Savich gave Ray a salute and set off toward the nurses’ station to ask for Kara Moody’s room number. He heard loud voices down the hall and someone was screaming.
It was Kara.
10
LONDON-CORBIN MAGEE FIELD
LONDON, KENTUCKY
MONDAY, LATE AFTERNOON
Cam stepped forward, shook the chief’s big hand. “Chief Harbinger? I’m Agent Cam Wittier. This is Agent Jack Cabot.”
They handed him their creds, watched him nod as he looked them over and handed them back. “Good to put faces to names. My name’s Quinn, but everybody calls me Chief. Just Chief. You okay with that?”
“Not a problem, Chief,” Jack said.
Chief turned, took his daughter’s hand. His voice was both irritated and admiring. “And this is my daughter, Kim. I think you know my daughter spotted Manta Ray and his two compadres walking into the national forest. We’ll be dropping her off at the London Ranger Station, where we’ll be picking up our guide, Head Ranger Wayne Duke—we call him Duke. I thought it might be useful to give you a chance to speak with Kim on the way over. In fact, she insisted on speaking with you in person, even said her lips were sealed after she came up with that idea. She’s just like her mom. I’ve learned from harsh experience it’s easier to cooperate.”
Kim rolled her eyes and quickly stepped forward, a huge smile on her face, showing beautiful white teeth. She had a long blond ponytail and bright blue eyes, only a bit darker than Sherlock’s. Her cutoff jeans and sleeveless white shirt showed off her tan and a fit body. High-tops and heavy white socks polished off her presentation, a teen who spent a lot of time outdoors.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Kim.” Cam shook her hand, handed Kim her creds. Jack did the same. It was a show of respect that made the teenager’s eyes widen with pleasure.
Cam nodded toward Chief Harbinger. “When I was your age, Kim, I never got away with giving my dad ultimatums. I’ve always thought it was a pity.” Kim grinned at her father like a sinner who’d cleaned out the collection plate.
“I didn’t, either,” Jack said. “My parents kept me so straight-arrow, joining the service was like a vacation.”
He looked so badass, everyone laughed.
Chief raised an eyebrow straight up. “She’s lucky it was a good idea,” he said and gave his daughter the stink-eye.
“In any case, Kim,” Jack said, “we’re pleased you’ll be able to tell us about Manta Ray. His real name’s Liam Hennessey, and no, I don’t know where he got that moniker. First we want to know why you’re so certain it was Manta Ray you saw.”
Chief looked at his watch. “Hold off on the questions until we get on our way to the London Ranger Station. As I said, we’re hooking up with Head Ranger Wayne Duke there, and meeting up with Harry Morsi. He sells most of the outdoor equipment in Pennington Gap. He’s bringing along everything we’ll need for several days, and nothing we won’t. Kim, Harry will be driving you back home.”
“Or I could go in with you, Dad. You know I’m a really good hiker; I know the forest. I could—”
“Kimmie, that’s not going to happen. Now I expect you to keep your word.”
Cam watched Kim finally nod, but she didn’t look happy. The girl wanted adventure, but it wasn’t going to happen this time.
Chief turned back to Cam and Jack. “One of Duke’s men will be driving us to East Branch Road, where we’ll head into the forest, hopefully before sunset. Since we’ll be in the woods, even the quarter moon won’t give us much light, so we’ll have to stop before long and pick up their trail tomorrow morning.”
“Give me a minute,” Jack said and moseyed over to a man in overalls who was wiping his hands on a rag, looking the Skylane over. They had their heads together for maybe two minutes before the man nodded, and they shook hands. When Jack was back, he said, “My baby is in good hands. No worries.”
Chief gave a little wave at the man in the overalls. “Hank Withers is as trustworthy as they come, seems to know everything there is to know about planes. Can’t say it hurts that it’s an FBI plane—he knows if something happens to it on his watch, he’ll be dog-paddling in the crapper.”
Cam took one last look at the Skylane. “It’d be nice if your baby would grow up a bit while we’re gone, like twenty feet longer with an extra engine or two.”
Jack patted her arm. “Trust me, I have a feeling that when we get back you’ll be happy to hop on board.”
They stowed their backpacks in the back of the SUV, piled in, Cam in front with Chief Harbinger and Jack in the back with Kim. Chief pulled out of the airfield onto a two-lane blacktop. “If I’d turned right, we’d end up in Corbin. But we’re going on the main road to the London Ranger Station.” He shot her a grin. “Which doesn’t meant anything to you. Okay, Jack, Cam, fire away. Kim, answer their questions.”
Jack said, “First, Kim, tell us why you’re so certain it was Manta Ray you saw walking into the forest.”
Kim leaned toward him. “I’d seen this guy’s—Manta Ray’s—wanted poster in Dad’s office and remembered thinking what a waste because he was so handsome. My friend Pam and I, we’d just come out from East Branch Road. We’d spent the morning with some kids from town, hiking and picnicking. We were driving on the dirt road leading out, and I saw him plain as day, with two other guys. One of them was handing Manta Ray a dark wool cap. I couldn’t believe it. I guess I must have sucked in my breath because Pam assumed I knew them and started to stop, and I panicked, told her to get out of there fast. I called my dad right away.” She paused a moment. “I didn’t even think about snapping their photo until later. Sorry.”
Jack said, “That must have been a moment, but you kept your head. You did good, Kim.”