Retribution (Otter Creek Book 8) Page 19

  “How do you know about this incident?”

  “I witnessed it firsthand. The teen had been harassing his younger brother, calling him stupid and making him cry. I was about to stop to him, but Ruth got there first.” He moved closer and dropped his voice to a murmur. “You know what I do for a living, Ethan. I wouldn’t want to tangle with your aunt under any circumstances. Muehller won’t get the best of her. Besides, didn’t Ruth take on this guy two years ago and come out the victor?”

  “She wasn’t the focus of his interest. Serena was.”

  “She’s not the focus now, either. You are. The point of the grab-and-go with Ruth is that Muehller wants you to pay for putting him in prison and your aunt is the bait. This guy is smart. He won’t kill Ruth until he has you where he wants you.”

  “Which is where?”

  “On your knees, watching him pull the trigger when he kills her. And if he is stupid enough to be inclined to do that before you arrive, Ruth will persuade him otherwise. She writes best-selling murder mysteries, Ethan. She knows how criminals think. Plus, Serena just gave your aunt a great reason to stay alive. Ruth Rollins will fight for the chance to hold your son.”

  Ethan cleared his throat. “Thanks.” He returned his attention to the computer screen. His eyes narrowed. “That’s Highway 18, the Rosedale exit.”

  Quinn leaned closer to the frozen frame on the screen. “That’s all the footage?”

  “The SUV disappeared before Rolling Meadows.”

  Which was the next exit. At least it was a start. Quinn rubbed a hand over his jaw, his fingers rasping over the beard growth. Now they knew a general direction However, Muehller could have taken many different back roads from that point. They needed a more focused starting point for Heidi and Charlie to work from. Even with Deke and Ace, they wouldn’t have enough search teams to cover the area. The closest trained S & R team was several hours away. Until Muehller left the vehicle, Charlie wouldn’t have a scent trail to follow. If they could find the vehicle Muehller drove, they would have a better idea where to look. “There’s a lot of open countryside out there, Ethan. A few subdivisions scattered around, too.” Plenty of places to hide, more hostages to take if Muehller thought he needed them. A stupid move, though. The more people you must control, the greater likelihood you’d fail. Under stressful circumstances, people weren’t predictable.

  “I know. While this helps, it isn’t enough. We need more for Charlie to go on.”

  Ethan’s phone signaled an incoming call. He glanced at the screen, then put the call on speaker. “Blackhawk.”

  “Chief, received a call from old man Lawrence. He wants you to call him immediately.”

  The police dispatcher sounded frazzled. Amusement zoomed through Quinn at her words. Mr. Lawrence was infamous around town, surly most of the time. The town folks loved his wife and enjoyed the farmer’s two camels, Bonnie and Clyde. Elementary school kids looked forward to field trips to the Lawrence farm each fall and spring to see the animals, including the camels the old man bought for his now-grown granddaughter.

  “If this is about his escape-artist camel, Bonnie, tell him I can’t help him right now, Suzie. He’ll have to look for her himself. We’re shorthanded at the moment.”

  “He said you’d say that. He also informed me the call wasn’t about Bonnie, but he refused to talk to anyone but you. Look, Ethan, I know you’re slammed with the investigations right now. Talking to Lawrence will only take a couple minutes and will save the rest of us aggravation. You know he won’t stop calling until you talk to him.”

  Ethan scowled. “I’ll take care of it.” He tapped his screen and pulled up his contact list. He placed the call and put this one on speaker as well while he restarted the video feed. A moment later, a deep, raspy voice answered the phone. “Mr. Lawrence, it’s Ethan Blackhawk. Suzie said you called. I’ve only got a minute. What do you need?”

  “Why didn’t you let the town know that Mitch Harrington fella was out of prison?”

  The police chief paused the video feed, stared at the phone. “Hans Muehller is the guy’s real name, Mr. Lawrence. Are you telling me you’ve seen him recently?”

  “I sure did. Not more than two hours ago. That boy was nothing but trouble when he was here before. Why would he think he’s welcome back in this town after serving his time? And let me tell you, spending a little over a year in prison for all the ugly crimes he committed is not justice in my book. You ought to do something about that, Blackhawk.”

