Trackers (Book 1) Read online

  “Okay, I love you, Marcus. Be safe.”

  “I love you.” Colton paused to look at the rainclouds. Normally he didn’t talk to his wife about work, but this felt different. “Kelly, you lock the doors, okay? And sleep with your Glock tonight.”

  “It’s that bad?”

  “I hope not, but better safe than sorry.”

  Colton tucked his aviator glasses in his pocket and considered promising that he would bring the girl home, but after two tours in Afghanistan and ten years of service as police chief, he knew things didn’t always end up okay.

  He put the cell phone back in his pocket. What he hadn’t told his wife was that he had called Sam “Raven” Spears out of desperation. Raven had developed some bad habits and made some very poor choices since coming home from the Marines, but the man was the best hunter and guide in the area. It was his tracking skills that Colton needed. Raven was Colton’s last hope to find Melissa in these woods.

  On the horizon, the fiery glow of the sunset retreated, and the mountains swallowed the final rays of light. Wind gusted through the blanket of pine trees, swaying their branches. The cacophony of whispering ponderosas, spruce, and Douglas firs rose into a noise that sounded like the rapids of the Fall River. A passenger plane flew around the no-fly zone of Rocky Mountain National Park, heading southwest toward Denver. He didn’t see many of those out here. The lights blinked as it crossed over the mountains.

  The growl of an engine shattered the peace. Headlights cut across the road below. A mid-seventies model Jeep Cherokee raced up the path, a trail of dust and exhaust kicking up into the air.

  Colton looked at his watch and snorted. It was almost six o’clock. He grabbed his Colt AR-15 with an ACOG scope and, leaning against his truck, waited for Raven to park.

  A raindrop pelted Colton on the shoulder. The storm was rolling in from the west. He cursed their luck and opened the truck door to retrieve his poncho. It was going to be a long, cold, wet night.

  Raven pulled into the lot. The Jeep was over forty years old, but even in the faint light he could see there wasn’t a spot of rust in the gunmetal paint. He’d outfitted the truck with oversized off-road tires and a front grill guard with a winch.

  “Chief,” Raven said, opening his door and stepping onto the asphalt. He walked to the passenger door and let out his dog, Creek. The Akita jumped out and looked up at Colton with dark amber eyes surrounded by white fur. Then he ran to the side of the road and lifted up a leg.

  “Nice Jeep,” Colton said, making an effort to sound friendly.

  Raven grinned and patted the hood. “A Cherokee for a Cherokee.”

  “Thought you were Sioux.”

  “Half and half,” Raven said with a shrug.

  Colton grunted. That was enough small talk. “Wasted a good hour of sunlight,” he said. “Now we’re going to be out here in the rain.”

  “An hour wouldn’t have changed that,” Raven said. He swung a pack around his shoulders.

  “You do realize why I called you out here, right?”

  Raven rummaged in the back of the Jeep for more gear. “The missing girl,” he said without turning around.

  “Her name is Melissa,” Colton said. “The faster we get moving, the faster we find her.”

  Raven tightened his backpack over his shoulders and then put his long hair into a ponytail. He flashed the dimpled grin that had half the girls in town swooning. Unlike Colton, Raven had managed to serve without picking up any major scars on his face, and he looked nearly a decade younger than his thirty-three years.

  “I have some questions,” Raven said. “First off, isn’t this outside your jurisdiction? Where is that guy that helped us with the Kirkland case? Ranger Fry?”

  “Ranger Field,” Colton replied. “He’s checking leads farther up Trail Ridge Road.”

  “All right. So what else can you tell me, Chief?” Raven lit a cigarette, took a drag, and exhaled through his nostrils. “I had to cancel a date with a sweet little tourist to be here.”

  “Melissa was last seen getting off the school bus at her stop on Prospect Avenue, but a local named Bill Catcher thinks he spotted her riding in a blue F-150 pickup truck with a South Dakota license plate up Curry Road near Prospect Mountain. He described the driver as a middle-aged man with tan skin and a shaved head. Bill’s a paranoid guy, but he has a good memory.”

