The Children's Corner
Chapter 35
The city streets are more Bart Wygard's venue than Sullivan County woods, but the quietude is refreshing. He's been in the general area before, planning security for Catskill resorts. Still, he spent very little time in the forest, just enough to scope out potential hazards to his clients. Much of the woodland is parkland, patrolled by rangers. But Bart found a record of a swath of undeveloped property in the name of Devon Meadows. He would have had to build his cabin there somewhere, but the area covers several acres. Bart's one clue to the location is the mention of the adjacent stream. If he follows that, he should spot the structure.
A splashing sound catches Bart's attention before he sees the water. Apparently, the animals in the vicinity have no trouble finding it. He sees an assortment of tracks he can't readily identify and a pair he has no trouble recognizing. A human was here fairly recently – in sturdy hiking boots. The trail leads both toward and away from the stream. Bart guesses that following the latter will take him to the Meadows's cabin.
He approaches carefully. Smoke is rising from the chimney, indicating someone is in residence, possibly cooking a freshly caught lunch. The cabin, built of rough-cut logs, has no windows. But using the thinnest possible optic cable, Bart believes he can slip an almost invisible camera between them. Devon crafted the lumber to mesh more tightly than Bart could have imagined. Still, by employing a magnifier, he finds a minuscule opening he can use.
The camera only affords Bart a narrow view. He can see part of a figure hunkered down at a fireplace but continues to watch until the man rises, a whole skewered fish in hand. Bart struggles to make out the face, using his fingers on his screen to manipulate the image. Finally, Mitch Meadows's one distinguishing mark, a mole on his left cheek, comes into focus. Nodding to himself in satisfaction, Bart uses his satellite phone to note the cabin's GPS coordinates. With the information he needs firmly in hand, he begins the long hike back to his vehicle.
Taking a deep breath, Alexis adds her signature to Dana's on the lease for Madeleine Silverstein's former apartment. The building's owner agreed to a two-year term. Alexis would have liked more, but for New York City, two years is still a lot.
Only a relative in residence could have continued with a controlled rent, so the landlord could theoretically ask whatever he wanted. Fortunately, with Dana's and Alexis's new jobs, the expense won't be unmanageable. As usual, Rick offered to help, but both young marrieds are too stubborn about earning their own way. And Alexis suspects her father is proud of them for that.
However, neither Alexis nor Dana are above accepting the enthusiastic assistance of the Hudson University Restoration Class. The students' presence may be a nuisance for a while, but the results will be worth the intrusion. Before that help arrives, the couple will be on odor patrol. Alexis isn't looking forward to that, but it's a necessary part of the process. Dana already tracked down a janitorial supply house that will give them a good deal on the products they need. They'll just have to pick up the order.
"I just heard from Bart Wygard," Rick announces, strutting toward Kate's nest on the couch.
Kate pushes the pause button on a replay of Temptation Lane. "What did you hear?"
"He found Mitch Meadows, and he's forwarded the location to Giles Mallory."
"Taking Meadows into custody could get dicey. Who knows what kind of arsenal he's got?"
"Bart couldn't get a good enough view to tell, but from my research, Mitch may not have an arsenal at all. I did more reading about Devon Meadows. In his day, he was a semi-legend. And remember I said he was like MacGyver? I meant the original who hated guns, not the reboot version. Devon didn't believe in using firearms. He felt they gave a hunter-gatherer an unfair advantage. He wasn't even into bows and arrows. He occasionally aimed a sling at a bird, but mostly he used traps and a fishing pole to ensnare whatever animal protein he ate. The articles I found implied that he was passing his fair-fight philosophy onto his son."
"I hope Mitch is keeping to it, but many sons don't follow in their father's footsteps," Kate points out. "Mitch could still have a gun – or a rack of them."
"That's true," Rick concedes, "but you can make snares and even fishing gear out of stuff you find in the woods. And that stuff is renewable. Bullets, however, are a consumable commodity. You have to buy them somewhere – somewhere that generates records."
"And Mallory didn't find any purchases from before Mitchell disappeared," Kate realizes. "So even if Mitchell didn't embrace his father's beliefs, if he wanted to disappear, using guns would be impractical."
"And if a forager isn't practical, he won't forage for long," Rick adds.
"Still, if I were sending in a strike team, it would have full tactical gear and arms."
"Not that it would ever be my decision. But for a killer in the deep woods, I'd do the same. However, with the solution to that problem at hand, I need your help with another one. Alexis's graduation is fast approaching, and I still don't have any idea what to get her. She's totally kiboshed any hints I've dropped about a new car or furnishing the new apartment. And I don't think a spa weekend will do it. Between her job and her other projects, she probably wouldn't have time anyway."
"Then I think you've hit on it."
"Did I miss something? Hit on what?"
"Time, she needs time. Your gift should free her up from something she's not crazy about doing to work on things she is. So what chores does Alexi hate?"
Rick presses his palm against his chin. "She's never liked dusting or changing linens. I remember when Alicia went on vacation for a month, Alexis's room was a nightmare. And she likes making pies, but she's not nearly as wild as I am for everyday cookery. She'd just as soon order something delivered."
"Which with New York prices, can get expensive pretty fast. So you have two possibilities right there." Kate observes. "You can gift her a meal service or a cleaning service. Either one would make her life easier and happier."
"Or I could do both," Rick ponders.
Kate pulls Rick down beside her. "You could, but you shouldn't. Alexis is determined to be independent. Believe me. I know the feeling. Sometimes I would drive my father crazy, especially when I was working to buy a motorcycle."
Rick shudders. "When Alexis was 16, I didn't even want her to have a scooter. I was afraid that with one Vespa versus SUV encounter, she would become a teen angel."
"I remember. You've always wanted to take care of her. You still do. But one gift for graduation will be sweet and considerate. Two would be over the top."
Rick sighs. "Well, there's Christmas. And her birthday. And her anniversary. I can always give her more later."
"And I don't doubt for a moment that you will. But now you can give me some time, too. I want to finish catching up before the twins get hungry again."
"You could always watch and nurse at the same time," Rick suggests.
"Jake hates the screeching brakes before the theme music starts, and I can't always fast-forward through them."
Rick nuzzles Kate's neck. "Dealing with brakes on temptation. Someday he'll learn just how difficult that can be."