Chapter 7- Gassed
The moon sat high in the starry sky as Dilbert landed the plane at a small airport. A police officer waited for the group beside the tarmac. “I’ll take you to the forest,” the officer said after greeting them. They climbed into his car and Sylvia tossed a satchel between the front seats.
They drove for about half an hour on a lonely road. Jando had fun making his door disappear and watching the scenery pass by in a blur right beside him. Lydia cleared her mind of any concerns about Finster or Aidan and focused on the mission. You got this, she told herself. I’m ready. All the same, she offered a short prayer that she wouldn’t lose control when they confronted Heather.
When they reached the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, she picked out some fir trees lining either side of the road. The rest were giant shapes, like two jagged shadow arms, welcoming them into the forest’s bosom. Only the barest hints of green were visible. In the distance, black mountain masses rose out of the earth and lorded over the land.
Shortly into the forest, the car stopped in front of several other vehicles and dozens of officers, forest rangers, volunteers, other employees, and an EMT team. They turned their attention to Sylvia and the group as they climbed out.
“Good evening,” Sylvia said, addressing everyone. “I’m Agent Sylvia Romero from the BEP Division. These three are Lydia Penner, Aidan Keyes, and Jando Oliveira. Now, what’s the situation with Heather Stanson?”
“No sign of her yet,” one of the rangers said. “We figure she might be sticking to the rivers or creeks. Our people found a campfire this afternoon not far from Methow River. Looked like it had been covered up in a hurry. There was still smoke coming off it, and we found blood, bandages, and old sutures in some brush nearby.”
“She knows you’re onto her,” Sylvia said. “Let’s hope she doesn’t know we’re here yet. Makes sense that she would be near the river. Might be using the water to clean her leg.”
“We’ve had our people searching around there and the other creeks and rivers. The other districts have been alerted, too.”
“Good, good. Anything else? No? Okay, then before we head out, I need to make one thing clear. Do not engage Heather on your own. And if you must, keep your distance. Although injured, she is to be considered armed and dangerous, a true BEP threat.”
One of the officers raised her hand. “What’s this ‘BEP’ nonsense?”
“Biologically Enhanced Person. Heather is one such person.” Sylvia received blank stares. “She’s capable of releasing two types of toxins that are equally harmful.”
Already, Lydia heard some of the confused murmurs and eye-rolling mutters rising. She took Jando and Aidan aside while the same officer asked, “Do you mean she’s creating some sort of gas bomb? Where’s she getting the materials for that?”
“No, not bombs. The toxins originate from within her body. I know it sounds ludicrous—”
Sylvia was cut off by whining metal. The people had stopped paying attention to her, and she spun around. Lydia lifted the front end of a ranger’s Jeep off the road and tipped it close to standing straight up, puffing in bursts and snorting harshly through her nose. Jando touched the vehicle, causing it to vanish except for its headlights shining into the air. Meanwhile, Aidan flew around and under the display, waving his arms and modeling their abilities.
Grinning, Sylvia faced the stupefied audience. “A good example of what BEPs are capable of. Like I was staying, avoid confronting her by yourself if at all possible. Now, we should spread our search to five miles of the Methow River and any other water source. I don’t think she’ll be able to go far on her leg. She may also have set some traps or alarms in the forest, so be careful.”
Lydia gently lowered the Jeep and grunted. She leaned on the hood, resting her arms and catching her breath as Aidan landed beside her. “Good idea,” he said.
She nodded and her breathing evened out. That seemed easier than she thought it would be. Maybe she was getting a little stronger. Then again, I didn’t have to throw this one. She looked out into the thick rows of trees. Somewhere out there was Heather. Their first official mission started now. Lydia wiggled her body loose and checked her braces.
“This is pretty cool. Tense, but cool,” Jando said. Sylvia wrapped up her speech, and everyone divided into search groups and passed out walkie-talkies and flashlights.