  “Son of a bitch,” Raven said. “That sounds like the same truck my sister Sandra saw speed away from her house a few weeks back. My niece, Allie, said some guy was trying to talk to her from the truck.”

  Colton clenched his jaw. “What? Why didn’t Sandra report it?”

  “I don’t know,” he said defensively. “Guess we don’t trust cops.”

  Colton ignored the dig and pressed on with his questions. “What did this guy say to Allie?”

  “She was too shaken to even tell Sandra what the dude looked like. Why, do you think it could be the same person?”

  “I’d be willing to bet on it.”

  Raven took another long drag to consider the situation.

  “Some campers came out early two nights ago due to the rain. They saw a blue F-150 with a South Dakota license plate parked here at midnight. When my officers interviewed them, they said they remembered seeing a man and a girl about Melissa’s age heading up the trail. It could be nothin’ or it could be somethin’.”

  “Well, shit, let’s get going, then.” Raven whistled at Creek, and the dog trotted over.

  “When you finish that coffin nail, we’ll get moving,” Colton said. Raven wasn’t the only tracker out here tonight. Colton knew a thing or two about hunting people, and smoking was a rookie mistake that would tell anyone out there they were coming.

  “I was going to put it out. Stop worrying, Chief.” Raven flicked the cigarette on the ground and kicked dirt over it. “Now that I think about it, I got a few more questions. What else do you know about our chase? You think he’s armed?”

  “I’d bet on him being armed and dangerous.”

  “So you don’t mind if I bring my crossbow and hatchets?”

  Colton shook his head and cradled his AR-15 across his chest. Raven hurried back to his gear. He picked up a leather belt in the shape of an X that held two sheathed hatchets. He slung it over his back and buckled the clasp across his chest. Then he retrieved his crossbow with mounted scope.

  “That truck still around?” Raven clicked on his flashlight and angled it at the parking lot.

  “No, I already looked.”

  Raven clicked the light off and placed it in a pocket. “You got a piece of Melissa’s clothing?”

  Colton threw on his poncho and then reached into his backpack. Digging through the contents, he found the plastic evidence bag containing the pink mitten Rex Stone had given him.

  Raven took it and crouched down in front of Creek, letting the Akita get the scent, while Colton explained the plan. They would head up Mount Ypsilon trail to Lawn Lake, where the campers had reported seeing their chase.

  “You think he might have backtracked along the falls?” Raven asked. “Maybe we should split up, cover more ground.”

  Colton clamped down on the inside of his cheek. If Raven was going to second-guess every decision, they’d never make it out of the parking lot.

  “We’re going to Lawn Lake, Raven.”

  “All right then, Chief,” Raven said with a cocky grin. “Let’s get to work.”

  Major Nathan “Gambler” Sardetti felt a smile coming on as the gates to Buckley Air Force Base opened. An MP threw up a salute as Nathan drove out onto the open road.

  “Finally,” he said. He cracked open a Red Bull and took a long swig as he sped away. After months of training and working six days a week, he was completely exhausted. He was going to need an entire pack of energy drinks to keep him awake during the drive to Empire, Colorado. His nephew, Ty, was at the Easterseals camp there, and Nathan had planned a surprise trip to visit the boy.

  As soon as Nathan
pulled onto the highway, he clicked the phone symbol on his steering wheel.

  “Call Charlize Montgomery,” he said.

  The ringtone chimed from the speakers. Nathan downed half the can of Red Bull as he waited for his sister to pick up. In a few hours he was going to be in the mountains, breathing in the cedar air while pushing Ty’s wheelchair down the path around the crystal clear lake. He couldn’t think of a better way to enjoy his few precious days off.

  A firm yet feminine voice emerged from the speakers. “Good evening, Major.”

  Nathan smiled. “Good evening, Senator. How’s D.C.?”

  “Gridlocked, per usual. How’s my favorite little brother?”

  “I’m your only little brother,” Nathan said, chuckling at their familiar banter. “And I’m looking forward to spending some time with Ty. Thought I would call and ask if you had any special requests.”

  Her voice grew serious. “Just one: Don’t tire him out too much. He slept an entire day after last time you visited him.”

