Page 26 of Twice Missing
It was too late; she was already making a beeline across the street, hand on her service weapon. "Ah, for fuck's sake," McKenzie said, getting out and following. By the time he made it across, Thorne was talking with thewoman, who was pointing toward the motel room. She was clearly drugged up, slightly incoherent.
McKenzie dashed toward the motel. He entered the room to find it empty, but he could hear movement at the back. "Adirondack County Sheriff. Doug. If you're back there, come on out." McKenzie could still hear a commotion. He hurried into the bathroom to find Doug attempting to escape out the window, except his large figure couldn't squeeze through the confined space and had gotten stuck so his legs were dangling in the air, and he was half in and half out.
"Aye, laddie, you bloody fool," McKenzie muttered. He turned back. "Thorne!"
She appeared and saw the situation. "I'll go around the back."
As she was making her way out, and McKenzie was attempting to have words with Doug about why he was there, McKenzie heard movement behind him. He glanced over his shoulder in time to see a man who had been hiding in the closet burst out and dart for the door.
"What the—" McKenzie took off after him, yelling to Thorne that they had a second suspect on foot.
The chase was on. McKenzie's heart pounded as he pursued the suspect out of the motel and into the snowy street. The man was quick, darting between parked cars and weaving through the sparse evening traffic. McKenzie's boots slipped on the icy sidewalk, but he managed to keep his footing.
Suddenly, the suspect grabbed a shopping cart from in front of a store and sent it hurtling towards McKenzie. Thedetective tried to dodge, but his foot caught on the cart's wheel, sending him sprawling onto the cold, hard pavement. Pain shot through his leg, but adrenaline pushed him back to his feet.
The suspect had gained ground, but McKenzie wasn't about to give up. He saw the man duck into a convenience store and followed, pushing past startled customers. The suspect knocked over displays and sent items clattering to the floor, creating obstacles for McKenzie to navigate.
They burst out the back door of the store into an alley. McKenzie's lungs burned in the frigid air as he pushed himself to keep up. They turned onto Court Street, the suspect's lead narrowing as McKenzie's longer strides began to close the gap.
Just as McKenzie thought he might catch him, the suspect made a sharp turn around a large government office building. McKenzie followed, but as he rounded the corner, he saw the man disappearing into the dense forest that bordered the town.
Out of shape and out of breath, his leg throbbing from the fall, McKenzie watched helplessly as the suspect vanished into the woods. He bent over, hands on his knees, gulping in the cold air. "Damn it," he muttered between breaths.
Knowing there was nothing more he could do, McKenzie limped back to the motel. When he arrived, he found Thorne struggling with Doug, who was still stuck halfway out the bathroom window.
"Little help here?" Thorne grunted.
McKenzie grabbed Doug's legs and, with a mightyheave, pulled him back into the bathroom. They all tumbled to the floor in a heap, Doug looking disheveled and panicked.
"You, my friend, are in a world of trouble," McKenzie said, his voice a mix of exhaustion and grim satisfaction.
10
The warm, inviting atmosphere of Peak 46 was a welcome relief from the chill of the winter evening. Noah Sutherland sat at a polished mahogany table, his fingers tracing the rim of his untouched whiskey glass as he waited for Natalie Ashford to return from her urgent phone call. The tavern, named after the forty-six high peaks of the Adirondack Mountains, was a local favorite, nestled in the heart of High Peaks.
The spectacular Ridgeway Lodge and resort, which housed Peak 46, was set back a mile from the shores of High Peaks Lake, tucked between the town and the ski slopes of Whiteface Mountain. Surrounded by picturesque woodland, the lodge looked like a gigantic Christmas tree, with twinkling bright yellow lights shining through a vast array of large windows. Inside, Peak 46 felt welcoming with its rustic design, antlers for chandeliers, and warm, thick mahogany and cedar furnishings. The forest-inspiredatmosphere with breathtaking views was something to behold, especially on a night like this, with snow gently falling outside the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Noah's eyes wandered around the tavern, taking in the details he'd missed when they first arrived. The bar was crafted from a single, massive tree trunk, its bark still intact in places, giving it a rugged, natural feel. Behind it, rows of bottles gleamed in the soft lighting, their labels promising warmth and comfort on this cold winter night. The walls were adorned with vintage skiing equipment and old photographs of the Adirondacks, each telling a story of the region's rich history.
He and Natalie had been engaged in light conversation, carefully steering clear of her father's business and the questions Noah had regarding Luther Ashford's potential involvement with the cartel. That kind of information, Noah hoped, might be extracted after a few drinks had lowered her inhibitions. While he knew that saving Natalie's life had opened the door into her world, he still wasn't sure how much to trust her.
Natalie's voice cut through his thoughts as she returned to the table, her face etched with concern. "Uh-huh, yes, I will be there right away," she said, ending the call.
"Everything okay?" Noah asked, setting his drink down after taking a sip.
Natalie's expression was a mix of frustration and apology. "Actually, no. I hate to do this, Noah, but something has come up and I need to go and handle it."
Noah frowned, gesturing to the empty space where their meals should have been. "But we just ordered."
"I know," Natalie sighed. "I'll cancel my order with them on my way out."
"Do you need me to come with you?" Noah offered, more out of courtesy than genuine desire.
"No, no, it's okay," Natalie replied quickly. "Um, you stay, eat. Someone should enjoy the food."
She rose from her seat and slipped back into her jacket, the movement graceful despite her obvious haste. "I promise I will make it up to you. I'll order in at my place or we'll come here again."
"Sure. Okay," Noah responded, trying to mask his disappointment and suspicion.
