"Flat Creek Road. We follow this road for a few hundred meters and then it's back into the trees."
Jason looked up into the sky as he walked along the gravel road and estimated it would be another two hours before the sun would reach its maximum. It was still only mid morning. He was still upset with Tommy, but he was ready to let it go. He slowed his pace and let Tommy catch up to him.
"We're over half way," Tommy announced. "If we keep this pace we'll be there in good time."
At the end of the gravel road was a wide parking area. Tommy studied the cars briefly. He was pleased to see none were police or forestry vehicles. All were empty. They likely belonged to backpackers out hiking.
"Might see a few people today on the path," Tommy suggested.
Jason walked past the cars and looked inside a couple of them.
"Where does this road lead?" he asked curiously.
"The Highwood Trail highway. Near the Eden Valley Reserve. Why?"
"Just thinking. That's really not very far from Bluffington, that's all. Just up the road actually. These cars probably all came from Bluffington." He looked at Tommy and scratched his head deep in thought.
Tommy knew what Jason was thinking. "Pretty slim chance of seeing anybody on the trail. There are a lot of people in Bluffington. What are the chances of meeting someone we know? Pretty slim I think."
"You're probably right," Jason replied. He was unconvinced. He pointed to the sign at the start of the trail. "This way."
Tommy and Jason walked another forty-five minutes up from the parking lot along the Flat Creek trail to where the valley flattened out and Wileman Creek dumped into Flat Creek.
The junction they needed to take to get on the Wileman Creek trail was just up from where they currently were. It was northwest a little further beyond the grassy meadow they were about to approach. At the junction, the trail turned southward and followed an old exploration road that crossed Flat Creek and backtracked downstream towards Wileman Creek. The Wileman Creek trail would eventually take them up to Grass Pass and down Pack Trail Coulee to the Highwood River and to the backyards of Bluffington.
The valley opened up to large, grassy meadows interlaced with numerous beaver ponds. The scrawny, wind-battered trees in the higher elevations provided evidence of the constant winds that made their home here year round. It left Jason with mixed feelings regarding how unfriendly the valley could be at times. Jason was about to comment on the numerous great camping spots nearby when he spotted movement off to his right amongst the trees at the edge of the meadow.
"People!" Jason whispered to Tommy. He tugged Tommy on his arm and pointed up to his right towards the trees.
Tommy looked to where Jason pointed. Sure enough, there were two people in the distance amongst the trees where the meadow ended.
"It's just backpackers. Keep moving," Tommy replied. He pushed Jason and urged him forward.
Both boys walked on, but they kept a careful eye on the hikers.
"Well, what do wes have here?" a familiar voice called out loudly from their left. Jason groaned, and Tommy grabbed firmly on to Jason's arm.
There was a solid double click. It was the sound of a shotgun being cocked.
Off to Jason and Tommy's left, only a few meters away near Flat Creek, stood none other than Doogie Fisher with a devilish grin etched greedily across his face. He carried a shotgun in his hands. A water jug lay at his feet. He ignored the water jug, stepped slowly towards Tommy and Jason and made sure the shotgun he held was visible in front of him for Tommy and Jason to see.
"What did I tell yous, Jason?" Doogie said. He was very pleased with himself. He raised the gun and pointed it squarely at Jason, then at Tommy and back again. "I told yous you wouldn't see me coming and yous didn't." He laughed triumphantly. "Now gets over here and grab this water jug for me," he demanded of Jason. He kept the gun focused on him. "We's gonna have some fun."
CHAPTER 80
Sarah didn't go into work, but she couldn't stand to stay at home and do nothing except worry constantly about Simon. She grabbed her purse and searched around inside. The detective gave her his card when she saw him at Simon's Bistro the other day.
'Detective Dean Daly' was printed in bold official letters.
She called the detective on his cell phone. He answered immediately.
"Detective Daly? It's Sarah from the other day," she said.
"Sure, sure. I remember you,” He replied. "What can I do for you?"
"It's Simon."
"Simon Pelletier?" What about him?"
Sarah tried not to let her emotions break through, but she was sure the detective heard her worry.
"He disappeared, Detective. I've been trying to reach him all day today, and last night and..."