  Nathan nodded as if she was here to see him. “I promise. And for the record, last time I just took him to the beach. He had his life jacket on the whole time. You know I would never let anything happen to him.”

  There was a pause in the conversation, and Nathan knew they were both thinking the same thing. That when it had really counted, neither of them had been able to protect Ty. He’d been paralyzed from the waist down in the car wreck that had killed his father, Richard. Charlize had never forgiven herself for not being able to save them, no matter how many times Nathan tried to convince his sister it wasn’t her fault.

  “Hey, I promise not to get him over-excited this time,” Nathan said. “No candy, no soda, and no wild off-road wheelchair races. Cross my heart.”

  Charlize laughed. “He’s going to be so surprised when he sees you.”

  It had been a long time since Nathan had heard his sister laugh. His smile widened as he eyed the box on the passenger seat.

  “I’ve got a little something for him.”

  “Oh?” Charlize said. “I sure hope it’s not fireworks again.”

  “You worry too much, Senator.”

  There was another pause, longer than the first.

  “That’s all I’ve been doing lately,” she said. All trace of jocularity had vanished from her voice. “Things aren’t good here, Nathan. We’ve got major problems domestically, but honestly my biggest fear is with North Korea. President Drake has taken a hardnosed approach against Pyongyang. There is a lot of tension at the demilitarized zone, especially after news of a top secret raid leaked.”

  “Raid? I haven’t heard anything.”

  “That’s why they call it ‘top secret,’ Nathan,” she said quietly.

  He knew better than to ask questions. “I have a few buddies stationed at the border. I heard they’re being told to prepare for a potential attack.”

  A sigh came from the other end of the line. “If Pyongyang decides to invade the south, the twenty-eight thousand troops we have stationed there would be nothing more than a speed bump to the million-strong North Korean army.”

  Nathan shook his head. “Elections are just a few years away. Maybe what we need right now is President Charlize Montgomery.”

  “No way. President Drake will definitely run for a second term, and when mine is up, I’m coming back to Denver. It’s time for me to be a full-time mother again. Besides, I’ll be closer to you and can live vicariously through your missions. I sure do miss being up there.”

  “I wish you’d reconsider running again for your Senate seat. Ty needs you—but so does our country.”

  “Thanks. It means a lot, but I also miss…” Her words trailed off, but Nathan knew what she was about to say.

  “I know. Richard was a great guy. But you’re the best mom who also happens to be a fighter pilot and the most superb Senator that I’ve ever met.”

  “I’m probably the only one of those you’ve ever met. Since we’re throwing out compliments, did you know you’re a great uncle, and that you’re shaping up to be a damn good pilot yourself? Might even break some of my records.”

  “You set the bar pretty high.”

  The sound of rustling came from the other line. “Hold on a second,” she said.

  Nathan took another slug of Red Bull as he waited. Before he could swallow, Charlize came back online.

  “I’m sorry Nathan, but I have to cut this short. My chief of staff is buzzing in. I’ll touch base with you tomorrow, okay?”

  “Roger that. Love you, Sis.”

  “Love you, too, and thanks again for doing this. Means a lot to me and Ty.”

  “You bet. Stay safe and talk to you soon.” He hung up and downed the rest of the can. It was good to chat with his sister, something that seemed to happen less and less now since she had been elected to Congress and he had been promoted. At thirty-one he was young for a major, but he had earned it.

  He turned on the radio to the local NPR station just in time for the news.

  “Good evening,” came a deep, smooth voice of a rehearsed orator. “Tonight we bring you a fresh report from the Korean peninsula. Pyongyang has released a statement vowing that if more US warships approach they will consider it an act of war.”

  “Jesus,” Nathan said. Charlize was right; things were crazy over in Korea. He went to switch the station when his Bluetooth buzzed. His heart hammered when he saw it was Colonel Howard. Clicking the call button, he prepared for bad news and said, “This is Major Sardetti.”

  “Major, I hope you haven’t gone far because I need you to return to base.”

  Nathan closed his eyes for a single second and cursed in his mind. “No, sir. I’m just a few miles out.”

