real or her imagination?
After taking a few breaths, she leaned around to check.
There was a black truck. It was what Arson Investigator Ames had described seeing speeding away when he was on his run at Heritage Road.
Katie was almost cemented to the ground. Had Ames been telling her the truth?
She wanted to get the license plate, so she took a couple of steps, trying not to make any noise. There was almost a static in the air—she was potentially close to the killer.
As she turned to check the truck one more time before returning to Chris, she gathered her energy to get the plate. She took a step and then felt a burning in her body. She was paralyzed; her nervous system overwhelmed.
She fell to the ground as the powerful hot shock of incapacitation turned painful.
Becoming disoriented, Katie passed out.