Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Greer bumped her Bronco along the old, rutted forest road, closing in on the dot pulsing on her GPS.
Thick, dark clouds filled the horizon, blocking out any hint of sunrise.
The rain had picked up, falling in steady sheets as the wind pushed the trees in a violent dance, branches thrashing against each other in the early morning gloom.
Chase stared out the passenger window, constantly scouring the landscape, then rotating through the mirrors — rearview, side, repeat. Occasionally checking over his shoulder. That situational awareness she’d often admired in full swing.
He shook his head. “Does this guy always park in the middle of nowhere?”
She shrugged. “He thinks everyone’s spying on him. After our last encounter, he’s taken his defensive tactics up a notch. Damn hard to find him if he doesn’t call in and want a visit.”
Chase nodded as he patted down his vest. “And you’re sure he’s not a threat?”
“He might toss some tin foil your way, but otherwise, he’s pretty benign. Overlooking that whole grenade fiasco.”
“Grenade?”
“The one that got stuck under Saylor’s seat. Nearly took her and Zain out because Buck forgot he had some live ones in his little treasure box. Didn’t Zain tell you?”
“Remind me to kick Zain’s ass later.” Chase arched a brow. “And that seems to be going around.”
Greer sighed. “I didn’t think my location was relevant. Up until last night, we didn’t even have the area narrowed down. And who would have thought any of the men could have survived. That they’d hunt us down. It’s crazy. Besides, I’m sure there’re a hundred missions you can’t talk to me about.”
“You’re right.” He pursed his lips, leaned closer. “How about I make you a deal? The next time some psychotic ex-teammate comes gunning for either of us, we’ll tell each other everything, security be damned.”
She smiled. “Deal.”
She slowed as she entered a small clearing, Buck’s motorhome parked off to one side. Green camouflage netting covered everything, the tiny squares fluttering in the gusting breeze, only the tall array poking out the top.
She parked to the right, jumping out as soon as she’d turned off the engine. It ticked, the fan humming in the background for a while before everything cut off. Leaving an eerie silence in its wake. Just like Eli’s cruiser last night.
Chase looked at her across the hood, tilting his head as if reading her mind. “There’s nothing we could have done. No way we could have saved him. He’d lost too much blood before our perp put him in the river.”
“Why doesn’t that make me feel any better?”
“Because the truth won’t bring him back.”
The thought hit her hard, and she turned, headed for Buck’s door. A generator hummed somewhere behind the vehicle, a few strings of lights connected to the nearest tree. The stairs creaked, rocking the RV a bit as she rapped on the door. “Buck. It’s Sheriff Hudson. We need to talk.”
The chassis squeaked as footsteps sounded behind the door before it cracked open.
Buck peered out through the sliver of space, gaze darting to Chase before focusing back on her. “How did you find me?”
She grinned. “I’m an expert tracker.”
He glared at Chase before directing it back at her. “You’re supposed to come alone.”
“And you’re supposed to call me if you witness any criminal activity.”
His gaze darted to Chase, again. “I can’t help you.”
“Buck—”
“The last time I helped out, those bastards shot me.”
“You made a deal with mercenaries to spy on Saylor. You’re lucky they didn’t kill you, which they would have if Zain hadn’t saved our asses.” Greer hitched out a hip. “Four people are dead, Buck, including one of Chase’s teammates and one of my dep…”
She swallowed. She couldn’t say it. Couldn’t get her tongue to work. “I know you were right next to where Eli was murdered, last night. And I know you never park this rig unless you’re investigating a theory. So, show me.”
He frowned, opening the door a bit wider. “Show you what?”
“All the photos you took. All the different walls you’ve got inside.”
He stood a bit straighter. “I don’t have any.”
“The sheriff’s department bought you this motorhome as a show of appreciation for your cooperation in our last endeavor. I can just as easily impound it. Now, are you inviting me in, or am I’m pushing past you?”
Buck paled, his hand holding the door trembling. “Fine, but… I didn’t see anything. I swear. Not before…”
Greer backed up, swung open the door, then followed Buck inside.
She got a whiff of stale coffee and vinegar, most of the light blocked by cardboard taped over the windows.
Photos and trail-cam footage cluttered the walls, a number of old maps pinned off to one side.
