“Of course. Just keep up with your troop and follow the rules until you can get out of here.”

  “Why are you helping?”

  She shrugged. “I have a sense of moral justice that I can’t shake I guess you could say.”

  “Well thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Now go back to your troop.”

  “What should I tell them we discussed?”

  “How about you tell them that you heard someone say how hot Staff Sergeant Vetter is and that you wouldn’t give up the name of who said it. That might give you the credibility you need with the group for tomorrow’s exercise.”

  Ericka scrunched up her face. “Do you think something is going to happen to me tomorrow on the tower?”

  “Honestly, I don’t know.”

  Ericka left the office and went back to the ladies that were still jawing on the porch. They stopped speaking as she approached. Celina opened her mouth, no doubt to ask what Cassandra had wanted, but then the other Vetter showed up.

  “Everyone to barracks and lights out. You gained a reprieve today, but tomorrow we have a big day. Do well and we get our celebration.”

  The ladies all let out a hoot. Ericka followed along in their enthusiasm.

  The tower event had been postponed until tomorrow. Ericka would be more pleased with the news if she thought she’d be off base before it happened.

  They rose as a group and walked to the barracks. Several of them discussed what the last celebration was like and what they looked forward to the most.

  Ericka couldn’t think about anything other than talking to Cassandra. When she climbed onto the top bunk and tried to sleep she couldn’t. Moonlight streamed into the room. It seemed to bounce on the wall as the wind blew a tree limb outside against the windowpane.

  Ericka was in trouble. She’d discovered very little during her stay at the base, but maybe that was all going to change tomorrow.

  ****

  Quinn didn’t reach the blogger’s house until the sun went down. The thirty miles had taken over an hour to traverse because of the curves and the narrow lanes where sometimes he had to wait his turn.

  When finally, he pulled down the long gravel driveway and came to stop at a rusted trailer, he realized coming alone might not have been the best idea.

  He used his phone to message on the blog. He immediately got a reply.

  So, he answered, “I’m here.”

  The rusted screen door opened. Inside the doorway stood someone that was completely unexpected. She had long, straight blond hair and a tad of bangs that laid across her forehead. She was well proportioned with what one might call an hourglass figure. Black framed glasses rested on her nose. Her lips moved upward into a smile as she stepped onto the porch and folded her arms over her chest.

  “You must be Quinn Miller.”

  “I am.” He stepped from behind the door. He didn’t see a gun, so he took a chance and stepped closer.

  “I have sweet tea all poured out. Come on it.”

  Quinn waited until the door closed behind her before he drew in a deep breath and walked after her. On the porch he opened the door. Once inside the house, he widened his eyes.

  The entire wall across from the front door was covered in pictures, news articles, documents, and other papers. Yarn had been pinned from one to the another like a timeline was being created.

  “I’m a visual learner.”

  Quinn nodded.

  “Come into the kitchen.”

  He obeyed. The kitchen was bright and airy. Yellow and white decorated the curtain before the sink. A vase filled with yellow flowers sat on one of the counters.

  “Please take a seat.”

  She’d already settled at the table. A manila file folder lay in front of her.

  “I assume that you’re here about my brother, Issac Larin.”

  “Who?”

  “Chopin.”

  “Oh, yes, Chopin.”

  “Here is everything that I’ve been able to piece together about what he was working on.”

  “Wait. Don’t you want to see my credentials or something?”

  “No need. I already looked you up. I found your profile with a picture, which I might add doesn’t do you justice.” She sipped at her tea and looked at him over the rim of her glass.

  Heat flushed his cheeks. “Um, thank you, I think.”

  “Oh, it is definitely a compliment. You should make them retake it. You’re a highly attractive man.”

  He gulped. The lady was much blunter than he expected.

  “Sorry, if my speech surprises you. I, well, I don’t get many visitors. And well, I know how precious time is. I don’t like to wait to share things.”

  “Of course.” He took a seat across from her.

  “So, how can I help you find my brother? You’re the first person who has ever agreed to listen.”

  Quinn scratched a spot at the side of his head as he searched for the right words. “Do you know what your brother was working on? If anything?”

  She sighed. “All he would tell me was what I wrote on the blog. That base, the one they call the Jump Base, which is supposed to be all secret and stuff, had a shady commander. He was kicking jumpers out for crazy reasons. He claimed they went AWOL when they didn’t. Stuff like that.”

  “So, he was creating a dossier on the commander in charge at the time.”

  “That’s what I understood, yes. Why is that important?”

  “We believe he took files from the base and tried to abscond with them. Do you know if he was working with anyone on the outside?”

  She twisted her mouth to one side. It seemed as if she bit the inside of her mouth as she thought. Then she rose from the chair almost knocking it over, before he caught it with his hand. She raced from the room. Moments passed before she reappeared with another folder.

  She opened it and pointed to a picture. “This man. He was working for him.”

  Quinn swallowed. This was not good. At least not for him and his team.

  “Is something wrong? Do you know him?”

  “Can you tell me in what capacity he knew your brother?”

