Page 90 of Trail to Trouble
“The appropriate response is pretty evident now,” Chief Ricco said.
After discussing the wording for a moment, Hannah fired a text back.
I’ve only been there twice since then, until now. It’s a bit cold for camping, but I’ll make do.
“Mandi will take you to the conference room. I’m going to make a couple of calls, and I’ll join you there in a bit,” the chief said.
She, Hunter, Lee, and Heidi exited the office and waited for Mandi. When she returned to the front office area, she had a large paper map in her hands.
“Chief said to wait for him in the conference room,” Lee said.
Mandi nodded and led them down the long, narrow hall to the conference room.
The horrid memory of walking down this same hallway felt as fresh as if it were yesterday. The reality of today enhanced the eerie sensation swirling in Hannah’s stomach. Even with the danger, she was glad they were doing this today. She needed Sebastián to screw up, so he’d wind up back in prison. That would be the only way she’d be safe.
Lee took the map from Mandi and laid it out on the table. He, Hunter, and Heidi talked about the access points to Lover’s Leap Falls. There were more than she’d realized.
Chief entered the room with three officers, one being Dewey, the older officer she’d met years ago. He grabbed a marker from the pencil holder on the table and began marking access points to Lover’s Leap Falls. The group discussed each one and the level of access.
“I assume he’ll go for easy access with a bit of cover,” the chief said.
That made sense. Sebastián wasn’t an outdoorsy guy, and he didn’t know the area.
The most used access was the one they’d taken years ago from the campsite, but it required a canoe. The shortest access was the one she’d taken when she ran for help, but it wasn’t a clearly marked trail. Once she’d gone off-trail, she simply followed the river until she reached a road. She doubted Sebastián would attempt this. There were two long, well-marked trails to Lover’s Leap from two other campsites, and one long trail from a road on the opposite side of the river from where Yooper Adventures was headquartered. But anyone could make their way through the woods from any point they supposed, but it would take someone with knowledge of the area and who wasn’t afraid to deal with rugged terrain to do so. Sebastián was lazy. He’d opt for easy.
“Lee, I’d like you and Heidi to set up a tent with a few camping supplies on the Lover’s Leap campsite. Make it look like someone is using the site. I want you to set it up quickly and then get out of there. Go home, but stay out of sight. If Sebastián winds up at Yoopers, I don’t want you to scare him off. Call me if that happens. Can you do that?”
“You got it,” Lee replied.
The chief pointed at the map. “Collins will post here, Dewey will take this trailhead, and Hansen here will cover the access from the campsites farther away. I’ll take the Lover’s Leap campsite. Sheriff Anderson will take the road access spot here, and his deputies will patrol the surrounding roads.”
“What should I do?” Hunter asked.
“You and Hannah will be with me and stay out of sight and do as I say. Understood?”
Chief Ricco and Hunter eyed each other for a moment.
“Yes.”
Hannah supposed the last thing the chief needed was someone running rogue on him. At least she’d be involved.
The chief handed Lee a handheld radio.
“Let me know if you see or hear anything suspicious,” the chief said.
Lee nodded.
Hunter followed Lee out.
“Where are you going?” Chief Ricco asked Hunter.
“I need to get something out of Uncle Lee’s truck.”
Hunter returned a moment later with the weapon cases, two camouflage, lightweight jackets, and a forest green backpack. She didn’t recognize the jackets or the backpack. They must be Lee and Heidi’s.
The chief looked him up and down but didn’t say a word.
ChapterTwenty-Four