"Calm down, miss," Detective Dean interrupted. "Just take it slow and tell me about Simon."
Sarah told the detective she thought Gerald was in town two days ago with her old car. She also told him she pestered Simon to go to Calgary to make sure her car and Gerald were still in Calgary.
"You didn't actually see Gerald then? In the parking lot?"
"No," she replied. "And I didn't stick around to look for him either. I just saw the car. My car."
"And you didn't see Gerald prowling or lingering, maybe, around your house?"
"No, I didn't see Gerald at all."
"Did you see anyone else, maybe? I mean, prowling around outside your house last night or today?"
"No. No one." The detective’s comments scared her. He seemed to be suggesting prowlers may be about outside. She tried not to think about Gerald as a prowler lurking about on her property in the dark.
"Good, good. Then you're probably safe staying right there where you are," he said.
Sarah sensed the detective was trying to put her at ease.
The detective was very polite and promised he would check into Simon's whereabouts this afternoon. He had a few things in the valley to take care of first, and then he would get right to checking out the Bistro and Simon's home.
"And Gerald too," she added at the last minute, before the detective had a chance to hang up.
"Gerald?" he replied confused.
"Yes, Gerald. If Simon really is missing and he went to see Gerald, then you must go up to where Gerald lives. You must!" She was nearly crying.
"Okay, okay," the detective agreed. "I'll go around town, and if I can't find Simon, I'll go up to your old house in Calgary and look in on Gerald."
"Oh thank you, detective. Thank you," Sarah said relieved.
Sarah gave the detective her old address in Calgary, Gerald's full name and a description of the vehicles she and Gerald owned. The detective promised to call her back in a few hours.
CHAPTER 81
Jason and Tommy raised their hands shoulder height into the air as they stared at the shotgun Doogie pointed at Jason.
"C'mon, Jason. Gets over here and pick up the jug for me. And then wes are going to take a little walk."
Jason edged his way slowly towards where Doogie stood and carefully picked up the water jug.
Doogie's expression changed to one of curiosity. "What are yous two doing out here anyways? Yous both were locked up."
"You have a smart phone," Jason replied. "You should know already why we're here."
"Phones don't work up in the back country, stupid," Doogie answered back.
Tommy gave Jason a quick look to say 'zip it'. "They let us out," Tommy said simply. "Not enough evidence."
Doogie frowned and dropped his head to the side confused. "Really? I thought yous admitted it."
Jason shuffled himself back next to his brother. Tommy smiled and shook his head at Doogie's stupidity.
"Don't matter. What matters is yous are here. I don't know whys you are here, and I doesn't really care. You are going to go for a walk with me right now over there." He pointed to the right were Jason saw the other pe
ople moments earlier. "And yous see this," he raised the gun a little higher. "It is loaded."
Doogie directed Tommy and Jason to the small camp he set up away from any other hikers who would pass along the trail. Along the way, Tommy asked Doogie what he was doing up here.
Doogie lifted the shotgun up higher. "Target practice," he said and laughed.
When they entered the camp, they were not surprised to find Doogie's friends, Willie, Sandy and Patricia, all seated on small stumps around a fire.
Willie was in the process of trying to cook up some Kraft Dinner over the smoky fire. He looked up with surprise but was confused by the shotgun Doogie had levelled at Jason.
Patricia's eyes sparkled when she spotted Jason. She seemed almost excited to see him and produced a wide smile for him. The excitement faded quickly as her eyes fell on Doogie’s shotgun. Sandy said a polite "hello" to Tommy and Jason before she looked at Doogie and waited curiously for his explanation.
"Drop your packs, and have a seat, boys. Sandy, there's rope in the side pocket of my backpack in the tent. Tie these guys' hands."
"What?" Sandy replied giggling. "You serious?"
"Get the effin rope, Sandy!" Doogie shouted. "I'm not kiddin here!"
Sandy cowered for moment and then hurried to the tent to grab the rope. Tommy and Jason removed their packs and sat cross-legged on the ground opposite Doogie's gang. They looked at Patricia pleadingly as Doogie continued to wave the gun about.
