Page 72 of The Catcher
Noah nodded firmly. “Positive.”
Ray chuckled, a hint of admiration in his eyes. “If you’re wrong, you know Terry will be vying for your badge.”
“That’s why you’re here,” Noah replied wryly. “You can tell them you got a tip; I just happened to be in the area.”
Ray laughed. “A Sutherland, through and through.”
As they approached the entrance, Janet, the facilities superintendent, scurried into view, looking flustered and jangling keys in her hand. “Sorry for the delay,” she apologized. “We’re usually open on a Sunday.”
Noah raised an eyebrow. “Why aren’t you?”
Janet sighed, her expression troubled. “Plumbing issue. A leak. Happened late last night. Flooded a good portion of the facility. I received the call this morning on my way to work that it was going to be closed while the crew got in there. The only problem is, they can’t get here until Monday.”
Noah exchanged a glance with Callie, a suspicion gnawing at the back of his mind. Was it mere coincidence, or had someone orchestrated the timing of the leak to coincide with their visit?
Janet opened the door into the Miracle Plaza, a vast foyer that Noah had visited many times. The space was divided into five key areas, with the Miracle Moments Store off to the right. Noah’s gaze was drawn to the famous Miracle on Ice Scoreboard displayed on the left, a poignant reminder of the historic game between the USA and the Soviets during the 1980 Olympics.
“Spread out. Search the back rooms, offices, anywhere two teens could be,” Ray said, directing officers into the facility.
Ray’s directive spurred the officers into action. They spread out, fanning through the museum’s back rooms and offices in search of any sign of the missing teens.
He then turned to Noah. “Did the last geocache give you any indication of where they might be here?”
Noah shook his head.
Entering the first part of the museum, Noah found himself surrounded by displays chronicling the history of High Peaks and their selection as the venue for the Winter Games. Murals adorned the walls, depicting scenes of ski jumping, ice hockey, speed skating, biathlon, and bobsleigh, capturing the excitement and thrill of the Olympic competition.
As they moved past the exhibits, Noah couldn’t help but glance at the artifacts from the 1980s era, some preserved behind glass while others stood on stands for visitors to admire. Each display told a story, transporting visitors to the golden age of the Winter Games.
It didn’t take long to see the aftermath of the flooding caused by the plumbing issue. As they rounded a corner, they saw waterlogged floors and damp walls, evidence of the recent deluge that had inundated the facility.
Buckets were out in various places. Some of it had been dried. Several mops were nearby and were undoubtedly ready to be used again today.
Their boots splashed through half an inch of water onthe floor, sending ripples spreading outwards with each step.
Noah glanced around, eyes scanning. He moved purposefully, checking behind display cases and peering into nooks as he searched for clues.
“Anything?” Ray asked.
“Nothing,” Callie replied before turning to Noah. “I don’t get it. If the perp pointed here, why wouldn’t he explain where they are?”
Noah’s mind raced as he considered their next move. He instinctively turned to the geocache description from the previous site, hoping to find a clue that would shed light on their current predicament. Running his thumb over the pin from the farm, a thought sparked in his mind.
Noah stepped into the Miracle Moments store, his eyes scanning the array of unique Olympic Region, and winter sports apparel and memorabilia that lined the shelves. Jackets, sweatshirts, T-shirts, hats, pins, books, posters, and gift items filled the space, each a testament to the area’s rich history and culture.
Making his way to the section where the pins were kept, Noah noticed a container holding pins identical to the one he had found earlier. Without hesitation, he lifted the container and emptied it, the pins scattered across the surface.
As he sifted through, Noah’s fingers brushed against something small and familiar — a 35 mm container hidden among them. His heart quickened with excitement as he picked it up, recognizing it as the kind often used in geocache sites when the cache was of a micro size.
Callie watched with curiosity as Noah opened the container, revealing a roll of paper tucked inside. He unfurled the paper with eager anticipation, revealing yet another riddle hidden within.
“The pin was the directions,” Callie observed, shaking her head in disbelief.
“In more ways than one,” Noah agreed as he examined the riddle before them.
Noah’s brow furrowed as he read aloud the enigmatic riddle:
“Frozen in time, they stand so still,
