CHAPTER SIX

 

 

May 13, 2015

7:15 A.M.

Boise, Idaho

 

The sun was just coloring the mountains above Boise when they touched down. He and Julia had tried to nap some on the flight, but mostly they had ended up talking about Trish.

From what Julia said, Trish was like a wild sister she never had. They had been friends in college and while Julia didn’t date much and studied too much, Trish partied all the time and was married the first time by her sophomore year.

It seemed she had six marriages after that one, tossing men away after she got tired of them.

Julia and Trish were exact opposites and that had kept them in touch and talking over the years. Julia valued the wild side of Trish and the friendship and Trish seemed to value the stableness of Julia.

Julia said Trish had planned to calm down and just read and relax after the last divorce, which is why she rented a house so far from anything. Julia said Trish was going into Boise twice a month for supplies and to go to counseling sessions. Otherwise, Trish claimed she was staying home most of the time.

Lott had asked Julia if she believed that Trish was trying to change.

“I believe she is, yes,” Julia said, nodding. “Is she succeeding, I doubt it. Stripes and a zebra sort of thing.”

As the jet taxied up to Doc’s private hanger at the Boise airport, Lott caught a glimpse of Fleetword Kort standing just outside the building, waiting for them.

Lott was surprised that Fleet was there to meet them. It seemed Fleet had a Jeep SUV for them gassed up and ready to go.

Fleet was a tall, lanky man who towered over Lott. Lott had never seen Fleet out of a silk suit with his hair combed perfectly. This morning was no exception.

He was Doc’s closest friend from high school and college, but the two were about as opposite as they came. Doc seldom wore anything but jeans and button-down shirts with the sleeves rolled up. And while Doc was solid and muscled and tanned from guiding rafts on the River of No Return in the summer, Fleet looked so thin that lifting a weight might break something.

After they put their luggage in the back seat of the Jeep, Fleet showed them that he had stocked the back of the Jeep with all sorts of equipment they might need while up in the mountains, from extra food to flashlights to sleeping bags and tents.

Then he handed both Lott and Julia special satellite phones. “These should work in most areas, depending on the terrain and height of the mountains. Think of them for emergency use only. I’ll have a helicopter standing by here if you need something.”

“Thank you,” Lott said, tucking the phone in his bag in his car.

Julia nodded and looked puzzled at Fleet. “Is where we are going that remote?”

Lott knew Julia had sent Doc and Annie directions to Trish’s rented home on the edge of a lake in the mountains. So no doubt Fleet had looked it up.

“About as remote as it gets in the lower forty-eight states,” Fleet said. “That you can actually drive to.”

Lott was not sure he liked the sounds of that in the slightest. Julia only nodded, but clearly didn’t like that either.

Then, as they were about to head out, a State Police car pulled up next to the Jeep and an officer got out, leaving his hat in the car, and came toward them, smiling.

It took Lott a second before he recognized Ben Stephens, a former Las Vegas detective and one of the nicest men Lott had ever known.

Ben had reached detective status about ten years before Lott retired and Lott and Andor had taken him with them on numbers of cases as he got his feet under him. In essence, they had trained him.

Five years ago, just about the point that Lott and Andor both retired, Ben had taken a job up here in Idaho to be closer to family. He still had the military flat top cut to his dark hair and shoulders that looked like he could play pro football.

Lott gave Ben a big hug, then introduced him to Julia, who shook his hand.

Before Lott could introduce Ben to Fleet, Fleet said, “Ben, glad you could make it.”

“Anything for you and Doc,” Ben said to Fleet.

Then Ben turned to Lott and Julia. “We’re going to have extra State Police patrols in and around the McCall area, in case you need backup. I know this isn’t official business, but considering what you are doing, we felt it only logical to be close.”

“Thank you,” Fleet said. “And you have told no one of the reason for all this?”

“In this state,” Ben said, “only the four of us really know what you are suspecting. Too dangerous any other way.”

Lott was too surprised to even say anything quickly.

“In fact,” Ben said, “I’m going to be up there on patrol myself over the next week. I’ll be staying with a cousin in McCall, but can scramble to help at any moment, day or night.”

He handed Lott a piece of paper with a private cell phone number and the Idaho State Police phone number on it.

“Did Fleet tell you there is an outside chance we might have another Willis Williams problem?” Lott asked, folding the paper and putting it in his wallet. “Chances are she’s fine.”

“Andor called last night, right after Fleet called,” Ben said, nodding. “We don’t want you two walking into a hornet’s nest without some resources.”

“Thank you,” Julia said. “With luck, we’ll find my friend alive and well.”

“That’s what we are all hoping,” Ben said, nodding. “And expecting, actually. But better to be safe on this.”

“How are the county and local police in the area up there?” Lott asked.

“Small town slow and decent,” Ben said, shrugging, “at least from what we can tell over the years. Nothing that would make them suspects in anything. But I wouldn’t trust them with much of anything.”

Lott and Julia both nodded.

Ben wished them both well and headed back for his patrol car.

Lott turned back to Fleet. “Looks like we have a lot covered. Thank you.”

“Yes, thank you,” Julia said.

Fleet nodded. “We have tried to think of as much as we can. Now it’s up to you two.”

“We’ll try to stay out of trouble,” Lott said.

“Well, as much as we can considering who we are,” Julia said, winking at Fleet.

Fleet blushed and shook his head and then turned for his car.

All Lott could do was laugh.