"What's going on?" Patricia asked. She was utterly confused by the sudden appearance of Tommy and Jason. "I thought they were in Spy Hill still?" She stared at Jason with a puzzled look.
"They are here now. That's all that matters." Doogie paced back and forth in front of Jason and Tommy and continued to wave the gun about. "Where's that rope, Sandy?" he shouted.
Sandy scrambled out of the tent and handed the rope out to Doogie.
"I'm not tying them up. Yous are." Doogie grabbed the rope out of her hand. "Cut off two long pieces!" he shouted. He stretched the rope out to indicate the length he wanted it cut and handed the rope back to Sandy.
Sandy grabbed a knife and quickly cut the rope as directed. She looked back at Doogie in disbelief of what he was asking her to do.
"Now get over theres and tie their hands behind their backs. And I want it good and tight."
Sandy hesitated.
"Go!" Doogie shouted at her.
"Why are we doing this?" Sandy asked as she moved behind Jason and began to bind his hands together. Willie continued to stir the pot by the fire. He enjoyed the scene that unfolded in front of him. Patricia sat next to Willie in fear and confusion.
"Little cock-sucker thinks he can gets one up on me. Who's on top now, Jason! Who?"
Jason grunted and grimaced as Sandy pulled the rope taut and it cut into his wrists.
"Screw you!" Jason called out.
"What did yous say?" Doogie called back. He stepped forward towards Jason and cracked him on the side of the head with the butt end of the shotgun. Patricia let out a little scream and pressed her hand to her lips.
Jason reeled under the pain and a cut opened up near his temple. Blood trickled down the side of his face.
"Nice one, Doogie," Willie said and giggled as he continued to stir his Kraft Dinner.
"Just stop this already," Tommy said calmly. "You really don't want to be doing this."
Doogie turned to Tommy. "Yous don't know what I want at all. Maybe I should bash yous in the head too. What do yous think, eh?"
Tommy shook his head lightly and looked down into the dirt.
Sandy finished tying both boys up, sat down next to Patricia and grabbed hold of her hand. The girls watched in shock and fear of what Doogie was going to do next.
"You two think yous are so effin tough. Why you think I want yous tied up?" Doogie looked back at Willie and the girls. Willie continued to smile.
"Well? I asked yous a question."
"You're trying to prove a point, I guess," Tommy answered. "And you did it very well. You got the gun, and you are in charge. Jason and I have to do what you say."
Doogie frowned and crouched down in front of Tommy. He stuck his face into Tommy's. Tommy winced at the smell of his breath. "You don't seem so tough." He spit in Tommy's face and turned to Jason. "It's yous I want. Thinks you can tackle me and bust me in the face?"
Doogie stood up and paced back and forth with the gun. He pointed the gun at Tommy, then at Jason and back again. Tommy tried to wipe Doogie's spit from his face onto his shoulder, but he couldn't. He looked up and could see the blood veins rising and pulsating on Doogie's forehead as Doogie continued to pace back and forth in front of them. Doogie suddenly stopped and turned angrily towards Jason. He lowered himself down on to his haunches and grinned. "It's payback time," he said as he stared into Jason's terrified eyes.
"What are you doing, Doogie?" Sandy called out. "You just can't go around tying people up like this."
Doogie spun around towards her. "You want to be tied up with them? This little shit here bust my lip. Or did yous forget? And he made me looks like an idiot at Spy Hill, and I ain't gonna let him gets away with it."
Doogie stood up and grabbed firmly onto Jason's arm. "Yous're coming with me!" he shouted and lifted Jason up by the arm until he was standing. He turned Jason around and shoved him in the direction of the forest.
"Doogie! What are you doing?" Patricia called out.
Willie continued to stir his lunch and smiled as he watched, thoroughly enjoying the escalating chaos.
"Shuts it, Patricia. I'm going teach this boy heres a lesson! That's right, Jason Oliver. It's payback time!" he said and shoved Jason again with the barrel of the gun.
"Willie!" Doogie shouted. "Go get my Beretta!"
"The Beretta?" he asked surprised. "Why do you want that for?"
"Just gets it, Willie."
Willie gave the macaroni a quick stir and then hustled over to the tent.
