CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

 

 

May 15, 2015

9:30 A.M.

Cascade, Idaho

 

The helicopter touched down near one end of the Cascade airport, near a group of what looked to be private buildings and hangers. Cascade was tucked to one side of a wide valley, near a tall concrete dam that seemed to back up water for many miles behind it.

The town looked to be a combination of a tourist town and farming town and Lott figured it couldn’t have a population of locals of more than three thousand. But since it was clearly a winter and a summer resort, it was set up to handle a lot more.

The airport was out in what looked like an open meadow across the main two-lane highway from Cascade. Buildings and farms dotted the flat fields and the mountains they had just come over loomed to the east of the big valley like a wall.

Doc and Annie climbed out of the front of a white Cadillac SUV as the helicopter landed. They then stood there, waiting for the engines to shut down, and Lott and Julia to get out, before coming forward.

The morning was still cool, but much warmer than in the small mountain valley they had just left.

Annie had on a dark jacket, jeans, and had her long hair pulled back. Doc seemed completely in his element here as much as in a casino in Las Vegas. He had on jeans, tennis shoes and a dress shirt under a light tan jacket. Doc just radiated confidence, no matter where he seemed to be.

Lott had to admit, after last night on guard in that car in those remote mountains, he was damned glad to see Doc and Annie.

And from the hug Annie gave him when they got out into the cool morning air, she was glad to see him as well.

Then, as Annie hugged Julia, Doc shook his hand and smiled. “Not a fun night in the mountains, huh?”

“I think from now on I’ll leave the mountains to you two,” Lott said.

“I’ll agree to that,” Julia said.

“I have always said that,” Fleet said.

Lott and Julia and Annie laughed.

Agent Munn just shook her head. “Don’t look at me. After we get this sting set up, I’m heading back in there for the night.”

“Not looking forward to it?” Doc asked.

“Not with all the ghosts in that little valley,” Agent Munn said.

“You found the cars?” Annie asked and Lott realized no one had called them and told them, since they had been on the way to Cascade from Boise.

Agent Munn nodded. “Divers think there has to be at least forty cars down there, more than likely all with embalmed bodies. We’re getting makes and models and vin numbers first to trace before we even start the body recovery.”

“I’ll get someone on tracing where the cars were bought after I get the vin numbers,” Fleet said.

Doc nodded, then turned to Agent Munn.

“The warehouse in Boise going to be enough room?” Doc asked, looking worried.

“More than enough for the next three days or so,” Agent Munn said. “Thank you for doing that.”

“Anything,” Doc said. “You know that.”

Fleet nodded in agreement.

“Thank you both,” Agent Munn said.

“Now,” Doc said, “let’s get to the cabin and get these two into some fresh clothes and get some food and do some planning.”

They all headed toward the big white SUV. Fleet and Agent Munn climbed into the third seat. Lott sat with Julia on the second seat, with Annie and Doc in the front seats.

“You have a cabin up here as well?” Julia asked as Doc got them onto the two-lane highway and headed north.

“Just a little place on the lake,” Doc said. “Across from the Tamarack Ski Resort.”

“Why am I guessing that “little place” won’t really describe this cabin on the lake,” Lott said. He knew Doc and Annie and they didn’t hesitate in going first class all the way.

Annie laughed and turned and winked at her dad. “It won’t.”

“My family and I love it up here in the summer,” Fleet said. “I promise, it doesn’t feel remote at all.”

“Paved road, neighbors, running water, and telephone reception,” Julia said.

“All that,” Doc laughed. “And so much more.”

Lott was going to need that, and a good nap at some point.

Beside him Julia reached over and took his hand and then smiled at him.

Lott smiled back. “We’ll get the bastard,” he said softly, leaning into her and gently squeezing her hand.

“I know we will,” she said. “How can we not with this team?”