Checking the Jeep, Sylvia said, “The flying and invisibility were nice touches, Ms. Penner.” Lydia smiled. Sylvia handed each of them a walkie-talkie and a flashlight. Then she grabbed her satchel out of the police car and slipped if over herself. From it she pulled out a pistol and holster, strapping the weapon to her hip. “Channel four,” she said, adjusting her walkie-talkie. From the satchel, she also produced her brown gloves, specially woven to dampen sound on her fingertips from gunfire and other loud noises. “You three ready?” she asked, pulling the gloves on.
“As we’ll ever be,” Aidan said.
“Just take it easy and stay close.”
They fell in line behind her. Lydia stretched her arms across her chest and flipped on her flashlight. Take it easy. They entered the dense forest, stepping on bumpy tree roots. We’re ready.
For hours, they searched the Methow River and surrounding forest. Nothing crossed their path besides an occasional critter running home, or nocturnal birds flying past, faintly calling to one another in the trees. Insects chirped their evening lullabies, creating a peaceful mood in the forest. Sometimes Lydia heard a splash, but it was either one of the other search parties accidentally stepping in the water, or some debris from a tree falling into it. The flashlights barely helped and showed several feet ahead at best, forcing them to comb the area carefully and thoroughly. What made it worse was the hilly ground with no pattern, which rose up and down, like their hopes of finding Heather.
Every couple of hours, they would break for fifteen minutes and regroup at the cars, driving farther upriver. At two in the morning, some of the police left to search another area. Lydia caught as much shut-eye as she could during the breaks, wanting to be on full alert during the searches.
At about three, Sylvia’s group decided to turn back and check the other side of the Methow River. They found a spot a little less than a hundred feet wide across the water and asked Aidan to fly them across. He didn’t believe he could make it though.
“One after the other? Maybe one, but I’ll be too tired for the rest, and we’ll definitely fall in.” He eyed the water and backed away from it. “Perhaps there’s another way across.”
Lydia coaxed him to the edge and placed a hand on his shoulder. “It’s not a long way. You can do it.”
He sighed and agreed to it, taking Sylvia first and quickly crossing. He slowed down for Lydia, who enjoyed dipping her toes into the rushing water. She giggled at the small wake her feet created. With Jando, he dropped lower, submerging the boy’s legs a few times.
“Cut it out! That’s cold!” Jando said.
“My bad. It was an accident.”
“Watch it, or I’ll pull you in.”
“Don’t worry. I got you,” Aidan said. “Nothing to worry about.” His smirk said otherwise, but he set Jando safely on the opposite bank.
“You know,” Jando said, shaking the water off his legs, “if this lasts ’til morning, Aidan could search by air then.”
“Heather is armed,” Aidan said.
“You can dodge her. And the treetops are thick enough to hide behind.”
“Tell you what we’ll do. Let’s take that idea, tie it to a balloon,” he gestured tying a knot, “and let it float off to find someone as stupid as you who thinks that’s a good plan.”
“Tie you to the balloon instead and let you float off back to the homeland,” Jando said, receiving a scowl from Aidan. “Actually, we’re pretty close to the border. Could punt you across.”
“I’ll fly you into the ocean and—”
“Quiet,” Lydia said. “How can we listen out with you t
wo arguing?”
Sylvia nodded her thanks and they trekked on in silence. Lydia grew more frustrated every minute that Heather eluded them. Not that she expected to find her within minutes, but they had yet to locate her trail. What if they didn’t find Heather tonight? How long would they stay out here searching? She bit down a yawn and checked Sylvia’s wristwatch. Half an hour until another break.
As her energy waned and she started to believe that Heather might be in Canada already, their walkie-talkies came to life. “I see her! I see Heather!”
Sylvia snatched her walkie-talkie off her belt, ripped off a glove, and pressed her fingers to the speaker. “Where? Where is she?”
“Upriv-ack!” A gunshot went off on the walkie-talkie and reached them moments later in the distance.
“This way! Hurry!” Sylvia sprinted ahead and the others followed. Lydia braced herself, her nerves electrified once more for the hunt.
* * *