"What are you going to do to him?" Patricia asked.
"We'll see, won't wes, Jason. We'll just see."
Willie scurried back and handed the Beretta to Willie.
"Just purchased the shotgun and this baby," he said and caressed the gun with his fingers. He lifted the black semi-automatic in the air and kissed it. "Seeings how Daly took alls my other guns away." He tucked the Beretta in the front of his pants. "Shotgun's too messy for what this boy's got coming his way," he said and cackled loudly. He grabbed tight to the shotgun and turned back towards Jason.
"Move!" he shouted as he shunted Jason forward once more.
Jason staggered forward, and nearly stumbled as he stepped out of the camp and down into the rocky meadow. Doogie followed close behind and continued to shove Jason forward every few steps towards the trees.
"Stop it, Doogie! You can't do this!" Tommy called out.
"Tommy?" Jason cried out. "Help me, Tommy!"
Before he had gone very far, Doogie stopped and turned his head slowly back towards Tommy as if a brilliant idea had just come to him. He grinned and bared his teeth at Tommy. "And when I'm done with him, yous can be next."
All Tommy could do was watch Doogie shove Jason further towards the trees. He was terrified. He had no idea of what Doogie was capable of, and he really didn't want to find out.
"Patricia! Sandy! You are not going to let Doogie do this are you?" Tommy called out to them. The girls continued to sit holding tight onto each other with terror etched deep into their young faces. Tommy sensed their discomfort as they looked about frantically, neither sure of what she should be doing.
"Willie!" Tommy called. "For God’s sake, do something!"
Willie only continued to stir the pot. He tested the noodles to see if they were fully cooked and licked his lips. He glanced to his left and watched for a moment as Doogie pushed Jason down below the ridge. He watched until they disappeared. "Sorry, Tommy." He
smiled. "He's got the gun, and this macaroni ain't done here yet."
Tommy tried to stand up, but fell over without the use of his hands. He tried again to get to his feet but he couldn't get a good footing and fell back down. He lay on his side, and shuffled about some more. "Jesus Christ, you guys! Don't you see what Doogie's about to do?" He stopped squirming, stared at Patricia and pleaded. "You've got to go stop him. You have to! Doogie's going to shoot him if we don't do something. He's crazy!"
The girls looked at each other and then at Willie.
"He's out of control He's crossed the line!"
"Oh my God, Sandy," Patricia called out as she finally understood what Tommy was suggesting. "I think Tommy is right!"
Tommy rolled his eyes. He couldn’t believe it took them this long to come to grips with what Doogie was about to do.
"We should do something!" Patricia shouted to Sandy.
"Untie me." Tommy called out.
The two girls stood up. Sandy pointed at Tommy and ran towards him. "I'll untie him," she said.
"Don't do it, Sandy," Willie said while shaking his head and urging her to sit back down.
Sandy knelt down behind Tommy with her hands on the rope. She hesitated and looked back at Willie to see if he was going to stop her.
Patricia backed slowly away from Willie and the fire. When she was near the edge of the rocky campsite, she turned suddenly and bolted off in the direction Doogie had taken Jason.
"Patricia!" Willie called out. "Damn it, you girls," he said. He stood up and scratched his head. "And leave him be," he said to Sandy.
Sandy shook her head. "No. It's not right, Willie. I'm untying him."
Willie remained standing by the fire. A flustered look crossed his face as he clearly didn't know what to do. "Doogie's gonna be mad when he finds out you let him go, you know."
"Be a man for once, Willie!" Sandy shouted back. "What Doogie is doing is so wrong!"
Sandy just finished untying Tommy's rope when a blood curdling scream erupted from somewhere in the forest. It was Patricia. Her scream coincided with a single shotgun blast that echoed repeatedly off the surrounding mountains.
"No!" Tommy screamed. He couldn't believe Doogie had actually gone through with it.
Willie moved for the first time as if the sound of the shotgun blast finally brought some sense into his little brain. He rushed around the fire, accidentally knocking his pot of Kraft Dinner on its side into the fire. He grabbed Tommy's backpack from the ground and shoved it hard into Tommy's belly. "Run!" he said.