Jo went to get a cup of coffee while she waited for the computer to finish its search. Adam almost ran into her as he was coming out of the computer lab. "Sorry!" Adam said.
"Where are you going in such a hurry?" Jo asked.
"Okay. I'm not really in a hurry. I just…"
"Okay, Adam, just tell me what you found."
"The tire treads that Lindsay sent me are from a Chevy Silverado Thirty-five hundred, H.D. That's one big truck and has a double axel in the back."
"Thanks, Adam." Jo took the printout and went back to her office. Her computer was beeping. She stared at the screen and then grabbed the phone.
Danny and Lindsay arrived back at the police station. Danny was hurting by this time but the chief was waiting for them. "I have some information," Chief Blackhawk said. He showed them the faxes he had gotten from Jo.
"That's him," Danny said as he saw Howard Bailey's picture and profile.
"The tire treads belong to a Chevy Silverado thirty-five hundred, H.D.," Chief Blackhawk said.
"A big truck," Lindsay said "Eye catchers."
"Yeah but we don't have a color."
"What about this guy?" Danny asked.
"I've been thinking about that. I can't recall seeing him."
"Maybe they're not even in Montana," Lindsay said. "Danny doesn't know how long it took them to get him over there."
"They put me to sleep," Danny replied.
"This is good information," Chief Blackhawk said. "But it doesn't help us find him. There's no address on this guy."
"Maybe he lives over there in that wilderness," Danny suggested. "But it's strange to me that he can do all that without anyone knowing."
"He must have someone looking out for him."
"A big brother."
"And if he hasn't committed any murders, no one's looking for him. He's probably under the radar because he's not committing any noticeable crimes."
"He had to have those other men out there," Danny said.
"I agree. There have been no reports of murders."
"He just keeps them there and makes them fight."
Chief Blackhawk nodded. "And he doesn't care who he's hurting," he said. "You know one of those men has five children? What does their mother tell them? They're all twelve and under."
Danny frowned. "That's why Mac's there now."
"What did you hear when you were there?"
"Nothing…except motors."
"What kind of motors?"
"Some were heavy equipment, and some were generators. I think that big arena runs on generators."
"So there's no power drain." Blackhawk considered that. "Hunters in that area may know of this place."
"A lot of people know because there were at least two hundred people in there. I don't know where they parked but there were several buildings around there."
"They believe they benefit more by keeping it a secret than they would from reporting it."
"Do you have a plan?" Lindsay asked.
Chief Blackhawk smiled. "It's almost Christmas," he said. "Who can turn a blind eye to the pleas of children this time of year?"
Doctor Jeremiah Livingston was examining Howard Bailey again. "So am I gonna live?" Bailey asked.
"I'd say you are," Dr. Livingston replied. "But that knee is going to take time to heal. Without an x-ray, I can't tell how bad it is."
"I've had worse pain. How is Taylor?"
"Your opponent? He'll recover too."
"Good. He and I are not finished."
"I don't see why you want to fight each other."
"I don't care what you see or don't see. You just fix us."
"Yes. Like always."
Bailey stared at him. He thought he might have to get a new physician. He thought this one might have been there too long. He had never killed anybody. He realized that if he wanted to keep his gambling secret, it was better not to have bodies popping up. No one got hurt severely anyway…until last night. His nose was totally messed up and his knee was pretty bad too. He would still get over there to visit Mac Taylor.
Mac was sleeping when his lunch was brought in. He thought he was getting sorer by the minute and his jaw was reluctant to move. He looked at the tray and wondered why they fed him three meals a day. He knew Bailey was smart though. He would not want to get the attention of the police, but kidnapping had their attention. However this place was well-hidden. Mac wished he could get out of here and see if the other men were here.
As Dr. Livingston was leaving the arena, he turned the radio on. There was a Christmas song on but it was ending. Then the DJ told the weather forecast. The temperature would not get above zero today but at least the wind was a little calmer. After the weather, a news report came on. They confirmed everything Mac Taylor had told him. He knew now that he had been part of a conspiracy. Would he lose his medical license? Would they put him in prison? He had told that detective that he would help him. Apparently, that guy had given himself up to save someone else. Would the detective help him? He had not been allowed to talk to any of the people before…but Bailey had always been with him. This time he was not able to go with him and he might have thought they could not talk because Mac was unconscious. Did he jeopardize his career to save someone he did not even know? Or did he just walk away and act like nothing happened? If he did, that detective might come after him…but if he stayed he could lose everything. He had a big decision to make. A lifetime of embarrassment or guilt? He should have known that situation was not on the level, and that was not that detective's fault.
Chief Blackhawk was at the home of one of the men who had been kidnapped…the one with five children. "Mrs. Flanders, I think if you would let your kids go on camera about their dad, it might reach someone who knows where this guy is," he said.
"I don't know if I want to put the children through that," Mrs. Flanders said.
"Can you ask them if they want to?" Lindsay asked.
Mrs. Flanders looked at Lindsay. "Do you have children?"
"I have one, and another one on the way."
"You would let them do it?"
"To save my husband I would. Mac has risked his life to save Danny, and I want to help him."
"Do you really think it will work?"
"I think it's worth a try."
Mrs. Flanders looked at Chief Blackhawk. "Okay, I'll ask them," she said.
"Thanks," Chief Blackhawk replied.
"What if it doesn't work?"
"We'll hope for something else."
Danny was starting to get tired. His rib was aching and he had to go home to rest. He did not think he could sleep but he did.
Chief Blackhawk and the local news team recorded statements from the children of Mrs. Flanders. He thought if that could not make someone talk, it was hopeless. He wanted to find those people and stop this nonsense once and for all.
Mac had finally gotten up and walked around the room trying to get his muscles loosened up. He wondered what was going to happen. He knew he could not fight anyone else…and he was sure Bailey was not going to be fighting again for a while either. He thought maybe he would just kill him. He was also sure that Bailey was not happy about losing that fight…if he called that winning. He had been the last one standing but he was not standing long. He had not been able to stand up any longer. He frowned as he thought of his situation. He was trapped here and did not know a way to get out. They were always heavily armed when they came to the cabin to get him out. He definitely did not want to get injured way out here in the middle of nowhere.
Chief Blackhawk watched his broadcast on the 6:00 news. He sighed as he thought of this sad situation. He had almost cried himself at the plea of those kids. He thought surely someone would come forward and let them know where this guy was…and he hoped they would not be too late.
A man walked into the police station looking very nervous. The officer at the front desk looked at him. "Can I help you?" he asked.
"I need to see Chief Blackhawk," the man said.
"I'll tell him. Who can I say is here?"
"I'm Doctor Jeremiah Livingston."
Dr. Livingston stood there and waited while the officer told the chief he was there. He felt incredibly nervous about this situation. He did not want to lose everything over this but he could not let Mac Taylor stay out there when he might be able to help him. He would tell this chief what he knew and help him find that place. He knew quite a lot and maybe they would forget that he had doctored people out there.
