Chapter 1
Juliette loved falling asleep and waking up to Thomas more than anything. She liked to snuggle up to him at night, was like safe.
That night, they had gone to bed after a movie night. Thomas had taken him to eat in a small food truck on the beach and then to the cinema. She had fallen asleep in his arms with a smile on her face.
That morning, they were to meet a client at her home. The woman lived in a beautiful house with a large garden and a swimming pool. They knocked and the woman opened it to them.
- Hello Mrs. Curl, I'm Juliette Higgins and this is my partner Thomas Magnum.
- Oh yes, come in!
She walked with a quick pace towards the living room, where piles of pictures were hanging on the walls, and stopped in the living room.
- You were rather vague on the phone, Juliette continued, can you tell us more?
- Yes obviously, settle down.
Juliette and Thomas sat down at the round table in the middle of the room. Mrs. Curl grabbed a picture and sat down with them.
-They are my sons. The oldest Arthur, and on his right the twins, William and John. They have always been very close-knit. But as a teenager William grew closer to Arthur. They both had problems in high school, it wasn't easy. Arthur left home right after graduation, he doesn't give news often, I worry about him. Especially since he dragged William with him. Both of them, understand them, they did not have an easy adolescence. We tried to help them, but the more we tried, the more they closed up. Even John couldn't talk to his twin! Boys like to get away from the city and go into the forest. So when Arthur told me he had found a job as a forest ranger I was thrilled! I figured he would do something he loves. But his departure had consequences for William and he became increasingly distant. It was John who showed me what he found, he went to his room and found a whole bunch of books about surviving alone in a hostile environment, how to make traps, that kind of thing. And William didn't come home last night, he never did that!
- So your son has been missing since last night? Magnum summed up.
-No yesterday morning, he didn't go to high school! And since he has just turned 18, the police cannot act yet! I know something happened!
"You have his computer," Juliette asks.
- He's in his room, it's upstairs, the door right in front of you
Juliette stood up, she needed to see this computer.
- Do you know where Arthur lives? He may be at home, Thomas suggested.
- This is also what we thought, but impossible to reach. And I have no idea where he lives, he never told us.
Mrs. Curl began to cry.
"You must take me for an awful mother.
"Well, of course not," Magnum reassured. You are hiring us to find them! Is Arthur a forest ranger?
- Yes he is in the forest of Ewa.
- Don't worry, we'll find them! We have William's computer and we're going to go to Ewa's rangers to locate Arthur. They are probably together.
-Thank you.
At that moment Juliette went downstairs with William's laptop:
- Can I borrow it from you?
- Yes of course, if it allows you to find the wires!
They took their leave and got back into the Ferrari.
- Her son left before doing anything irreparable, Juliette announced.
- What?" said Magnum, turning his head towards his girlfriend.
- I have his diary. It was secure but I managed to get in. He's really bad. He gets bullied at school and since his older brother left it's even worse. From what I read, he was in regular contact with Arthur. He joined him. He mentions his brother's house. It is described as a beautiful cabin where no one can come and hurt them.
- Do you think it must have been difficult to reach it?
- I don't know, I hope it's just a description and no real traps waiting for us!
- And there's something about the place?
- No!
- Well let's go see the rangers of Ewa, they can tell us more.
Arriving at their destination, they headed for the forest guard building. They introduced themselves and showed up a picture of Arthur.
- Do you recognize it? Thomas asks
- Oh yes, it's Arthur.
- We are looking for him, said Juliette
- Oh, really? What for? The ranger wondered.
- His mother is worried and his little brother has disappeared, he is probably with him.
The man did not seek any further explanation and went to his office where he unfolded a card.
- It's his sector," he says, surrounding it on the map. We almost never see him, to believe that he does not like men!
- Do you know where his cabin might be?" asked Magnum.
- No, not at all. For us it's a job, it's very rare that we live here!
- Thank you
Thomas took the card and they went out.
- Ready for a hike?
- It's all in the car.
Juliette changed her shoe and handed Magnum a small bag.
- How long has this bag been there?" he asked, beginning their walk.
- One moment, I'd rather plan ahead with you!
- With me? he asks shocked.
- You always get a lot of trouble and I'd rather be able to pick you up in any situation!
- Oh! Do you trust me that much?
- I trust you, I just have a problem with you getting into trouble, and that trouble might lead me to have to find you in the forest, so I'm ready! In fact, I think I'm going to implant a tracer in your sleep!
- What?
He stared at her, she looked very serious!
- You are pulling my leg?
- No, it can be really useful!
- Oh really? It's up to me to do that, it's you who has been kidnapped several times!
- Repeatedly?
- Yes, when I had to find you in the mental hospital and the Hamlers? Have you forgotten them?
- No, I have not forgotten, but whose fault is it!
He stopped dead in his tracks.
- Thomas, Juliet said softly, excuse me, I shouldn't have said that.
- No, you're right, he concludes.
He joined her and they began to advance again.
- I know it's my fault.
- Stop, don't start on that. I know very well how you are!
He gave her a sad little smile. Juliet grabbed his arm to stop him.
- Look at me, she ordered.
He complied.
- Stop thinking too much, okay?
He nodded yes to her with his little smile Juliette returned her smile and kissed her.
- Go on the march lieutenant!
They walked nearly four hours before finding the area assigned to Arthur.
- Traces of William's passage will have to be found, Thomas warned. He must have been here a little over twenty-four hours ago.
- Do you think he took the same path as us?
- Chances are, it's the least complicated way to come here.
They separated a little to find traces of William not far from the path they had just taken.
"Higgy," Thomas called.
She came to him and crouched down next to him.
- Look, he has been there, there must be a path or something there.
- And how are you sure it's not an animal?
- I found a chocolate bar paper!
They got up and continued, indeed they quickly fell on a small path.
- Then? He smiled at her.
- I'd say you deserve to have been taken to the Navy Seals!
They accelerated on the rather passable path and came to a small clearing.
- I didn't expect that, Magnum said in surprise.
- No, but our progress will be faster! Do you think they're close?
- I don't know, surely, look, the trees have been cut down and some replanted. We don't go miles away to bring back wood!
Juliet nodded.
- There the path resumes, she says, pointing the way.
Indeed, Magnum saw footprints just in front of the entrance of the path.
- We are on the right track.
They continued on the small, darker path full of leaves. What he had not seen was that a little further the tracks moved slightly away from the path. Because of the short width of the road, Thomas walked in front. Juliette was right behind.
Suddenly, they fell. Thomas landed heavily and Juliet crashed into him. He moaned in pain.
- Stop moving, he begged
Juliet who was trying to get up stopped She looked around
- What is this mess, he gasped. Juliette are you okay?
- Thomas, please don't move.
Alarmed, he looked at her.
- All right?
- Yes, you cushioned my fall. On the other hand you...
She doesn't finish her sentence. She managed to slowly straighten up to see the extent of the damage. They had just fallen into a fairly deep hole, covered with wood and leaves, and one of the pieces of wood that covered the trap had pierced Magnum's flan.