  Quinn wanted to laugh at the old man’s belief that Ethan could do anything to right injustice in the correctional system. Ethan was good, all right, but not that good. No one was. All you could do was your best to see justice served. Thankfully, more often than not, the justice system worked.

  “Where did you see Muehller?” Ethan asked.

  “Driving down Forest Road. Can’t figure out why he’s going back in there. This ain’t tourist season.”

  Quinn thought about that. Isolated location, far enough away from town to prevent any undue attention. Forest Road led to cabins tourists rented during the spring, summer, and fall seasons. Muehller had to stay somewhere while stalking Ethan, Serena, and Ruth. If Ethan was right about Muehller having money and alternate IDs stashed around the country, there was no telling how he’d registered, if he’d even bothered to do so. Quinn wouldn’t. Not that many people around camping or staying in the cabins. With no one registered for a cabin, Muehller wouldn’t worry about housekeeping walking in on him and his hostage.

  Then again, Quinn wouldn’t be caught in a building at all if the layout wasn’t good for security. Too many walls and too few windows limited the line of sight, not something with which he and his teammates were comfortable. Would Muehller think the same way? Maybe not. He wasn’t trained as a Special Forces soldier. Also, based on what Josh had told him, the assassin had an ego problem. He might not believe the Otter Creek police would track him down.

  In a way, Quinn hoped that was the case. He hated to think of Ruth out in the elements. No snow on the ground, but it was cold and damp, the ground wet. Not good for anyone to be exposed to the weather long, especially someone older.

  “No, it’s not tourist season,” Ethan agreed. “He’s not a tourist. Muehller escaped from prison a few days ago. I need to find him, fast. What was he driving, Mr. Lawrence?”

  “Dark blue SUV. Nevada plates. Couldn’t catch any letters or numbers. Boy was going too fast and my eyes ain’t as good as they used to be when I was your age. Heard about Ruth so I know you’re busy. Want me to see if I can locate him for you?”

  Quinn’s blood ran cold. If the farmer actually managed to locate the assassin, Lawrence would try to apprehend Muehller himself instead of calling the cops.

  “No, but I appreciate the offer of assistance. Muehller is as dangerous as they come. He wouldn’t think twice about killing you. I don’t want to explain to your sweet wife that you were helping me with an investigation. She’d have my hide.”

  A bark of laughter from the grizzled old farmer. “Guess you got a point there. She’s not so sweet when she’s riled. I ought to know. Done more than my fair share of riling over the years. To be honest, I’m surprised she stayed with me.”

  A quick grin from the police chief at that last comment. “Thanks, Mr. Lawrence. Appreciate the information.”

  “Yep.” And Lawrence ended the call.

  Ethan logged off the laptop. “Need to check the campground and cabins.”

  “We’ll follow you,” Quinn said.

  He paused, glancing over his shoulder. “Might be a wild goose chase.”

  “Could be right on target as well. Ethan, let us help. You don’t have to do this alone.” In fact, he shouldn’t. Quinn had complete faith in his friend’s skills, but even a Special Forces soldier needed a battle buddy to watch his back.

  Ethan studied Heidi’s face a moment. “I know Quinn is up for this. But after the injuries you sustained in the blast yesterday, are you r
eady for work?”

  Heidi nodded. “I’m fine. Maddox made sure I had some training. I’m not in Quinn’s league or yours, but I can hold my own. I’m armed and comfortable with my Glock. I trained in self-defense. I won’t take chances, Ethan. I promise.” Her gaze slid to Quinn’s. “I have too much to live for.”

  “Have you tracked at night?” Quinn asked. “It’s almost dark now. By the time we get to Forest Road, there won’t be any sunlight left.”

  “A couple times, but it’s dangerous. The shadows mask the depth of depressions and hide tree roots. The risk of injury to me and Charlie is high. Why? What are you thinking?”

  “NVGs. Night vision goggles.”

  Heidi smiled. “That’s not part of my gear bag.”

  “I have a pair in mine. Standard equipment. Ethan, what about you?”

  “I do have a pair. Risky, though, Quinn. If we stumble on Muehller, he could blind us for critical seconds with a flashlight.”

