Page 21 of Mile High Mystery

“Once the trial is over and the Chalk brothers are behind bars for good, I’ll be able to come home. We’ll have a big party or something.”

“I feel like a coward, letting you take all the heat.” There, he said it. Any feds listening in could make of that what they would.

“You’re not a coward,” she said. “But I’m the one with the information the prosecutors need. If anything else came up right now, with the trial so close, it would only muddy the waters. Your job is to take care of Mom and Dad. We’re still a team—we just have different roles to play.”

Camille was the star in this production, and she was loving it. She would never say so, but she had always had a flair for drama and a desire for attention. Maybe it really was because her twin had been taken from her. She was missing that part of herself, and this was a way to fill that void.

He didn’t know. He wasn’t a psychologist, and he didn’t really care what motivated Camille. He only wanted her safe and home again. If she thought that would happen faster if he kept his mouth shut and his head down, he would do that. No matter how much it hurt to think about. “I love you,” he said.

“I love you, too. And don’t worry. Everything is going to be fine.”

SATURDAYWASAtraining day for Search and Rescue volunteers who had been with the organization for less than a year. Veteran volunteers Eldon Ramsey and Ryan Welch taught the class, which focused on climbing skills with an introduction to rigging ropes for various rescue scenarios. “Don’t worry about memorizing all of this now,” Eldon said. “Just focus on the idea that every situation is unique. Learn the basics, and you’ll begin to see how to apply things like anchor points and leverage to the various scenarios you might encounter.”

“Being in good shape and building strength will make everything easier for you,” Ryan added. “But the right rigging allows us to safely lift an accident victim or another rescuer from a dicey situation without having to rely solely on brute force.”

“But being strong doesn’t hurt,” Eldon said, and nodded at Zach. The two of them were easily the biggest team members.

They practiced working with the various brake bars, pulleys and other equipment for rigging, discussed safety precautions and things to avoid, then left with the assignment to spend at least one evening in the next week at the local climbing park, working on their climbing skills.

Afterward, Zach approached Eldon. “I always thought I was too big to be much of a climber,” he said. “All the rock climbers I see are smaller and lighter.”

“Not all of us are string beans.” Eldon set aside the gear he had been packing away and faced Zach. “A lot of climbing is about using your legs to push you up. When things get really vertical, we have to haul more mass up with our arms and shoulders than the wiry, lighter guys, but we also have more muscle to rely on, so it evens out. I’d say the only real disadvantage is in tight spaces.”

Zach nodded. “I guess I just need to get out there and try it.”

“We should get together after work one day this week,” Eldon said. “I can show you a few tips.”

“I’d forgotten that you work for Zenith, too,” Zach said.

“You want to head out to Caspar Canyon Wednesday after work?” Eldon asked.

Zach had never been to the popular climbing area, so why not make his first visit with an expert? “Sure. That would be great.”

Eldon turned back to the duffel bag of gear. It clanked as he slipped the strap onto his shoulder. “Don’t stress too much about the climbing,” he said. “It’s important to know the basics, but we don’t all have to excel in every area. And big guys like us can always contribute.”

Zach nodded. His size had always made him stand out in a crowd, but working search and rescue was the first time he had seen that as an advantage. He left the meeting feeling good about the progress he was making. He was fitting in well with the team, and he was even making a friend in Eldon. He hadn’t really had a friend since Camille had disappeared from his life after the Chalk brothers’ acquittal. He had told himself he didn’t want to be close to anyone, but lately, he’d begun to feel differently.

That afternoon, the morning’s discussion of the need to stay in shape still on his mind, he decided to go for a run. He didn’t much like running, but at least around here there were trails that offered more scenery than a high-school track. He parked at a local trailhead and set out. He hadn’t gone far before he heard someone coming up behind him. He slowed and looked back and was startled to see Shelby Dryden.

Dressed in black leggings and a formfitting black-and-purple Lycra top, a wide headband holding her dark hair back from her face and dark glasses blocking the sun’s glare, she didn’t look much like an FBI agent. She slowed as she neared him, and grinned. “I didn’t know you were a runner, Zach,” she said.

“I’m not, really.” He turned and began to jog again, the fine grit of the trail crunching beneath his feet. “But I have to stay in shape for search and rescue work. Some of our rescues require hiking, and sometimes running, for miles.”

She easily kept pace with him. “I have to pass a physical every year with the Bureau,” she said.

“Have you ever had to run down a bad guy?” he asked.

“Not with the Bureau, but once when I was a sheriff’s deputy, I chased a shoplifter two blocks and tackled him.”

“I’ll bet you were a hero for that,” he said.

“Not exactly.” She grimaced. “I was reprimanded because it made a bad impression for the public to see me tackle someone on the sidewalk.”

“How did you end up with the FBI?” he asked.

“There was a case in our town, a multiple murder and a kidnapping. The suspected murderer was wanted on federal charges, so the FBI got involved. They had already given up the woman who was kidnapped for dead, but I kept digging and figured out where she probably was. I was right, and that got the attention of the special agent assigned to the case. He suggested I take a course at Quantico.” She shrugged. “The sheriff I was working under wasn’t very happy about being shown up by a woman—his words—so I decided maybe there was more opportunity for me with the Bureau.”

“How long have you been a federal agent?” he asked.

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