  “He was the local sheriff at the time. He told my brother to bring him everything he could dig up and he would help him put the base commander up on charges.”

  “But that never happened?”

  “No. My brother worked for a few weeks after the meeting with the Sheriff and then he just disappeared.”

  “You haven’t heard from him in how long?”

  “Fifteen years.” A tear escaped from Fanny’s eye, and she swiped it away. “Now I work from home for an IT company and spend the rest of my time researching and trying to find him.”

  She worked for IT? He might be in love.

  He shook his head. He should probably tell her they thought they had found her brother, but should he do it now or wait? Consulting someone higher than him sounded better to his ears, but who would he ask?

  Chapter Fourteen

  “We need to look around the area where the bones were found.”

  Despite Holden’s medical issue he seemed to be handling his crew like a pro. Tito was glad. His success meant they got the job done and made it home before the deadline.

  The crew of people began walking the area where the bones had been found. A few even dug around the area using small shovels more like a trowel than a shovel. Machines whirled and made noise as they were pushed across the thick grass and the dry dirt.

  “Do you think they’ll find anything after all this time?” Burle watched. He pulled a sucker from his pocket, unwrapped it and popped it into his mouth.

  “I hope so.”

  Tito had his doubts as well.

  Linda walked alongside the equipment. She held an electronic tablet in her hands. Every now and again she would make a noise and the group would stop as she studied the screen, then they would move on.

  “Should we be doing something?”

  Tito had no idea. So far, they had just leaned against the car and watched. He didn’t want to get in the way, and they had no knowledge of how the equipment worked. And Linda had thankfully been wrong. Her entire crew had made it in record time.

  “We might be able to walk and look at trees, I guess.” Burle had popped the sucker out to speak, but then it went right back in his mouth as he set out. His hands in his pockets he started to walk through the thicker brush.

  Tito thought the whole thing was pointless. They were wasting time. They should be forcing the base to show them the file on Chopin. At least they needed his real name. He’d called into the office in New York to put in a request, but so far it was bouncing around like a ping pong ball.

  This guy must be the best kept secret on the planet.

  Tito stopped walking as an idea hit him. “Holden, what was the phone number for that medical examiner you took the bones to?”

  Holden rattled off a number and Tito typed it in.

  The phone was answered on the fifth ring right before Tito was about to hang up.

  “Shamus Smith.”

  “Dr. Smith, this is Tito Santos with the Police Assistance Unit in New York.”

  “Oh, hello. How can I assist you?”

  “A couple weeks ago some of my colleagues brought you a set of bones. The body in question had suffered injuries consistent with someone in the military and someone who jumped from planes.” Tito hoped his words were striking a bell.

  “Oh, yes. I remember that gentleman. In fact, he is still in my storage as the bones haven’t yet been claimed.”

  “That is wonderful news.” Tito paused to think of a way to phrase his next question.

  “Is there something you need me to look for?”

  “Yes, yes, there is. Would you be able to examine the bones for markings that look like strings from a canvas bag.”

  “One moment.”

  The line went silent. Tito watched as the workers kept searching.

  When Dr. Smith returned to the line, Tito straightened.

  “I don’t have to pull out the body for that. I noted it in my chart. On his thigh bone there seemed to be some odd markings. Looking at the pictures I took they are consistent with what might have been a canvas bag. Also, upon further examination I don’t think that the fall and the legs breaking killed him.”

  “What?”

  “There were several stab wounds to the back as well. I believe that one pierced his heart. While it is true that without medical treatment the legs might have killed him, what got him was the stab wound.”

  “Thank you, Doctor. If I give you an email, could you sent me your report?”

  “Of course.”

  Tito rattled off the email address of the New York office and lowered his phone to his side. Instead of yelling out the information he approached Holden. Holden still stood over the area where they had found the body.

  Tito looked into the hole they had carved out around where the bones had laid undisturbed for fifteen years. There wasn’t an indentation for the bag, but he figured it had rotted. Although that had been where it had lain. It had been right behind his legs. The fabric had weaved into his bones over time. The papers that had been secured inside were no doubt long gone. Time would have gotten them, but Tito knew there was a different reason. The killer had taken them and never looked back.

  ****

  Blake had been apprised of Linda and her crews’ movements. Once that information had been conveyed to him, he’d called Chief Ron Wexell. On the phone, Wexell had ordered him to meet him in Asheville. What the Chief was doing in the North Carolina town Blake wasn’t privy too. And he didn’t care. The Chief was the boss of his boss so he would follow orders.

  Blake entered the five-star inn and walked to the front desk. “I’m here to see Chief Ron Wexell.”

  “He’s waiting for you by the pool.”

  Blake nodded as he made his way outside. The oval pool had a breathtaking view of the mountains. No one was swimming because the pool wasn’t open. Chief Wexell was there though. He wore a nice suit and sat beneath an umbrella sipping a drink.

  “Hager, thank you for coming.”

  “Of course, Chief.”

  “Please sit.”