  “Good. Get your ass back here. We need you and Mutt in the sky. The governor has ordered a few fighters for a CAP.” Howard paused, then added, “It’s just a precautionary CAP, I’m sure, but I’d like you up there.”

  “Understood, sir. I’m on my way back.” He punched the off button on his steering wheel again and cursed. Why couldn’t he just get one weekend? The 120th was always ready, and Nathan was proud to be part of the squadron. He just hoped Colonel Howard was right and this was nothing more than a precautionary combat air patrol.

  Nathan checked his rearview mirror and waited for a truck to pass him on the left. Then he turned on his blinker and made a sharp U-turn through the median. The Jeep jerked up and down over the rocky ground, and the box containing the model F-16 he’d bought for Ty crashed onto the passenger floor with a rattle of broken pieces.

  “Damn,” Nathan whispered. His weekend was not getting off to a good start—and the sight of the destroyed plane didn’t exactly inspire confidence.

  -2-

  Raven Spears liked Chief Colton about as much as he liked his old Gunnery Sergeant Rodney Black. Both men had a strong prejudice against anyone who challenged the rules. Funny enough, neither of them seemed to like Raven much, either.

  Guess that’s why your best friend is a dog, he thought. Creek was always loyal and never talked shit. He was bolting up the trail ahead, navigating the rocky terrain with grace. He stopped only to check for a scent. Raven didn’t bother whistling after him. He enjoyed giving the dog his freedom, especially since Colton was keeping him on such a tight leash.

  Raven drew in a long breath and reminded himself that although things weren’t great, he was lucky to be alive at all. It seemed like a lifetime ago that he had escaped the Rez by joining the Marines, and after ten years of fighting wars in foreign lands, he’d come to quiet Estes Park to rebuild his life and forget the things he had seen and done abroad. Using his meager savings and a loan from a full-blooded Sioux man that went by Mr. Redford, Raven had adopted Creek and purchased property to start a hunting and fishing business. It was amazing how much tourists would pay to hunt with an authentic Native American guide.

  The man trekking through the forest in front of Raven had helped bring his dream of a normal life to a crashing
halt by arresting Raven for poaching. His business was shut down, and the court costs and fines had eaten up his remaining savings. Now Raven was behind on his payments to Mr. Redford. He was the type of loan shark that charged blood instead of interest, and he was starting to get impatient. That’s when the drinking got worse, and when the nightmares of the things he had tried to forget started coming back every night.

  The musical rush of water pulled him back to the trail. To the west was the Roaring River, which originated at Crystal Lake. From there it flowed through Lawn Lake and down the valley to where it met Fall River. This trail was one of Raven’s favorite spots in the park.

  Fifteen minutes into the trek, he spotted the brown, rocky embankments framing the river. A fence of aspen trees grew out of the steep inclines. He stopped at the edge of a dirt path, cautiously making his way to the side to angle his flashlight over the edge. Fifty feet below, the clear water rushed around and over boulders, polishing them smooth.

  Thirty-four years ago, the dam at Lawn Lake had broken and emptied thirty million cubic feet of water into the valley and Estes Park. It had resulted in three deaths. Since then, the walls had continued to erode, pulling more of the montane forest into the valley.

  Raven moved away from the ledge and continued up the trail, stepping over fallen trees and around rocks covered in moss and orange growths that reminded him of whale barnacles. The loose dirt and rocks were already slippery from the rain, and the canopy of ponderosa, spruce, and Douglas firs provided little protection. He directed his light back to the ridgeline above the Roaring River, keeping it in sight.

  Colton trekked ahead with his AR-15 lowered toward the ground. Tonight he was acting like Raven’s buddy, but they weren’t friends and that wasn’t going to change. He was here to collect a paycheck and hopefully find the kidnapped girl. If it was the same man that had scared his niece, then all the better. Raven had an arrow with the bastard’s name on it.

  He tightened his grip on his custom TenPoint Venom crossbow. Holding the weapon was reassuring. Not as reassuring as his old automatic M4, but the Marines didn’t let him bring that gun home. He preferred his crossbow to a semi-automatic rifle on a hunt; not because it was more powerful, but because it was quiet.