Page 20 of The Catcher
“What time did you place the ring the day before?” McKenzie asked.
“Early morning. About ten. I was back home by eleven.”
“So the gadget wasn’t a part of this?” Noah asked.
Sam shook his head. “I couldn’t be bothered with doing all of that, but it’s kind of cool, though.”
“You mentioned the GC code earlier, Sam. Can you explain how that gives us the coordinates to the second stage?”
“Well, it does and it doesn’t. Usually, when a geocache says it will give you the coordinates, it’s GPS coordinates. A series of numbers. However, look, it’s probably easier for me to show you.” He took out his phone and brought up the Geocaching app. “Okay, that’s Adirondack County. Here’s High Peaks. You see all those icons all over the screen: green, orange, question marks, etc. Well, each one of those represents a hidden geocache.”
“Well, it’s not exactly hidden; it’s right there,” McKenzie said.
“Yes and no. Some of the caches aren’t at the posted coordinates. Mystery caches, for instance, are like that.They usually require some research to solve a puzzle before they give you the coordinates to the cache. Okay, see this green one. That’s mine. I named it INTO THE WILD. That’s the one out in the High Peaks Wilderness. Now when I published that, a page was created.” He clicked on the green icon, and it took them to a white page with information. “This is essentially the geocache page. You can see my GC code below the title. At the bottom, if I click this, it will open in a browser so you can see the GC code in the URL, too.” He clicked it. “The posted GPS coordinates are always listed here or under the app. You reach it by going under Waypoints and clicking the name of my geocache. Basically, whether they give you the GPS coordinates or the GC code, you are still getting directions to the location of the geocache. So you replace my GC code in the URL with the one the gadget gave you, and you’ll know the second stage location.” Sam pulled his phone away, shaking his head. “I’d like to know who screwed up my geocache and put that gadget and note in there. You’re not supposed to do that. It’s against the guidelines. You can’t change someone else’s geocache into your own.”
“Put that app on my phone,” Noah said, giving Sam his phone. “And punch that GC code in to bring up the page.” He waited as Sam tapped at blistering speeds. Mia was the same — all thumbs. For him, it was another story — all typos.
Sam turned his phone around. “Huh, well, that figures.”
“What does?”
“The coordinates point to another traditional over atthe ski place on Whiteface Mountain. I’ve been to that one before. Hell, I’ve been to most of these in town.”
“So is that your geocache?”
“The one on the mountain? No. You can see who published it right here,” he said, pointing to a name beside the words: Placed By: Itsahoot2
Noah looked at it, got up, and left the room. McKenzie was in his shadow. “What do you think?”
“I may be way off-base on this, but you heard him; those items weren’t there before. Sure, someone else could have left them, but I’m almost certain that lock of hair will come back as belonging to the Matthews girl. She’s alive. Our sub is trying to tell us she’s alive. Whoever this asshole is, I think they are using other people’s geocaches to play a game,” Noah said. “We need to get to the second stage and fast.”
6
As Noah gunned the engine of his Bronco, the vehicle surged forward, its tires gripping the winding pavement of the Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway. McKenzie gripped the door handle, his knuckles turning white as the car hugged the curves like a daredevil on a thrill ride.
The fall foliage flashed by in a blur of reds, oranges, and yellows, a vibrant tapestry that painted the landscape with the colors of the season. The crisp air whipped through the open windows, carrying the scent of pine and earth.
In the rearview mirror, Noah saw the two sheriff’s cruisers following close behind, their lights flashing intermittently. Sam and Isabella were in one of those cruisers; their presence was crucial to the investigation. Sam’s familiarity with the cache located at the observatory on Whiteface Mountain could prove invaluable.
As they ascended higher and higher, the mist began toroll in, shrouding the landscape in a ghostly veil. The towering peaks of the Adirondacks loomed in the distance, their jagged silhouettes cutting through the haze.
High Peaks Lake glittered like a sapphire jewel nestled among the mountains, its surface rippling gently in the breeze. Beyond it, the islands dotted the water like stepping stones, their lush greenery contrasting sharply with the rocky terrain.
As they approached, Noah’s eyes caught sight of the castle made from native stone. Its turrets reached toward the sky with an air of regal grandeur; the restaurant and gift shop nestled nearby, their warm lights beckoning weary travelers.
Memories flooded Noah’s mind as he remembered visiting this iconic spot. He remembered Mia and Ethan laughing as they explored the grounds together, their excitement palpable in the crisp mountain air.
But there was no time for nostalgia now. With the investigation pressing on, Noah focused on the task at hand, his senses sharp and alert as they continued their ascent up the mountain.
As they arrived at the summit, Noah eased the Bronco into a parking spot, the engine rumbling softly as he cut the ignition. Sam hopped out of the cruiser behind them, his cell phone already in hand, and led the way confidently.
“The geocache isn’t far from here. It’s been a while since I’ve been up here. It’s an easy find,” Sam remarked, glancing back at Noah with a grateful smile. “You know I appreciate you bringing us out for this.”
“This isn’t a tour, kid,” McKenzie interjected before Noah could respond. “You’re saving us time. That’s all.”
“Damn right about that. So what... you think that kid in the forest was killed by some psycho who is now using geocaches to lead you to his girlfriend who went missing?” Sam asked.
Noah exchanged a glance with McKenzie, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features. “Where did you hear that?”