  He snapped his fingers and another drink appeared before Blake. It looked amber in nature. Blake wasn’t inclined to drink while on the job, so he pushed it away from his hand as he leaned forward on the table.

  Chief Wexell sighed. “Don’t you love this view? I’ve been a here a few times with my wife and I just can’t get over the view.”

  “It is beautiful, sir.”

  The Chief waved his hand through the air and lowered his drink from his mouth. “It doesn’t matter, what matters is why I called you here.”

  Blake waited.

  The Chief acted as if he wanted Blake to ask, but he didn’t know where to begin. The Chief cleared his throat. “Yes, well, I’ve brought you here because I want to know the progress of the Chopin case.”

  “The what?”

  “The Chopin case. The office called me and said they believe that the man who died in the woods is Chopin AKA Issac Larin.”

  The office called him? Blake would check that later to make sure.

  That explained how he knew the name. But why had they called the Chief? The entire matter seemed beneath him.

  “So, how is the case? Do you think it is him?”

  “We’re still looking into that.”

  The Chief slammed his fist against the table. The glass bounced and liquid sloshed on the tabletop. Blake jumped as well.

  “I assigned you to this post to get the job done.”

  Blake had no idea that he’d been assigned the position by the Chief. He would have felt complimented if not for the Chief’s bizarre behavior.

  “As I said, we’re working the case.”

  The Chief relaxed and leaned back. “Perhaps you could do it faster.”

  Blake nodded but didn’t reply. They were going as fast as they could. There were two specialized teams working on the case. In his opinion, too many.

  The Chief leaned back in the chair. A wide grin covered his face. “I assigned you because I knew that your tactics are more in line with my own.”

  Blake didn’t care for the sound of that. He would have questioned further, but he was afraid to hear the answer.

  “No matter what you must do I want the information fast and first. If you cut corners, I’ll support you, just get it done.” He pushed back from the chair and stood.

  Blake blinked and looked at Wexell’s retreating back. He had no idea what had just happened. He lifted the phone and dialed the office and placed it to his ear.

  “Malone.”

  “Nick, it’s Blake. You remember that email that I printed out and shared with you?”

  “The one that sent you to North Carolina?”

  “Yes. Could you pull it out and look at the signature on the bottom?”

  “Sure. Just a minute.”

  The line went silent. Blake drummed his fingers on the tabletop and looked out over the mountains. Evergreens dotted the landscape nicely. Green was just starting to appear on some of the other trees. Once they were filled in the area would be even more beautiful.

  “Blake you still there?”

  “Yes.”

  “Looks like it was signed by a Chief Ron Wexell.”

  “Thank you.”

  “That’s high up, man. You could be in line for a promotion. Don’t forget about the little people when you get to the top.”

  Blake hung up. He’d not really taken the time to study the order. He’d been told to go somewhere different and direct a group of agents that had caused him nothing but trouble. He’d seen it as a good opportunity to show them what kind of stuff he was made of. And a good opportunity to screw them over if he felt lead to do so.

  Now he didn’t know who was getting messed with.

  Wexell.

  He was the Chief of everything. He was the boss of his boss. What was he doing calling the shots? And on this case?

  Blake needed to call Tito and see if they had discovered anything of significance. Not to disappoint Wexell, but he wouldn’t be the first to be notified. Blake had the distinct feeling doing that wasn’t in his best interest.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Reveille woke Ericka and the other recruits in her unit. She rolled out of the bunk and landed on the floor with a thud. No one groaned or complained.

  Dressed and outside the barracks they were loaded onto trucks. Ericka didn’t want to know where they were going. She was afraid enough.

  They arrived at a field a few miles away from the base. Towers were scattered across the wide-open space. There were extremely tall towers and shorter towers. The best she remembered, a parachute tower could range from thirty-five feet to over two hundred and fifty feet.

  Ericka gulped and she lifted her neck and tried to gauge the tower’s height that she stood beside.

  Ericka walked sideways, her gaze never leaving the parachute towers. She bumped into Sherry. She’d stopped next to a four-foot platform that was about a foot off the ground.

  “Sorry,” Ericka whispered.

  Sherry just nodded toward the Staff Sergeant.

  Roch paced before them. “You ladies drew the long straw today. We are doing falls from the platform while the men use the towers.”

  A whoosh of air escaped Ericka’s lips. All the recruits lined up next to a platform. She was able to watch the process a few times before she actually had to participate.

  By the time she had to go, she knew exactly what to do. Over and over, they practiced the correct way to fall and land. It was the first step to learning how to land with a parachute. She was sure they kept practicing even that tiniest part to help with muscle memory. And perhaps to help with fear. If she’d done it ten thousand times, she would still be afraid.

  She was just glad this wasn’t her chosen profession.

  Sweat ran the length of her spine and coated her forehead. It ran into her eyes and began to burn. By the time they finished the exercise she was more than ready for it to be over.

  Hours had passed before they climbed back into the truck and headed back to base.

  “Everyone shower and get on your party clothes.” The Staff Sergeant made the announcement then disappeared.