Page 94 of Little Girls Sleeping
“Sir, do we have any other information as to where he could have gone?” asked one of the volunteers.
Sheriff Scott felt sick to his stomach, his heart skipping a beat, as his imagination took many twisted turns thinking about what might happen to Katie and what she was going through at that exact moment. He pushed onward. “We will divide our teams to search all these vicinities.” He gestured to the map behind him. “Rey is attracted to rural areas that are less travelled and could be at any of these locations. I’ve assigned team captains who will further brief you. In addition, we have secured every available resource to expedite the search, including four-wheel-drive vehicles, motorcycles, ATVs, and other equipment.”
Chad studied the maps as he listened intently to the sheriff’s instructions. “Sir, I have a request,” he said. “I would like your permission to take Cisco and search some of the other remote areas you haven’t immediately identified. I know some of these areas are more inaccessible, but I’m capable of making the hike. I will be able to cover more ground with the dog and I have a heavy-duty Jeep that can handle any trail or off-road area.”
Sheriff Scott thought for a moment, then agreed. “Okay, but you have to stay in touch with the closest team leader by radio and with me by cell phone. Understand?” He reached into his pocket and took out a key ring. “Here’s the key to her house.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Be very careful and check in every hour, understand? I don’t have enough manpower to send someone with you.”
“We’ll be fine,” Chad said, and left the room.
Fifty-Three
The search teams assembled at three strategic locations along the trails and rugged roadways leading into the more rural areas of the county. They had accumulated more than one hundred volunteers and would concentrate mostly on the vast unincorporated state-park areas and other uninhabitable regions. Every person had been briefed with the most up-to-date information available.
The first team took off in heavy-duty SUVs and trucks, with motorcycles packed in available cargo areas. They fanned out and worked in a grid system. Each vehicle kept in contact with the others and would provide any assistance necessary. Deputy McGaven was included in the group and was determined to find Katie.
The second team was the largest and consisted of many individual volunteers who were used to searching for missing people, lost hikers, and livestock. They set out on foot in small groups to conduct a slow, meticulous search. A few bloodhounds were also included to follow any scent track that was picked up.
The third team was deployed with ATVs to the forestry areas that had flatter roads. They followed the same protocols as the other two teams and worked in more of a circular grid beginning in a central area. No area would remain unsearched until they found Katie.
Chad loaded up Cisco in his Jeep, making sure he had everything he might need, including rescue climbing gear, the police-issue radio the sheriff had given him, his cell phone, battery-operated lights, emergency flares, a shotgun, a Glock handgun, and a first-aid kit—plus a few more odds and ends.
Cisco obeyed his commands, and the dog’s low, distressed whines showed that he appeared to have a sixth canine sense that it was an emergency.
Chad took one last look inside Katie’s house before leaving. Picking up her hoodie that was draped over a chair, he decided to bring it with him as it had her scent on it. He kept his emotions in check and didn’t want to think about what might have happened to her. His prayers were never more real than at that moment.
He found Katie’s field notebook on the counter, and after reading some of her entries, he realized that she had systematically described her original searches for Chelsea Compton in painstaking detail. He took several precious moments to study her notes and graphs before slipping the notebook into his pocket.
He now had a revised plan.
He worked out search details as he drove to the area where he and Katie had recently had lunch. According to the maps, many of the trails wound around to other areas with vehicle access. He would use Katie’s techniques and search parameters to assist in finding her.
Once he reached the picnic area, he continued on westward and then took a road going north that was known only to locals. The police search parties were at different locations, southwest, which was fine with him. He would work a different type of search, straight out of Katie’s own handbook, parking the Jeep and doing a perimeter sweep in a line-strip formation. He wanted to get through the largest amount of ground he could before moving on.
He found a good place to park, and got out of the car carrying just the essentials in order to keep his backpack light.
Cisco leaped out next to him, shook himself, and waited for a command while maintaining his ears alert and forward. He caught wind of something immediately, keeping his nose high and inhaling deeply, but then seemed to lose interest in whatever he had scented.
Chad powered up his cell phone and pulled up an aerial view of the region he was going to search. He divided it up into sections—eight in total. He’d work through them systematically.
“C’mon, boy,” he said.
With Cisco at his heels, he hiked down the narrow road, keeping in mind the time and the direction they were travelling. For added security, he set his phone GPS to keep him on target.
As he walked, he remembered the technique that Katie used for her searches. She’d briefly explained it to him at the gravesite, telling him how she used all of her senses. He stopped, closed his eyes, and listened intently. After a few minutes, he opened them again, amazed at how vivid and detailed everything seemed. He then took a slow three-hundred-sixty-degree turn, studying his surroundings. He would use this technique every so often during the search to look for anything out of place, anything that moved, or anything that appeared to have been recently disturbed.
Cisco padded along keeping his head low and his tail down, concentrating on any curious scent. It was clear that the dog had an instinct that this wasn’t a fun hike. He obediently kept a few paces behind Chad, waiting for his next command.
Chad walked for forty minutes without finding any indication that Rey had taken this particular road. He was at a high altitude and able to see into the various canyon and trail sections. The whole area seemed deserted and lonely. He stopped to listen and take in the view for any indication of movement, dust rising, or unusual sounds.
The air stood still—no wind blew, which was strange in itself. A couple of sparrows chirped their songs, but nothing else moved, scurried, flew, or sang.
Deep emotions welled up inside Chad, something he had never experienced before. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to laugh or cry. The reality of Katie’s predicament was overwhelming and it seemed impossible there would be a happy ending as he looked out at the vast area, searching for answers. He imagined her green eyes gazing at him as her long dark hair blew in the wind. She was a strong, intelligent woman who obviously didn’t know how beautiful she was—or maybe she did and it didn’t make any difference to her. That thought made Chad smile.
The truth was, she could be anywhere—in another state and not in the rural mountain areas that were currently being searched. But looking for her here was a gamble worth taking.
