A/N. Thanks once again for the reviews and the alerts.
Here's one more chapter before the weekend and then ... as they used to say in the old radio series you'll have to ... wait for the next exciting episode of ... (cue catchy theme tune) ... Snow Slide! I have hordes of hungry visitors turning up this evening for the next few days so may not be able to get out an update but will do my best! :-)
Reviews and PM's always welcome - will try to respond when I can. Mahala.
Chapter 9
Stella and Lindsay waited impatiently while Sara opened the grey metal locker. Stella sprang forward and rummaged among the skis and poles. She pulled out a pair of white ski boots and stuck her hand inside. "Bingo!" she yelled as she pulled out a little black book wrapped in a plastic bag. "I should have thought of it before. I didn't see anywhere to store skis at the B&B. Ski locker – perfect hiding spot in the centre of town."
Lindsay looked over her shoulder as she opened the book. Flicking though the pages, she could see lists of numbers, names and addresses, a page of codes. Stella stopped on one page. Lindsay's eyes opened wide. "Why would those names be in Ronnie Escott's book? Unless ..."
Stella looked at her. "Unless they were on the take or being blackmailed."
"Stella this is a gold mine! No wonder Gavin Escott is desperate to get his hands on it."
"Come on. We've got to get back to the lodge." Stella turned to Sara. "Thank you." Sara beamed and, wishing them luck, turned back to her office. Stella and Lindsay hurried through the falling snow towards the lodge.
"******"
Sam Kingston pulled up in front of the lodge. He shook hands with Don who shivered and headed straight indoors. Mac stopped to speak with Sam through the driver's window. "Sam, we need to stop this guy. He's killed two people possibly three. He's going to stop at nothing to get that book."
Sam nodded determined to catch Escott. "I'm going to do the rounds of the hotels and B&B's. He's got to be staying somewhere."
Mac nodded in approval. "Sam. Don't go after him on your own. Call me." The tone in Mac's voice conveyed the seriousness of the matter. Sam looked into into Mac's eyes and took comfort from the strength and resolution he saw there. He nodded solemnly glad that Mac Taylor was on his side. Just as he was about to put the car into drive, Stella and Lindsay came running up.
"Mac!" Stella waved something at him. "We've got it. " Mac and Sam started in amazement. "We've got the book."
"What?" Sam couldn't have been more surprised. Mac merely raised an eyebrow, rarely surprised by anything when Stella was involved.
"The girls had a ski locker." Stella explained handing Mac the book. As he flicked through the pages, Lindsay ran in to tell the others. Mac's face was serious as he saw what was written but he looked up sharply as he came to the list of names. His eyes flashed anger as he looked at Stella. Sam looked at him curiously.
Mac turned the book for him to see. "A high court judge, two court officials, a high ranking officer in internal affairs and at least three NYPD officers."
"Do you know them?" asked Sam hesitantly. Mac's silence spoke volumes. "Damn!" he whispered to himself. "We'll get him Mac..." Of that Sam had no doubt as he watched Mac walk into the lodge with Stella.
"******"
As Stella helped Sid prepare dinner a short while later she couldn't help but keep looking over at the others. Lindsay was sat on the floor playing a game with Lucy, and Don and Danny were arguing sports as usual. Mac stood slightly apart leaning on the mantelpiece as though the weight of the world was on his shoulders. She knew that he had been deeply shocked by the names in the book. As Sid put the final touches to the pot roast, Stella sidled over to the fireplace where Mac was gazing into the flames seemingly lost in his thoughts. She gently placed a hand on his shoulder her eyes full of concern. A half-smile briefly touched his lips as Mac slid an arm around her waist and pulled her close. Lindsay nudged Danny who looked over and raised his eyebrows grinning at Flack.
Everyone in the room jumped as the doorbell rang repeatedly. Sid dashed from the kitchen. No sooner had he opened the door than Sam rushed in in a state of pure panic. He froze as he looked around the room.
"Sam?" Sid looked at his friend. "What's happened?"
Sam opened his mouth and closed it again before looking pleadingly at Mac and Stella. "I need the book ..." he stammered. "He's got Sara! He's got my little girl!" Sid stared at his friend in horror unable to believe what he was hearing.
