Page 101 of Devil and the Deep Blue Fish

“And right here?” Jackson traced up to what in the satellite photo on Toby’s phone looked like a UFO landing spot, because it was an almost perfect circle. “This is a mine cap, right?” The mine caps were a leftover from the gold rush days, in an effort to repair the damage done to the hills after the miners had come through. The mines—some of which were no more than ten or so feet deep—were filled in with rocks and soil so the land could be used again. The mines weren’t always covered responsibly, though. Most of them were solidly packed, but sometimes there were air pockets or shafts that could be dangerous to anybody who walked the land.

“Exactly,” Toby said. “It’s on the federal land. The cap itself should be pretty solid. But back here….” He pointed to a copse of trees that hideverythingfrom the satellite view. “This, according to my friend, is where the mine shaft opens. Dirt had fallen in on the top of the elevator car, but they had to send spelunkers in, their guide ropes attached to trees, in order to retrieve the bodies. Once they were there—” Toby rolled his eyes. “—apparently there was a much easier way down.”

Jackson frowned. “So on federal land. Why didn’t we hear this in the news?”

Toby shrugged. “For one thing, it’s in a whole other county—and not even one that’s adjacent to Sacramento County. For another—” He gave Jackson a bleak look. “—they haven’t identified the bodies yet. It’s one of those things. Nobody wants people to find out about their loved ones on the news, and you don’t want to scare people. My friend says the press release was confined to ‘lost hikers sadly recovered,’ in the hopes that families would reach out. But, like I said, a month.”

Jackson, suddenly claustrophobic, thrust the phone back into Toby’s hands and strode away, trying hard to think.

“It’s been discovered,” he muttered. “Wemay not have heard about it down here, but you can bet damned sure anybody living on that residential mansion road has.”

“Are you wondering if they’d use it again?” Cody asked, and Jackson blessed him, because hehadspent time on the streets, and he could think like a copanda criminal.

“Yeah,” Jackson muttered. “If Ellery and his mother can find Caleb’s name in that paperwork I gave them, andwecan find the body on that property, we’ve got them. We’ve gotallof them, dead to rights.” He felt fury roaring down his spine as he scowled up at Cody. “I want them topay,” he snarled, feeling it in the pit of his balls. “They… they begged, borrowed, stole, cajoled, and cadged kids away from their parents by selling thembad religion, andthis—” He stabbed his finger at Toby’s old, hapless phone. “—thisis what they do to them.”

Cody gestured for the phone, and Toby gave it to him.

“What are you looking for?” the older man asked, and Jackson saw Cody’s fierce grin.

“A similar spot,” he said, glancing at Jackson. “See, if I was the bad guy, I’d look for another place like the first—like, say, see? This one? Or this one here?”

“I hear you,” Jackson muttered. He pulled out his phone and texted Ellery.

Quick. Need Hoover’s address.

24000 Ward Lake Road,Ellery texted back, and Jackson grunted in satisfaction because that was pretty much what he’d expected.

Thought so,he replied.How much property?Out loud, he said, “Okay, so the mine cap where they discovered bodies is the closest one to where our suspect lives. Which is right here.” He pointed to the address, and even through the grainy depiction of the satellite photo, he gave a low whistle. “Nice digs.”

His own phone buzzed, and he glanced at it.Only ten, which isn’t much considering all the land in the area.

Much of it is federal owned,Jackson sent back, the thought making him bounce on his toes.

“What’s got you so happy?” Cody asked.

“Hoover only has ten acres,” Jackson said. “So all of this? This area with the three different mines where he could have been disposing of bodies?”

“Is free for us to search,” Cody said, catching on.

Jackson grunted, still staring at the phone. It was a lot of area—and they didn’t have a lot of time. “My God, I wishIknew someone with a cadaver dog.”

“Oh,” Toby said, as though surprised to hear this. “I know somebody who could meet you there. He’s training a couple of them right now. I bet he’d be happy to help.”

Jackson cleared his throat. “Toby, we’re not exactly legit right here. I was hoping to find the bodies, call the authorities, and then confront the bad guys.”

Toby shrugged. “You got a lot of territory to stake out—and he could help you do it before it gets dark. When were you planning to leave for Sonora?”

Later, Jackson would remember how much faith Toby had in him, and it would give him strength. “Twelve thirty,” he said, because Ellery had texted him earlier. “Why?”

“Because it still gets dark fairly early,” Toby said frankly. “By the time you get there, it’ll be around three, and you’ll have less than three hours to search. I’m assuming you’re on a time crunch?”

“Yeah,” Jackson said, thinking hard. “Actually, we’re going to leavenow. I’m changing the plan. See this road?” he still had Toby’s phone, and he indicated a small winding snake of a road.

“Yes?” Toby said.

“It bottoms out right where our first searching position starts. Send me that map, and get me in touch with your dog friend. Cody and I are taking off right now!”

As he and Cody tore out of the morgue, Cody said, “Are we even going to tell Ellery?”

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