  True enough. Ruth’s life was at stake, though. They couldn’t sit on the sidelines if there was a chance to find her and bring her home. “We’ll have to take the risk. Might also be a theoretical discussion. If we don’t find Muehller at the cabins or campground, we may have to wait until morning.”

  “If Ethan’s aunt is injured, we don’t have a choice but to start a search if we know where to begin,” Heidi said. “Charlie and I will depend on you and your NVGs to keep us safe as we chase the scent trail.”

  “Are you sure you are ready to do a full on search?” Ethan asked, his expression troubled. “You were just released from the hospital last night with a concussion.”

  “Ruth’s safety is on the line. I’m sure my new bosses will allow me another day to recuperate if I ask.”

  “No problem.” No one was going to give her grief over a second day off, especially if she helped them locate and rescue Ruth. All the members of Durango had a crush on Ethan’s aunt.

  “All right.” Ethan returned the laptop to Nick’s SUV and locked the doors. “Let me tell my detectives what’s going on and where we’re headed.” He pointed a finger at Quinn. “Don’t leave before I return, Gallagher.”

  Quinn grinned. Yeah, the police chief knew him well. That’s exactly what he’d wanted to do. “Yes, sir.”

  Ethan strode away.

  “Are you sure you want to do this, Heidi?” Quinn pulled her against him and wrapped his arms around her. “Ethan’s right, you know. What we’re doing is against the doctor’s orders.”

  “I’m well enough.” She shrugged. “I’ll rest better knowing Ruth is safe and well.”

  Yet another reason why he loved this beautiful woman. “All right. Here are the rules. While I will defer to you and Charlie on the search, if we find Muehller, do exactly what I tell you to do. No questions or hesitation. The arsonist is nothing compared Hans Muehller.”

  “We have to try, Quinn. I couldn’t live with myself if we lost Ethan’s aunt because I wimped out.”

  Ethan returned. “Let’s go.”

  Quinn followed Ethan through town and to the highway which skirted Otter Creek. Thirty minutes later, Ethan turned off his headlights.

  “What’s he doing?” Heidi leaned closer to the windshield. “I don’t see anything wrong with his vehicle.”

  He followed Ethan’s lead and turned off his own headlights. “There shouldn’t be many people out here. If Muehller is holed up in one of the cabins, we don’t want to alert him to our presence before we assess the situation. If we go in blind, Ruth could be injured further.”

  Quarter of a mile down the road was the entrance to the hunting lodge and cabins. They parked a few hundred yards from the parking lot and got out of the vehicles. Heidi attached Charlie’s leash to his harness and slipped her gear bag onto her back while Quinn shrugged into his own.

  When Ethan glanced back at them, Quinn nodded. He and Heidi were ready. The police chief tossed Quinn the bag with Muehller’s shirt, which he shoved into his pack.

  They walked the remaining distance, pausing at the tree line to scan the area. Quinn’s heart sank. No sign of occupancy at the lodge or cabins. A few more cabins were in the trees behind the lodge. Ethan signaled them to wait, then walked across the parking lot to the lodge office.

  He returned a couple minutes later. “Nothing,” he whispered. “Mr. Phillips says there’s no one staying here right now. I told him I would look around to make sure Muehller hadn’t broken into a cabin.” Ethan turned, pointed to the dirt trail leading through the forest. “This path will lead us to the other cabins without exposing us to view until we’re ready to be seen.”

  Ethan and Quinn pulled out their NVGs and slipped them on. Quinn threaded his fingers through Heidi’s and led her down the trail after Ethan. Though he was the one with the visual help, Heidi moved quietly with confidence.

  At the edge of a clearing, Ethan again signaled them to stop. Quinn moved Heidi behind him. “Stay here,” he whispered. He moved into position beside Ethan.

  A hundred yards in front of them sat a cabin with a dark SUV parked at the back. “I’ll check the vehicle’s plates,” Quinn murmured as he shrugged off his pack. He handed Ethan a thermal imager. “Check the cabin for occupants. I’ll be back in a minute.”

  Weapon in hand, he slipped into the trees and worked his way to the far side of the cabin near the vehicle. Couldn’t make out the color in the darkness. Might be blue, black, or a dark green. However, the plates were issued in Nevada. They’d found Muehller’s ride.

