Page 11 of Twin Jeopardy

“The first article is going to run next week. Most of you know Tammy Patterson, the paper’s reporter. She’s starting the series with a feature about the search for Valerie Shepherd fifteen years ago.”

A number of people turned to look at Vince. “Are you okay with this?” Jake asked.

“I already spoke with Tammy,” Vince said. “It’s fine.”

“Valerie was never found,” Tony Meisner, the volunteer who had been with the group longest—over twenty years—said. “Why start with that mission?”

“Because that search—and the failure of anyone to find Valerie—changed the way the group organized and trained,” Danny said. “After that, we formally operated under the direction of the sheriff, we required more training, restructured the command system with new roles, and sought accreditation with the Colorado Search and Rescue Association.”

Tony sat back. “Okay, that makes sense. Still seems a bummer to start with such a sad case.” He looked over at the sofa. “No offense, Vince. I always felt bad we didn’t find your sister.”

“It’s okay,” Vince said. “I know everyone tried their best.” He didn’t remember that much about the actual search for Valerie. His parents had kept him home, perhaps fearful that he might wander off and come to harm. But he had seen the appeals for people to help with the search, and photographs in the paper showing lines of volunteers marching across the area where they had camped.

“This series is going to be great publicity for the group,” Danny said. “We want to take advantage of that by stepping up our fundraising.”

Groans rose up around the room. “I know, I know,” Danny said. “Nobody likes begging for money. But the work we do is expensive—equipment constantly needs replacing and supplies replenishing. Training costs money, and then there are the everyday expenses, like gas for vehicles and utility bills for this building and the occasional meal to keep you people from resigning. We rely on donations for the bulk of our funds.”

“I guess when people read this article and think about how great and wonderful we are, we might as well be there with our hands out,” Ryan said.

Many in the group laughed. Danny smiled. “The paper has agreed to print a coupon people can use to mail in a donation, as well as information about how they can donate online. We’re also going to have our usual booth at the community Fourth of July celebration,” he said. He held up the clipboard. “I’ve got the sign-up sheet here. We’ve also been asked to participate in something the city is calling First Responders Fun Fair.”

“What is that?” Sheri asked.

“The Elks Club is hosting their usual carnival games, but this time they’re asking fire, sheriff’s, EMS and SAR personnel to man the various games, with all the proceeds from ticket sales split among the four groups. Last year they took in almost five thousand dollars in proceeds, so it’s a significant addition to our coffers.”

“Sure, we can do that,” Eldon Ramsey said.

“I have a sign-up sheet for the carnival as well. Everyone needs to come up and choose your time slots.” He set the clipboard aside. “No training tonight, but we do need to pull out and inspect all the climbing gear and reorganize and replenish first aid supplies. Sheri and Tony are in charge of the climbing gear, while Hannah and I will oversee the first aid supplies. We each need people to help, so spread out and let’s get to work.”

Vince was trying to decide who to work with when Bethany approached. “Hi,” she said. “Have you been with search and rescue long?”

“About six months,” he said. “So I’m still a rookie too.”

“It’s a little intimidating being around so many experienced volunteers.” She scanned the room. “I don’t have any special skills, but Danny said I didn’t need them, just a willingness to work and follow direction.”

“You’ll do fine,” Vince said. “Everyone here pitches in to help the newbies learn the ropes.”

Her expression sobered. “I was sorry to hear about your sister.”

“Um, thanks.” She was looking at him with those big, dark eyes, her expression a familiar one—mixed curiosity and pity. He never knew how to respond to that, so he was relieved when Tony approached. “Come help with the climbing gear,” he said. He glanced at Bethany. “I know Hannah could use another hand with the medical supplies.”

“Sure. Thanks.” Bethany touched his arm. “It was nice talking with you, Vince,” she said, and hurried away.

Vince and Tony moved to the closet that held the ropes and hardware used in climbing. The steep canyons and high peaks of the terrain around Eagle Mountain meant that many of their rescue operations involved climbing or rappelling, and a significant part of volunteer training focused on the skills needed for these activities. Sheri and Tony began laying out ropes, and she explained how to inspect the colored braided strands for damage and excessive wear.

Vince accepted a coil of rope from Tony. He realized the veteran was the only one here tonight who’d been part of the search when Valerie disappeared. “Did you help look for my sister?” he asked.

“I did.” The lines around his blue eyes deepened. Lean and muscular, Tony had the weathered complexion of a man who spent a lot of time outdoors, his neat beard and blond hair beginning to show streaks of gray. “We went out every day for a week.”

“What was that like?” Vince asked. “I mean, what about it led to so many changes for the group?”

Tony considered the question for a long moment, then said, “It wasn’t that we were disorganized, but we hadn’t had any formal training. We knew some basic principles, but the training we get nowadays teaches us about the psychology of searches. People who are lost have patterns of behavior. Most people tend to stick to trails or roads, even animal trails. In the mountains, they tend to move up, to try to get a better view of terrain. They may believe no one is looking for them and they have to walk out of a situation to be found, which may lead them to keep moving, even if they’re disoriented and have no idea where they are. Today we use mapping techniques and even mathematical formulas to determine the most likely area a person will be located, and focus the search on these areas first. We didn’t have any of that kind of data fifteen years ago—we just tried to search as wide an area as possible, with no precision.”

“Does it seem odd to you that no trace of her was ever discovered?” Vince asked. “Not a piece of clothing or a bone or anything?”

“One thing I know now that I didn’t know then was that children will sometimes hide from searchers or refuse to answer when people, even family members, call for them,” he said. “They’re afraid of getting into trouble. We might have walked right by your sister and not known she was there if she didn’t respond to our calls. Then too, there’s a lot of country up there, much of it rough and pretty inaccessible. Most people who die in the back country are found eventually, but not everyone. I’m sorry.”

“We always wondered if she was taken.”

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