Page 21 of The Catcher
“One of the deputies told us on the way up,” Sam replied calmly, gesturing toward the cops trailing behind them. “And the missing teens made front page news in theAdirondack Daily Enterprise.”
Noah sighed inwardly, the frustration of dealing with leaks evident in his expression. It seemed there was no stopping people from flapping their gums, even in a serious investigation.
Ignoring Sam’s speculation, they continued through an archway in Whiteface Castle, the imposing structure casting a shadow over them. As they emerged on the other side, they looked up toward the Summit Weather Observatory tower, its metal frame standing tall against the backdrop of the sky.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. Is the geocache up there?” McKenzie asked, squinting against the sun’s glare.
“Oh yeah. It’s just under a mile, but well worth it for the views,” Sam replied enthusiastically, already charging ahead. “Come on, boomer!”
McKenzie glared at the kid.
“I think we should take the elevator,” McKenziesuggested, eyeing the steep incline with a hint of reluctance.
“Can’t. It’s out of service,” Noah said, pointing to a weathered sign affixed to the elevator door.
“Just our luck,” McKenzie muttered under his breath, his shoulders slumping in resignation.
Undeterred, they pressed on up the rocky path, their footsteps echoing against the silence of the mountain. The ascent was grueling, each step a challenge against the steep incline. Loose gravel shifted beneath their feet, threatening to send them tumbling backward with every misstep.
As they climbed higher, the view opened before them, revealing a breathtaking panorama of the surrounding landscape. The vibrant colors of fall painted the mountainside in hues of gold and crimson, a stark contrast to the rugged terrain below.
McKenzie gripped the railing tightly, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he struggled to keep pace with the younger men. Noah’s legs felt like lead; his lungs burned from climbing. He could relate. Age was catching up with him as much as it was for McKenzie, his senior.
“Are you all right, old-timer?” Sam asked, casting a concerned glance at McKenzie.
“Just a little dizzy,” McKenzie replied, his voice strained.
“That’s the elevation,” Sam explained.
Noah stopped, turning to face McKenzie with a look of concern. “We’ll wait for you.”
But McKenzie shook his head stubbornly. “I’m good,”he insisted, determination shining in his eyes as he pressed on, driving him forward.
Finally, they arrived at the building that housed the observatory tower, its weathered facade standing as a testament to years of withstanding the elements. The observatory was used to monitor weather patterns and atmospheric conditions; its importance was evident in the array of scientific instruments scattered throughout the interior.
Outside, multiple coin-operated binoculars dotted the edge of the building, offering visitors a closer look at the breathtaking views that stretched out before them. Noah couldn’t help but marvel at the sight, his thoughts momentarily drifting away from the grim task as he took in the beauty of the natural world.
Sam approached the wall, his brow furrowing in confusion. “Huh. That’s odd.”
“What is?” Noah asked, stepping closer to peer over Sam’s shoulder.
“Well, the GPS leads us to this spot, but the cache isn’t here,” Sam explained.
“Are you sure? You said you hadn’t been up here in a while. Maybe you forgot where it was?” Noah suggested, trying to find a logical explanation.
“No. I remember this one. This geocache is a traditional. Whoever this person is, they’re linking to existing geocaches owned by others, like mine and the one that’s supposed to be here. Now, most geocaches come with a hint — some way to help you find it when the GPS coordinates aren’t helping, or it’s not obvious where thecontainer is. This one was by the wall because it used a fake stone. The geocache was inside it. But that stone is missing,” Sam said, pointing to a space along the wall.
Noah sighed, his gaze shifting to the vast expanse beyond the wall. The wind whipped at his face, sending a shiver down his spine as he fought to maintain his balance. “You sure it didn’t get blown off?”
“Anything is possible, but from what I remember, it was pretty well secured between these two rocks. Now, there is one other alternative,” Sam replied.
“What’s that?” Noah asked, his curiosity piqued.
“It’s been muggled,” Sam explained matter-of-factly.
“Muggled? What does that mean?” McKenzie chimed in.
“Muggled. It’s a term used in the geocache community to describe a geocache removed or interfered with by non-geocachers. They refer to them as muggles. The term is borrowed from the Harry Potter series, where muggles were non-magical individuals. However, in this community, it just means anyone who isn’t geocaching,” Sam elaborated.
