Page 42 of Canyon Killer
“Maybe the sabotage wasn’t aimed at Ian,” Carter said. “Maybe it was just meant to slow down the construction of the via ferrata.”
“Who called 911?” Danny asked. “I don’t think Ian could have done it in his condition.”
“The dispatcher said it sounded like someone young,” Jake said. “Maybe a teenager.”
“Maybe the kid cut through those supports as a prank, then when he saw Ian fall, he panicked and called for help, then ran,” Ryan said.
“It would take a torch and some time and muscle to cut through those supports,” Tony said. “That doesn’t sound like a mere prank.”
“We’ll try to track the caller down,” Jake said. He looked up toward the broken scaffolding. “It would take a lot to cut through iron or steel like that. You’d think Ian would have heard the commotion and come out to see what was going on.”
“Maybe they did it at night, when he was asleep,” Carter said. “And maybe they found some way to muffle the noise.”
“You don’t know anyone who would do this kind of thing, do you?” Jake asked. “Maybe you heard someone talking about sabotaging the construction?”
Her brother paled. “Me? No! I mean, I’ve heard plenty of people complaining about the canyon being closed and about Ian buying it. And someone already took a shot at him.”
“You’d think he would quit while he’s ahead,” Eldon said. “He’s got plenty of money—why does he need to build a tourist attraction to make more?”
Bethany turned on him. “You’re all wrong about him. Ian isn’t doing this because he’s greedy or selfish or any of the reasons you think. He’s doing it because he wants to share climbing with other people. And because his dad was going to buy the canyon and destroy it for mining.”
“Wait. Ian bought the canyon so hisfatherwouldn’t destroy it?” Carter asked. “So he, like, used his dad’s own money to get the better of him?”
“Ian has his own money,” she said. “He doesn’t need his dad’s.”
The silence stretched. People began to drift away, back to the search and rescue vehicles.
“Let me know if you do hear anything,” Jake said.
He turned away, and the rest of the crowd dispersed. Bethany intercepted her brother. “You’d tell me if you heard of someone trying to hurt Ian, wouldn’t you?” she asked.
“What? Of course!”
She wanted to believe him, but Carter was good at keeping things to himself when it suited him. “Tell Mom and Dad I went to the hospital in Junction to see Ian,” she said. “I don’t know when I’ll be back.”
“Do you want me to go with you?” he asked.
“No.” The thought of facing the possibility of a horribly injured Ian filled her with dread, but this was one time when her family couldn’t help her.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“We’ve taped your ribs, which should help you be a little more comfortable. Ice and anti-inflammatories and rest until they heal.”
Ian looked up from the emergency room bed at the young doctor standing beside him. “How long will that be?”
“At least a month. Maybe longer. If your symptoms don’t resolve within six weeks or they worsen, contact your doctor.”
A month was a long time to be limited in what he could do, but Ian knew from previous injuries that if he wanted to climb again, he had to obey doctor’s orders. “I’m a fast healer,” he said.
The doctor’s look said he wasn’t impressed. “You’ve got a lot of bruising that will be pretty sore for a few days, and you’ve got six stitches in your right thigh from a jagged tear,” he said. “You should see your primary care physician to have those removed in a week to ten days.” He patted Ian’s shoulder. “You’re a very lucky man. We wouldn’t be having this conversation if you hadn’t landed on that ledge.”
“I guess not.” He didn’t call it luck that he had fallen in the first place. Someone had tampered with those catwalk supports, he was sure.
“I’m going to discharge you. You’re free to get dressed, though you’ll need someone to drive you home.”
The doctor was on his way out of the room when two men in uniform entered. Sergeant Gage Walker and Deputy Aaron Ames approached Ian’s hospital bed.
“How are you feeling?” Gage asked.
