Chapter 30

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"We're going to have to land here." The pilot's voice crackled on the earphones. "We can't get any closer with those trees. It's about a half a mile from the campsite."

"That's fine, just get us down there." Jack replied as he thumbed down towards the earth below.

The helicopter landed in an open area and Jack, Victor, and Sam, hunching over to protect their heads, got out. The helicopters propellers were slowing down but they were still highly dangerous and loud. Once they were in the clear Sam spotted the local police waiting for them.

"Agent Malone?" A man with a big round beer gut and bushy mustache walked towards them. He stopped just in front of them and nodded as he said, "I'm Sheriff Coffman."

"I'm Malone. This is Deputy Director Victor Fitzgerald and Special Agent Samantha Spade." They all exchanged quick introductory nods when Jack asked, "Anything yet?"

"We've done a preliminary search and checked every storage shed in the vicinity. We didn't find anyone and there's no sign of any thing out of the ordinary. I have my men scouring the entire radius but so far nothing." The sheriff glanced around at the three deflated agents and said, "You sure this is the place?"

"It's the best lead we have. Keep looking, he has to be around here somewhere." Jack replied brusquely before turning towards Victor and Sam. Realizing that he was being dismissed, the sheriff walked away.

"I'm going to go look around near the water." Victor said with his eyes looking towards the trees. Sam watched as he walked determinedly to the wooded area.

"I'll go with him." Sam said.

Jack gave her a soft look and replied, "Okay."

Sam got in step behind Victor. He looked back at her to acknowledge her presence before turning back around to continue trudging through the muddy ground amongst the tall trees. Sam breathed in the woodsy fragrance of dew on wet leaves and pine. She looked around but her gut told her Martin wasn't here but she wasn't sure where they could look so until then she would just walk.

With his head still looking forward Victor said, "I've never really liked the forest."

"Me either." Sam replied to the back of Victor's head. "I prefer having room service, hot water and indoor plumbing."

"Every summer Martin would beg me to take him camping." Victor stopped as they reached the river and scanned the water's edge. He turned to Sam and added, "Roger and Bonnie would take him to their cabin but he would still want me to go. I would tell him that I would try and meet them up there whenever I had some free time but I never did. I never even thought about it much less try."

Sam didn't know who she felt sorrier for: Martin as a little boy who wanted to spend time with his dad or the Victor of today who now realizes all the things he missed. Not saying anything she just glanced out at on the water when her cell phone speakerphone beeped and Jack's voice came on the line. "Sam, get back over here with Victor right away."

"What is it Jack?" Sam asked with Victor listening carefully.

"Just get over here. We're going to have to leave."

Victor was already headed back before Sam had a chance reply, "We're on our way."

Sam caught up with Victor and as they entered the clearing she spotted Jack talking with the sheriff and a park ranger.

"What's going on Jack?" Victor asked, slightly out of breath after rushing over mud and roots of trees.

"This is Joaquin Sanchez. He's the local park ranger." Jack gestured to a short stocky Hispanic man with dark caramel skin. "He's about to finish telling us what he knows."

Sam and Victor looked at Joaquin anxiously.

"Like I was telling the Agent Malone, I talked to Harry a few weeks ago."

Joaquin was loading some equipment in his truck when Harry drove up in an older model dark blue Ford Taurus. Joaquin recognized his friend and tossed his bag into the cab of the truck before walking over to meet Harry.

"Hey man, how's it going?" Joaquin greeted. "What brings you up this way?"

Harry extended his hand to shake. "I'm good. How are things up here?"

"Oh, you know, there's always something. We're closing this site for renovations, etc."

"Closing the campground?" Harry narrowed his eyes as he studied the area and saw a box like structure that looked like small dumpster bin but with locks. He pointed to it and asked, "What's that?"

"Those are the new storage sheds for the supplies." Joaquin walked over to the bin and popped open the lid. "They cost a bundle but they hold more and are easier to move from site to site."

Harry looked twitchy as he asked, "What did you do with the old ones?"

Joaquin closed the lid and said, "Oh, we gave those to Allegany State Park. They are doing some maintenance at the older campsites on the north end."

"And you gave them the old sheds?"

"Yeah." Joaquin walked back to the truck and said, "Hey, you want to head over to Frankie's for a beer?"

Harry looked like he was lost in thought as he stared at the storage container. He seemed to finally register what Joaquin was saying and he turned to him and replied, "Huh? Um, no I gotta get back." He gave him a smile and added, "Maybe some other time."

"And then he left." Joaquin finished.

"This campground you mentioned, is it also closed for renovations?" Sam asked, her heart pounding in her chest.

Joaquin nodded his head and replied, "Yeah."

Jack pulled out his notepad and pen and looking directly at the park ranger said, "I want you to give me specific directions on which site it is you mentioned to Harry."

Victor glanced at his watch and said, "Harry could already be there by now."

Directions in hand, Jack looked at Sam and Victor before they all hurried to the helicopter.