“You’ve set up your own dark room. That’s new. ”
Buck shuffled on his feet as Chase closed in behind her, tall, unmoving. That death vibe rolling off him in waves. He scanned the walls, frowned.
Buck chewed on his thumbnail, eyes darting back and forth. “I decided to switch to a digital camera after you took all my stuff. Now, I just print out the important ones, but I still have my backup.”
“I didn’t take your stuff. It got destroyed along with your RV.”
“Same difference.” He shifted restlessly, hands fisting and releasing at his side. “See? I don’t have anything.”
“Don’t have anything?” Greer walked over to one of his boards. Blue strobes colored the fog, the driver’s door hinged open. Clear enough she knew if she looked closely, she’d see the bloody handprint. “Jesus, Bucky, this is Eli’s cruiser. Exactly how we found it.”
“I…” Buck cringed when Chase took a calculated step closer. “I… I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I know you didn’t hurt Eli, but did you see who did?”
“No, I…” He banged his head with his right hand. “I’ve been following the lights. That’s all.”
“What lights?”
“The ones that have been popping up all over town and in the woods. First, at that old crazy hospital. Then, out by the park. I’ve seen them from my boat, too, along the coastline. Up in the forest.” He leaned closer. “They’re back.”
“Who’s back?”
Buck looked around, then pointed to the sky. “Aliens.”
Greer yanked off a bunch of the photos, sorted through them before stopping on one shot.
The trunk, wide open. The Bronco’s headlights catching a silhouette in sharp relief.
Tall. Muscular, a rifle slung across his back.
She didn’t recognize him, but something about the image felt familiar.
Either the shape of his body, or the stance.
Chase moved in beside her, took the photo gently from her hands. The muscle in his temple jumped as he clenched his jaw, muttering a bit under his breath. He held the image out to Buck. “Do you know who this is?”
Buck snagged his bottom lip. “He’s part of the lights.”
“Did you see him at the other places you saw the lights?”
“Yes, but…” Buck checked his six, again. “He disappears.”
“Where were the lights last night?”
Buck frowned, then pointed to one of the other images. “The old prospector cabin. That’s why I parked close by. I wanted to get proof he’s preparing for an invasion.”
Chase nodded. “And is he?”
“Why else would he take Eli?”
Greer edged in next to him. “So, you did see the guy take Eli.”
“No, I…” Buck banged his hand against his head, again.
Harder. “I heard Eli shouting, and I was going to go after him, but then you two showed up, so I stayed hidden. I’m supposed to track.
Take notes. Look for hidden threats. But I don’t engage unless.
..” His voice trailed off, eyes slightly unfocused.
Chase tapped the photo. “When did this guy come back?”
Buck blinked a few times. “After you followed Eli. He only stayed for a few minutes, then left.”
“Which way did he go?”
Buck shrugged. “He just… vanished.”
Chase groaned, shaking his head.
Greer changed places. “Let’s focus on the lights. How long have you been seeing them?”
Buck toed at the floor for a few moments. “Since I started photographing Saylor.”
“That was nearly a year ago. Why didn’t you tell me all this last month?”
“Because it wasn’t part of Saylor’s board.”
Greer bit back any harsh response, reminded herself she wouldn’t get any information out of Bucky if she lost her cool. “Okay, let’s all take a breath. Why…”
A blast of static drowned her out, followed by intermittent chatter, too broken to distinguish any words.
Greer grabbed her radio. “This is Hudson. I missed that. Say, again.”
More crackling, more broken words until Bodie’s voice cleared for a second. “Atticus… attacked… missing.”
She stilled, heart lodged in her throat, a cold sweat breaking out across her skin. She glanced at Chase, then tried the radio. “Bodie? You’re still broken. Did you say Atticus was attacked? That he’s missing?”
Nothing, then a few choppy words. “Ambushed…”
“Shit.” She tamped down the rush of fear. The cold reality that if they lost one more… “Chase. Can you try the radio in the Bronco?”
Chase rushed out, boots hitting the metal stairs, then gravel crunching in the background. A distant chime followed by low murmurs.
Greer hooked Buck’s arm. “I need you to show me every photo of where you’ve seen the lights.”
