Page 60 of Twice Missing
"This is insane," McKenzie muttered, his eyes wide as he took in the scene. "What the hell is Marcus mixed up in?"
Noah shook his head, his mind racing. "I don't know, but it's got to be more than just that fire at Jacob's place. This kind of resistance... he's either desperate or protecting something big."
As the firefight continued, Noah could see the toll it was taking on the officers. Their faces were etched with a mix of determination and fear, the reality of the situation weighing heavily on them all. Some crouched behind their vehicles, returning fire when they could. Others had taken positions behind trees, the bark splintering around them as Marcus' bullets found their mark.
"We should call for backup," McKenzie suggested, his voice tense.
Noah nodded, reaching for his radio. But before he could make the call, he saw one of the tribal officers already on his comm, likely summoning reinforcements.
The gunfire seemed to stretch on endlessly, the winter landscape transformed into a war zone. Snow continued to fall gently, a surreal counterpoint to the violence unfolding below. The white flakes melted as they landed on the hotbarrels of the officers' weapons, creating small wisps of steam.
As Noah watched, he couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration. They were so close to potentially uncovering a crucial piece of the puzzle, yet they were forced to remain on the sidelines. The connection between Marcus, Kayla Bravebird, and Emily Carter seemed tantalizingly close, but the hail of bullets kept the truth just out of reach.
"This isn't going to end well," Noah muttered, his eyes fixed on the trailer. "Whatever Marcus is hiding, he's willing to die to protect it."
McKenzie nodded grimly. "Or take as many officers with him as he can."
As the morning wore on and the gunfire showed no signs of abating, Noah knew that this was just the beginning. Whatever secrets lay hidden in Marcus Rivers' trailer, they were about to be blown wide open — one way or another.
While they waited for the situation to unfold, Noah decided to make use of the tense moments. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number he hadn't used in a while, his eyes never leaving the scene before him.
"Riley Morgan," a familiar voice answered, crisp and professional.
"Noah Sutherland. Haven't spoken to you in a while," Noah replied, trying to keep his tone light despite the chaos surrounding him.
As if on cue, another burst of gunfire erupted from the trailer. Noah winced, pulling the phone away from his ear for a moment.
"Please tell me you're at the gun range," Riley said, concern evident in her voice.
"I wish," Noah replied with a grim chuckle. He took a deep breath before continuing. "Look, I hate to ask, but I'm upstate on a reservation and I need to get access to reports on two cases. One's about a murdered indigenous woman from ten years ago, the other's a missing girl. Tribal police are giving me the run-around."
Riley's response was tinged with amusement. "No, they're going by the rulebook. But that never was your thing, was it, Noah?"
He chuckled, appreciating her candor. "Can you help me or not?"
"Give me their names. I'll look into it, but I can't guarantee anything."
Noah quickly reeled off the names: Kayla Bravebird and her aunt, Selena Lightfeather. He paused for a moment before adding, "I need to know the agent that was sent out here too. Maybe you can put me in touch with him."
"What makes you assume it's a him?" Riley challenged, a hint of playfulness in her voice.
Noah laughed, realizing his mistake. "Valid point."
"You know, Noah, the agency has come a long way in its hiring practices," Riley teased.
"Are you going to bust my balls or help me out?" Noah retorted, though there was no real heat in his words.
"Give me one reason why I should," Riley shot back.
Noah grinned, despite the gravity of the situation around him. "New York, a hotel, a six-pack of Yuengling..."
"Yeah, and if my recollection is correct, I woke up alone the next morning," Riley countered.
"I had work," Noah defended weakly.
"You ghosted me."
Noah winced, both at the memory and at another burst of gunfire from the trailer.