"When and where?" As usual Mac cut to the chase having immediately grasped onto Sam's meaning. The intensity in his voice ensured that he had everyone's attention. Sam swallowed heavily before answering.
"He must have grabbed her after she closed up the office … on her way home." Lindsay gasped exchanging looks with Stella as she realized that Sara must have been grabbed shortly after they found the book in the locker. Mac looked over at her and nodded at Lucy. Lindsay caught his meaning and immediately announced that it was bath-time before scooping up her daughter and heading upstairs. As soon as they had gone Mac led Sam over to the dining table and sat him down taking a seat next to him. Sam took another deep breath before continuing."He left a message at the station. He wants Detective Bonasera to bring the book to the Nine Pines Gondola in one hour..." Sam looked at Stella apologetically. "...or he'll kill her." His voice was almost inaudible as he finished.
Everyone in the room stared at Stella. Mac's eyes narrowed as he saw the resolution on her face, her decision immediate. "Stella!" His tone held a warning but she could read only one thing in his eyes. Fear. Fear for her. Stella squared her shoulders.
"He must have been watching when we found the book in the locker. Sam I'm so sorry. We shouldn't have dragged your daughter into this." Sam took her hand and shook his head indicating that apologies were unnecessary. "I'll take the book and I'll get her back." Stella turned to Mac before he could protest and placed a hand on his shoulder. "We can't risk anyone else Mac," she whispered. Mac stared at her for a second seeing the determination in her eyes. He wanted to argue with her but she stared back at him resolutely. Instead he rose and turned to Sid.
"Where's that map of the resort?" he asked. Sid looked at him in incomprehension for a second and then he grabbed the map from the kitchen counter. Pushing aside the dishes that had been laid ready for dinner, Mac spread the map out on the table. Mac leaned over the map placing his hands on the table and stared at it intently. Sam looked at the others but they all seemed to be waiting on Mac. They all approached the table silently as though they didn't wish to disturb him. Sam waited.
After a few minutes Don spoke quietly. "What are you thinking Mac?"
"Why the gondola station?" said Mac almost to himself. Mac traced the gondola line from the base of the resort. The black dotted line ran straight up the side of the main esplanade to a point two-thirds of the way up the mountain. Several coloured lines ran out in different directions from the summit. Two red runs, two blue ones, one of which led into a green, and the long green gently twisting family run that he had taken with Lucy which ended up by the bunny slopes.
"Do you think he's planning to ski his way out of this?" asked Danny peering over Mac's shoulder. Everyone gathered around the table to study the map.
"No." Mac spoke quietly. "All the runs ultimately end up back at the resort. He must know that we'll be waiting. Besides something tells me Gavin Escott is no skier. He has something else in mind. Sam, where are motor-sledges stored?"
For a moment Sam looked startled. "The ones we use to rescue injured skiers? Er one's kept in the garage next to the mountain guides office and medical centre here in town … and we have a second smaller one for the first responders. It's … in a shed next to the gondola station." Sam looked at the map and placed a finger next to the summit of the Nine Pines Gondola. Mac nodded slowly then ran his finger down across the map. It followed one of the blue lines which joined up to one of the green lines. Mac paused half way down the page. His finger left the ski runs and followed a gap in the trees to the edge of the map where the access road to the resort was shown.
"I think he intends to get away this way." he said quietly in an empty voice.
"How do know?" asked Sam. Mac raised his head and Sam felt an involuntary shiver run down his spine as his tear-filled brown eyes met Mac's slate grey ones. It was as though the man behind them had suddenly changed, the warmth and the integrity that they had conveyed earlier that evening gone to be replaced by something cold and calculating.
"Because that is what I would do if I were him," Mac's voice was barely a whisper. Sam then realized what Mac had been doing and he couldn't help but ask himself what it must cost a man to put himself in the mind of a killer, in the mind of someone who was prepared to do anything to get what he wanted even kidnapping and murder. Sam had been rather envious of the detective from the big city but now as he was forced to look away from Mac's eyes he understood that the job came with a price and he wasn't sure it was one he wanted to pay. Sam felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up.
"We'll get her back Sam. I promise." Sam was relieved to see the warmth return to Mac's eyes and with it the quiet assurance. He looked around at the assembled team and the undeniable confidence they conveyed and for the first time since discovering his daughter's abduction Sam Kingston felt he could breathe again.