Page 104 of All You Want
“You know this place?” I observe the smudges of soot on Dillon’s clothes, wondering where he’s been.
“The Hanging Glory Mine belongs to my family,” he says. “We have a claim to it and to all the land underneath the Bee Sting.”
“Let’s argue this later,” I say. “Donnelly, call for paramedics. We need to send down a medic with backboards and basket stretchers. Treat this as possible spinal injury and broken bones.”
“Anyone down there?” Chad yells. “Tami, Rosalie, Suzette. Answer us.”
“It’s Rosalie,” a woman answers. “Suzette is with me. We were pushed.”
“What about Tami? Is she with you?” I try not to let my voice betray my franticness.
“Only me and Suzette.”
“Is Suzette okay?” I ask.
“No, she’s not talking,” Rosalie says. “I broke my arm, and my ribs hurt. Someone pushed us and threw rocks on us.”
“Rosalie, it’s me, Larissa,” Larissa shouts down the hole. “I was kidnapped by a creeper guy. He might have been the one to push you. Did he say anything?”
“Yes, he acted like this was one of the Trickvenger Hunt stations, and then when we got closer, he pushed us down into the hole.”
I collar Dillon and bring him to Larissa. “Say something. Did you have anything to do with this?”
“No, I swear. I was at the Sixty Miners, and then Al and I came over because we were late,” Dillon says.
“He’s not the one,” Larissa confirms.
“I think I see them,” Shane says, sliding partially down the rockpile. “The paramedics are on the way. I called Dr. Tyler to bring his medicine bag.”
“Help’s on the way,” I tell Rosalie. “Try and keep Suzette warm.”
“She’s moaning, so I think she’s coming to,” Rosalie says. “She hit her head. Where’s Tami?”
“We can’t find her,” Larissa says. “The kidnapper was going to exchange me for Tami, but when you two discovered the tunnel, he changed his plans. He told me to tell everyone Bigfoot hurt me. He was supposed to give me a costume and stage a rescue, but Officer Donnelly got to me first.”
“He must have been the one to send the text messages to me,” Shane says.
“Which means he has to know your personal cell phone.” I pick up the thought. “Did you give your number to the deputies?”
“Yes, are you saying it’s one of us?” Shane’s voice lowers.
“I’ll gather all the guys and ask them to talk to Larissa,” Chad says. “Some of them are still searching.”
“Actually, let Larissa and I join them one by one.” I gesture to Larissa to follow me. “When you recognize the voice, tug my sleeve.”
“Okay, I can do that.” She walks briskly at my side as we head toward one of the searchers.
We eliminate each man, and we don’t find a sign of Tami. I suspected Randy, especially since Molly is missing and acting suspicious, but at the end, the only two who aren’t cleared are Al and Justin who did not volunteer for the search.
My heart is heavy as I drag myself back to the hotel to give the bad news to Tami’s parents. I’m not giving up, but at this point, I need a bloodhound, and I need one fast. Snow is starting to fall and will cover the scent trail.
My brother, Scott, has a bloodhound, but he’s been living on the road in a camper. He’s extremely secretive ever since his cabin burned down, and he acts like a fugitive, even though he hasn’t violated any laws.
Becca thinks he has post-traumatic stress disorder from an encounter with our mother, Minx, and he either saw something he shouldn’t have seen, like Minx committing a crime, or he’s turned into a recluse because he’s been driven crazy from being shot while chasing a mysterious mountain maiden, one of the mythological nymphs or fairies that lure men deep into the throes of insanity.
I call him anyway, because I need his bloodhound, Nancy.
“Todd? What is it?” His voice is rough and creaky, like he hasn’t spoken to anyone in weeks.
