The cabin that had once served as a hideout was empty now except for a few chairs, a table, and one couch.
Tim had to work hard to convince the others that they should go there to take a look around now that the authorities were through tearing the place apart for clues. Nina was especially resistant, but Emily had convinced her.
“Please, we have to go,” she had urged. “I have to know what happened to Isabelle, Luke, and the others.”
“I know, Eme,” Nina said looking at her best friend warmly. “I just don’t think that’s the place to find them.”
Emily looked ready for tears again.
“But,” Nina quickly added, “If it’s really important to you, of course I’ll go.”
The group made their way past the Eller home and into the woods. Tim hadn’t seen Rusty since his night in the cabin. Apparently he was still away. The house looked dark and empty. He really wanted to see Rusty. To tell him how sorry he was about Luke and how much he missed him.
After a long walk through the woods, the kids finally arrived outside the cabin. Tim wasn’t sure at all what he was looking to find. He knew the place was probably swept clean by authorities, but he had to see it again. Maybe, just maybe, he might remember something that could help find his friends.
Max walked ahead and climbed the stairs to the front porch. Reaching slowly for the door, he gently turned the knob and opened. The others followed him inside.
Tim thought it looked a lot different in the daylight as he nervously eyed his surroundings. He walked into the front room and placed his phone on a small side table.
Nina remained close to the front door. Tim reached out his hand to her and she shook her head. She wasn’t moving from that spot.
“They could come back,” she said in a whispery voice.
“No, they would never risk it,” Emily said calmly as she walked over to her and gently took her hand.
“Eme’s right,” Max interjected. “Besides they caught the main guy and he’s locked up for good.”
Tim couldn’t help but wonder who Canary was talking to on the phone that night and just how many others were involved. But he felt as certain as Max and Emily that whoever it was would never show their face in this cabin again.
And then he heard it.
It was almost indiscernible, but he was sure he heard the ceiling creaking.
There it was again!
Footsteps.
He looked at his friends and could tell immediately they all heard it, too. Everyone remained frozen in place.
Creak . . . creak . . . creak . . .
Someone was upstairs.
Upon hearing it a second time, Nina sprinted outside, followed closely behind by Emily and Max.
Tim couldn’t move.
The footsteps were heading down the staircase now. The girls were already down the front porch when Max realized Tim wasn’t with them.
“Tim!” he yelled toward the house. Getting no response, Max turned around and went back inside.
Tim could see a man’s legs descending down the stairs.
“You shouldn’t be here,” the man called towards him. “But I’m really glad you are.”
The red crop of hair was unmistakable. It was Rusty! He opened his arms to embrace Tim, who gladly went in for a hug. Max sighed with relief and then waved to the girls to come back inside
“When did you get back?” Tim asked.
Rusty motioned for the boys to sit down on the couch as he sat in a big oversized chair.
“Mr. Eller!” Emily called out as she and Nina re-entered the house. “We thought you were out of town.”
“I got back about a week ago, but since I’ve been back, I’ve been spending a lot of time at the Reef helping them sort though some information.”
Tim realized that was the same building he had seen years ago. The same place they were keeping Canary. Rusty went on to explain that the authorities had named his part-time groundskeeper and handyman, Mr. Kull, as a suspect in the disappearances.
“They thought he had built this cabin without my knowledge, but that simply wasn’t true,” said Rusty. “He built it for me as a guest house. I think the poor fellow was implicated just for being a grumpy old man.”
“But the authorities couldn’t find him for a while, right?” asked Max.
“He was with me,” Rusty quickly answered.
“Rusty,” Tim whispered. “I’m so sorry about Luke, but I know we will find him. I know it.”
Rusty’s head went down and he stared at the floor, then placing his elbows on his knees, he covered his eyes with his hands and let out a long sigh. Was he crying? Tim couldn’t be sure, but he suddenly felt tears welling up in his own eyes.
“You kids are his very best friends in the world,” Rusty finally managed to say. Then rising from his chair, he looked directly at Tim. “What are you doing here at the cabin anyway?”
“We thought we could find some answers,” Emily said. “Something that might help us find Isabelle, Luke, and the others.”
Rusty walked over to Emily.
“Eme, I’m so sorry about Isabelle,” he said warmly. “But I know she is okay. Just like I know Luke is okay, and we will all be together again.”
Emily leaned toward him and gave him a hug.
“You really think so?” she asked with urgency.
“I know so,” he replied. “Please trust me on that.”
“Why did you come here?” Tim asked.
“Same as you I guess,” he answered, turning again to Tim. “But there is nothing here to find. I searched this place up and down with a fine-tooth comb. If there was anything here, the authorities have it now.”
After visiting with Rusty awhile longer, the group said their good-byes and headed for home.
“Oh, man!” Tim shouted. “I left my phone in the cabin, I have to go back and get it. You all go ahead, I’ll catch up.”
He ran back toward the cabin and up the stairs of the porch. He knocked softly and then opened the door. Tim was about to call out Rusty’s name when he heard his voice. He must be on the phone, he thought.
He went to the table to retrieve his phone and was about to leave when Rusty’s voice became louder, as if he were angry with whomever he was speaking to.
“Listen to me, this has to be done quickly, the other kids are in pain over this,” Rusty was saying. “You know as well as I do it wasn’t supposed to go down this way.”
Tim found himself moving closer so he could better hear what was being said.
“Yes, I am aware of the risks,” he continued. “But that doesn’t matter now. If you don’t get the other kids out of here and back on Earth soon, the whole plan could be ruined.”