  Quinn scanned the windows. Didn’t see any lights, not even a candle flickering or a fire in the fireplace. Of course, either of those would be a dead giveaway of cabin occupancy.

  He circled back around to Ethan and Heidi.

  “Is it the right vehicle?” Heidi asked.

  “Nevada plates. Can’t tell about the color in the darkness.” He glanced at Ethan. “You’ll need to get prints to confirm, but I’d say this is Muehller’s ride. Anything on the imager?”

  Ethan shook his head. “No heat signatures. There’s no one inside that cabin.”

  Quinn stared, puzzled. If the cabin was empty, where were Muehller and Ruth?

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Heidi’s heart sank. Where was Ruth? She turned her gaze to the cabin shrouded in darkness. While she prayed nothing bad had happened to Ruth, how long would it take for a dead body to cool off enough the thermal imaging device Ethan used wouldn’t pick up that person? From the grimness of Ethan’s expression he’d already thought of that terrible possibility. Oh, man. She didn’t want that heartbreak for Ethan and Serena on the day their son was born. They shouldn’t have ugly memories of this day. Little Lucas’s birthday should be a happy occasion, not one where sadness crept in to mar the celebration.

  “We need to check the cabin,” Ethan murmured. He turned to Heidi. “I want you and Charlie stay here in the safety of the trees.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Quinn cupped Heidi’s cheek with his palm, leaned in, and kissed her. “Stay out of sight no matter what you hear, baby. Ethan and I can take care of ourselves much better if we don’t have to worry about you charging into the line of fire. We will put your safety first, but Muehller won’t be so kind. He’ll see you as another target to eliminate.”

  “I promise to stay hidden.” She didn’t want to be a distraction that might cause him or Ethan harm. Heidi didn’t mind admitting she was no match for an international assassin despite the training from Fortress. The operatives had done their best, but the training time was too short. The training was to be used if she was separated from her bodyguards and had to defend herself to survive. In a one-on-one confrontation with the assassin, she would come out on the losing end.

  Her boyfriend inclined his head toward a thick stand of trees to the left. “That’s your best bet for cover. Muehller would have to stumble over you to know you’re there as long as you’re quiet.” He glanced at Charlie. “What about him? Will he stay quiet if something happens?”r />
  Heidi gave a quick nod. “Don’t worry about him. He’s well trained. Be careful, Quinn. I have plans for you.” She leaned in close. “A lot of them.”

  With a soft chuckle, he gave her a quick, hard kiss before nudging her toward the stand of trees. Heidi signaled Charlie to follow her and together they moved into the shadowed landscape. Once satisfied that she was as safe as possible under the circumstances, Quinn followed Ethan into the clearing. Both of them had guns in their hands.

  Better have her own weapon ready in case she needed it. She reached behind her back. Wrapping her fingers around the grip of her Glock, she held the gun by her thigh as she knelt beside a silent Charlie. Her search partner knew something dangerous was happening because he stood stock still, alert and watchful.

  She turned her attention to the clearing on the other side of the trees, checking on the progress of the men. Heidi watched in fascination as Ethan and Quinn worked their way from shadow to shadow in absolute silence. No footfalls, no cracking branches or twigs, and only a series of hand signals used for communication. Made her wonder if they had worked missions together before. As they neared the cabin, Quinn broke off and moved around the back of the structure while Ethan continued to move toward the front.

  He checked around the front window, then angled toward the door. Standing to the side, Ethan reached out and turned the knob. Gun hand raised and ready, he pushed open the door and slipped inside the dark cabin.

  The wait seemed an eternity now that Ethan and Quinn were out of sight. She worried the next sound she heard might be gunfire shattering the night’s quiet. However, before much time passed, Quinn came to the front door and trotted across the clearing to Heidi and Charlie. “What did you find?” she asked.

  “Basic medical supplies, bloody bandages, and discarded boxes of takeout food, most likely from a nearby town. There’s no way Muehller could show his face in town and someone not recognize him. Ruth and Muehller are gone.”

  “Where could he have taken Ethan’s aunt?” Heidi frowned. “He doesn’t have his vehicle.”