Buck chewed at his bottom lip, then darted around the RV, tearing off pictures from various stashes before spreading them out on the table. “That’s all of them.”
“Any on your camera you haven’t developed yet?”
Buck frowned. “Maybe.”
Greer resisted the scream trying to claw free. “Can you check? It’s important.”
He muttered something under his breath, then grabbed his camera — started hitting one of the buttons. Chase reappeared at the door, brow furrowed, mouth pinched tight.
Greer took a step toward him. “Well?”
Chase visibly pushed down his shoulders, exhaled.
“Transmission was still garbled, but it sounds like Atticus and one of the other pilots were ambushed while fueling the choppers. That there were flash bangs and tear gas. Travers, the other pilot, was taken to Providence, but there’s no sign of Atticus. ”
“Damn it.” Greer turned back to the table. “These are all the places Buck’s seen the lights. Assuming this is our guy, maybe he’s taken Atticus back to one of these locations. An area the bastard hasn’t targeted yet.”
Chase nodded. “Which means we rule out the psychiatric building, the park next to the Lodge and anything close to the other two sites.”
He shuffled the images, pushing some to the side until only a couple of locations remained. He tapped the table. “This looks like a fire lookout tower or maybe a ranger cabin. The other… Is that some kind of facility?”
Greer turned to Buck. “Where did you take this?”
Buck leaned over. “From my boat. It’s down the coast a bit. By that cove Saylor and Zain were interested in.”
Greer slapped her thigh. “It’s that decommissioned water treatment plant. The county switched to lines from the north a good twenty years ago. As far as I know, it’s been vacant ever since.”
Chase groaned. “In other words, the perfect spot for a hideout.”
“He’s not there.”
Greer froze as Buck’s voice filled the room. She turned. “Say that again?”
Buck shrugged. “He’s not there.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I saw the lights at the old fire watchtower. That’s why I parked here. I thought he might come back.”
Chase crowded the man. “You saw the lights this morning?”
Buck puffed out his chest a bit, looking oddly confident. A glimpse of who Greer suspect the man had been before he’d fallen apart. “Are you deaf? I just said that.”
Chase glanced at her, eyes narrowed. Slashes of red across his cheeks. “How far is the tower from here?”
“Not far if you drive.” He laughed. “Too bad you can’t drive.”
Greer stepped between Chase and Buck, shuffling Buck back against the wall. “Enough. I need you to focus. Atticus’ life is on the line. We can’t afford to be wrong. Why can’t we drive?”
“Because the road’s got laser eyes!”
“Laser eyes?” She inhaled. “You mean he’s wired it. Has laser trip beams.”
Buck rolled his eyes. “That’s what I said. And they’re good. It’d take a while to disarm them. I could but…”
Buck could disarm trip wires?
Greer made a mental note to ask the man about that, later as she pointed to the photo. “Is there another way up?”
“There’s an old mule track that weaves through the woods. Overgrown. Hard to follow. I’ve gone up it a few times, but it’s really muddy and slippery from the rain. I tried this morning, but…”
“Well, you’re not alone, now.” She motioned to the door. “Let’s go.”
Buck shook his head, grabbing ahold of the driver’s seat. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Greer loomed in close. “I know this isn’t easy for you, but we’ll never find the path in time. I need you to be our guide. Chase and I’ll handle whatever’s there. I just need you to get us to that tower.”
Buck glanced at Chase, then back to her. “I need a new telephoto lens.”
“Deal. Now, move.” She snagged his elbow. “And Buck, don’t try to run off. This guy — the one with the lights — he’s really dangerous.”
Buck nodded, then pushed to the back of his RV. He grabbed a backpack, started chucking in supplies.
Chase brushed past her. “I’ll grab my medic bag and some gear. We can radio Bodie and Raven’s Watch, in case they can hear us. Just… remember that saving Atticus is more important than catching this guy. That he’s not worth dying over.”
“Understood. It’d be nice to do both, though.”
Chase nodded, then ran off, clearing the steps before disappearing beyond the door.
Greer collected the photos, staring at the silhouette of the tower rising above the pines, like a sentry keeping watch. This was it. Their one chance at stopping whoever had survived that mission. Finally ending the rampage. She just hoped they’d be enough.