The Vanishing Gary Brown (booksvooks TXT) 📖

table from blood loss. Her career ended that day. They couldn’t take a chance on her freezing up if a similar situation occurred in the future. That’s when a friend of mine told me about her. I adopted her from the department. We’ve been together ever since.”

“I didn’t think the police department used golden retrievers.”

“Usually, they don’t. Typically, they use German Shepherds or Belgian Malinois because of their intelligence, size, and strength. Maggy’s first master was a DEA agent, and she was just supposed to be a family pet. Out of curiosity he put her through some basic tests when she was still a puppy and came to realize she possessed the ability to sniff out narcotics, meth and cocaine, in particular. That’s how she ended up in law enforcement.”

Standing atop the crest of the hill, Claire looked back from the edge of the treeline. She called out in an excited whisper. “Martin, Earl, come quickly. Look at this!”

The two men ran up the hill and stood beside her. Night had fallen. The magnificent glow of the moon silver-plated the dew laden valley below.

An enclave of buildings rose out of the mist at the foot of the mountain. Smoke churned lazily from a chimney in the largest structure. Candlelight danced in the windows.

A lone figure appeared, then disappeared between the buildings.

“There he is again!” Claire pointed. “Did you see him?”

“Yes, I saw him,” Martin replied.

“That’s Reginald Fallon!”

“Hard to tell from this distance,” Earl Bentley said. “But if I had to guess, I suppose I’d have to agree with you, missie. Sure looks like him to me.”

Claire took Martin by the arm. “We can’t risk losing him, Martin. We need to know for certain if it is Fallon.” Claire looked up at the hazy moon. “What do you think, Earl? Is there enough light to make our way back if we go down for a closer look?”

The old man nodded. “As long as we stick together, we’ll be fine.”

“Then let’s check it out,” Claire said. She started down the hill.

“Forget it,” Martin called out. “I told you Claire, it’s Mark’s op. We go on his say-so, not yours!”

“I don’t think anyone is going anywhere.”

The voice came from behind. A man stepped out of the shadows. In his hand, he held a gun.

Martin slipped his hand into his pocket, pressed a button on the remote control for the Navigator.

“Keep your hands where I can see them,” the man ordered. “Down the hill to the compound. Move… now!”

Martin recognized him from his picture.

It was Joseph Krebeck.

55

MARK’S CELL PHONE rang as Kettawash came into view. Justin was calling from the command center. “Is Martin with you?” he asked.

“No,” Mark replied. “Karen and I are on our way to meet him now. He called me forty-five minutes ago. Said he had a lead on Reginald Fallon. He wants us to meet him in Kettawash.”

“Something’s wrong, Mark.” Justin’s tone was serious, anxious. “We just received a signal from the emergency GPS transmitter in Martin’s SUV. He wouldn’t have activated it unless he was in trouble. I tried his cell, Claire’s too. No luck.”

Mark pulled the truck over to the side of the road. “Son of a bitch!” he said. “I knew something like this was going to happen.” He stepped out of the truck and slammed the door. Dan and Cynthia pulled in behind the Suburban. “I told them to wait for backup. Damn it!”

“I’ve got his position,” Justin continued. “He’s four miles outside of Kettawash. I’m tracking your signal as well. You’re about fifteen minutes away from him.”

“I’ll call you back in five,” Mark said. “I need to talk to the team. Don’t take your eyes off that screen!”

“Not a chance, Mark.”

Mark hung up.

“What’s going on?” Cynthia asked.

“Everybody gear up,” Mark replied. “Vests and sidearms. And bring your night vision equipment. We’ve got more than the extraction target to deal with now. That was Justin. Martin and Claire might be in danger.”

“What kind of danger?” Dan said.

“Martin’s emergency GPS has been activated. He called me earlier. Said they thought they’d found Reginald Fallon. Now I’m thinking Fallon found them.” Mark checked his watch. “Let’s hope we’re not too late. Justin’s going to lead us to their location. Follow me. And when we get there, remember to keep your eyes open…”

“… and your head down,” Dan finished as he slipped his bulletproof vest over his head and secured its Velcro chest and shoulder straps into place.

56

“MOMMY, WHERE ARE we going?” Blessing asked.

“On a little adventure, honey,” Sky replied nervously as she buttoned her daughter’s coat and tied her shoelaces. “Daddy’s going to take us on a little camping trip to the mountain, just like we did before. Remember?”

“Yes,” Blessing said. “But it was daytime, and we went swimming. It’s too cold to swim at night. And it’s dark. I don’t like the dark. It’s scary.”

“There’s nothing to be afraid of, sweetheart,” Sky lied. “Besides, part of the fun of camping is looking up at the night sky and seeing all the stars. You can’t see stars during the day, can you?”

“I suppose not.”

“Of course you can’t, silly. Stars sleep during the day so they can stay awake all night.”

“Why would they do that?”

“So they can watch over you when you’re sleeping and keep you safe in your dreams. Chin up.”

Blessing raised her head. “Really?”

“Really,” Sky said as she tied the strings of Blessings cap under her neck. “That’s a star’s job. And tonight, if you’re especially lucky, you might even see shooting stars.”

“What’s a shooting star?”

“Those are very, very special stars. They’re magic stars. If you see a shooting star, and make a wish, maybe it will come true.”

“I already have a wish.”

“You do? Well, keep it a secret! Wishes won’t come true if you tell…”

“I wish that you and me and Daddy will be together, forever and ever!” Blessing blurted out. She stretched out her arms as wide as the tips of her tiny fingers could manage.

Sky pulled her daughter close, hugged her