“No gun,” the deputy said. “Did she have a gun?”
“Just bought a Glock 19,” Travis said. “And probably left it at home.”
The sheriff was off the phone and moving back toward him. “Hank is pulling in his team and is getting a couple drones up as soon as possible.”
Standing around, waiting for directions was not what Travis wanted to do. “What direction did they go?” he asked. He could be chasing them right now.
“Turned left out of the parking lot and then kept going straight. Doesn’t mean they’re still going that way though.” The sheriff shook his head. “They might take a side road. Fred called it in right away, so if the drones can spot them from the air, soon, we’ll find them.”
Travis didn’t answer him. He was getting back into his truck when his cell phone rang, Travis picked up immediately. “Go.”
It was Hank. “We got him,” he said. “Come back to the ranch.”
Travis put the phone on speaker and rested it in the cup holder. “No time.” He slammed his door. “Just tell me where they are and meet me there.”
“I would, if I thought you’d wait for us,” Hank replied. “Come back to the ranch so we can suit up, mission brief, and roll in together. We’re not letting you go in blindandalone.”
Travis ground his teeth but took a deep breath. “Hank, you’re a good boss, and I like you, so I’m not gonna cuss you out right now. But Ellen hasn’t got that kind of time.” He put his truck into reverse and backed it away from where he’d parked. “I’ve got my gear with me, and I’m pretty sure this guy is acting alone.” He switched from reverse to drive. “Brief me now. Tell me where to go and what I’m rolling into, then meet me there.” Travis pulled out onto the road turning left.
There was a momentary pause while Hank thought about it, and Travis wondered if he’d lost the connection, but when Hank came back on, he didn’t hesitate. “His address is 34 Mule Deer Creek Rd. It’s a two-story wood cabin back in the woods of the foothills south of the mountains. Got a long driveway and lots of trees.”
Travis yanked on his steering wheel, his tires screaming as he whipped a U-turn so fast, he almost flipped his truck. As he straightened out, he picked up his phone again and switched over to the GPS, punching in the address.
Seeing the address he said, “I can be there in ten minutes. I’ll leave my truck out of sight of the house so you guys can use it as a rally point.”
“We’re five minutes behind you,” Hank said. “But listen, I don’t have to tell you this guy is psychotic. The drone didn’t pick up any booby traps, but it looks like he’s been setting this up for a long time.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Travis quipped. “You guys just show up with party streamers and beer so we can celebrate.”
After I turn this guy Mortimer inside out.
He hurried down the road following the GPS coordinates.
Travis turned off his truck headlights when he came to the entrance of the long driveway. He couldn’t see the house from the road, but that didn’t mean someone in the house couldn’t see his lights. He had to go slower than he wanted, in the dark, but the bright moonlight helped, even with the trees close on both sides.
When his GPS said he was within a half mile of the house, Travis stopped, parked, and cut the engine, flowing smoothly out of his seatbelt and door. He whipped off his jacket, tossing it into the cab as he opened the door behind his driver’s seat.
Folding down his backseats, he unlocked the hidden compartment he’d built into the truck himself, revealing his load-bearing vest, an alternate holster for his pistol, helmet, night-vision goggles, and his AR-15.
Quickly, he put his pistol into the new holster, taking off the old one so that he could clip the new one to his belt, but farther below his waistline. A strap around his thigh buckled it in place. Next came his vest. It carried several magazines for his rifle, a robust medical kit, and a very sharp knife. His helmet and goggles came after that, and then a pair of gloves before he finally grabbed his rifle and loaded it.
Then he turned away from the truck and melted into the shadows of the trees, giving himself up to the thrill of the hunt.
* * *
Ellen was finally morealert as the drug had started to wear off, but she was still dizzy, her stomach wasn’t calm, and she was groggy.
She’d opened her eyes, but she closed them again. She didn’t want Mortimer to know she was awake yet.
It was chilly in the room she was in. She felt a draft on her bare legs and arms and shivered.
Where are my clothes?
She’d been wearing three quarter length sleeves and long slacks when she’d gone to the school. The night air had turned chilly, and she’d debated taking a jacket along. Nights out west could be cool.
Now her clothes were gone, she knew this without opening her eyes to look. Whatever the sleeveless short thing now covering her body, it was not warm.
A door opened and closed. Footsteps moved away.
