Chapter 5
Dean kicked a rock in frustration before remembering his training he took a step back and began re-evaluating the situation.
"Err Vince something here isn't right, Lara's bandaged the kids head, got IV access and splinted the arm but by her accounts she had just arrived and her pack is sealed" Dean radioed as Heidi saw to Nathan. His instinct was telling him something wasn't right.
"Dean I found this in Nathan's pocket" Heidi said she opening the note, in it was written pikes peak in Lara's neat handwriting
"We found a note from Lara it says Pikes Peak on it"
"Any idea what it means?" Vince asked
"No, but why would she have left it if she was about to fall off a cliff"
"So what are you saying Dean?" Michelle asked,
"I don't know Michelle, but it looking like Lara lied to us on the radio or was forced to lie to us" Dean said
"Ok bring the boy out" Michelle responded wondering what Lara was going to tell her that morning, it had seemed important. Vince noticed her look
"What's up?" he asked
"I'm sure it's nothing, but, this morning Lara seemed jumpy she was going to tell me something, it seemed important, I just wish that call hadn't come in"
"Tell you what?" Vince puzzled
"I don't know, but the way she was acing it's like she was being followed" Michelle said,
"Maybe she was, it won't take long to review our security footage from this morning" Vince offered anything to take his mind off the rescue.
They went into the office and got up the security footage,
"It was about 7.55am" Michelle offered. They watched the footage.
"There" Vince pointed watching as a man crept into the bushes just as Lara entered the station. She paused and looked out but by then he was undercover. Then as the 2 rescue vehicles pulled out he ran from the bushes minutes afterwards a car raced after them.
"She was being stalked," Michelle said
"But by who and why?"
"I don't know but I'll ring the police" Michelle said, reaching for the phone.
Meanwhile Jordan and Chase had raced to the point once there they scouted the area.
"There" pointed, a dark blue jacket was snagged on some rocks. Chase ran in grabbing the jacket finding it ripped and bloody.
"Rescue base this is rescue 3" Jordan's voice came over the radio
"Rescue base here go ahead rescue 3," Vince said
"We found Lara's rescue jacket it's pretty ripped and has blood all over it" his voice was saddened
"Did you find anything else?" Vince asked
"No were scouting the area now"
"Ok rescue base out" Vince said. It wasn't good it didn't make sense. He went out of the office to the maps. If he was going to abduct someone he would need a fast getaway. He spotted the car park on the map it would be the perfect place. He just needed to get a unit there to check it out, Chase and Jordan were miles away and Heidi and Dean had that kid but maybe one of them could run over there.
"Rescue base to rescue 1 portable how's the kid?" Vince asked
"Stable, Dean is carrying him out now" Heidi responded.
"Ok Heidi I need you to go ahead to the car park, you're looking for a silver Mercedes." Vince told her,
"Ok on my way Vince" Heidi responded running to the path, she got about 10ft down it when something caught her eye
"Vince I found Lara's personal alarm and a packets from bandages" she noted wondering what was going on. Why had Lara patched the kid up here to move him nearer a cliff?
"Ok Heidi just keep going" Vince encouraged this all fitting more with a kidnapping. He sat at the computer and typed in Pikes Peak. He noted recent rescue from it. Even just reading the title made him remember, the walker that had fallen over a cliff. Mark Summers. A simple rescue just an abseil down and pick him up. Lara, Dean and Jordan had attended. So what did that have to do with anything. Michelle came out the office.
"Police tracked the number plate to a Mark Summers they've put an ATB for him"
"That note Pikes Peak, Lara rescued a Mark Summers there" Vince said Michelle reached for the phone to call the police as Vince reached for the radio.
"All units be on the lookout for a Mark Summers, we think he may have abducted Lara" Vince said,
"Rescue base I'm handing Nathan over to the ambo's, I can take the truck for a patrol round" Dean offered
"We'll meet you there" Chase said him and Jordan leaving their search of the river and running to where the trucks were parked.
"Rescue base no cars in the car park there is however a security camera" Heidi reported "Heading back to the trucks"
"Ok guys use caution we know Lara wouldn't have gone willingly" Vince cautioned. "Dean, pick up Heidi the police have an address they'll meet you there"
Mark listened to the radio his anger growing that bitch had somehow left a note and they knew it was him. This was bad. She'd have to be punished for this. He felt the adrenaline pump through his system this was the hardest one, but the best. He had never felt so alive. He listened carefully to the radio chatter. They had an address but it wasn't the address he used for his girls so he was safe for the moment. He would have to ditch the car though. Arriving at his destination he parked and opened the boot where his beloved lay.