The Grudge (11 page)

Alyson searched the report for the other numbers. “It says he fell at approximately one forty. 138 could be the time he was supposed to get on the chair.”

“You think he purposely got on that particular chair at that particular time?” Devon asked.

“Randy said Todd got to the front of the line, then talked to him while several others loaded. Maybe he was waiting for that specific chair to come around.”

“Okay, why?”

“I don’t know. I’m sure if he knew how his ride would end up he would have taken another chair.”

“Maybe the killer promised him something,” Devon speculated. “Or maybe he was blackmailing him, or it was some type of ransom situation. Whatever the reason, it appears Todd was instructed to take that particular chair on that particular run at that particular time.”

“The 16 might be the run number. I think I saw a map somewhere around here. All the runs are numbered.”

Devon looked around the room. “Here it is. Patty’s run is number 16. I guess we figured out this clue. I’d better call my dad.”

Alyson tossed the file aside and ate her tepid soup as Devon made the call.

“I had to leave a voice mail. Hopefully he’ll call back soon. How’s the soup?”

“Cold.”

“I can make you some more.”

“No, it’s okay. If Todd Wallford did ride a particular chair on a particular run at a particular time maybe my idea about the disabled man isn’t that far off. Suppose Bret somehow got the man to ride a particular chair at a specific time. He wanted to tamper with chair 146 and knew that when that chair was exactly at the top of the mountain chair 582 or whatever would be exactly at the bottom, so he arranged for someone who may or may not have actually been disabled, to ride that particular chair up the mountain just as 146 was headed down the mountain to pick up Wallford.”

“As crazy as that sounds it makes sense. The only thing I don’t get is why the killer went to so much trouble. I mean, slipping poison in a drink is a lot less work than arranging for such an intricate set of circumstances.”

“Yeah,” Alyson agreed, “it does seem odd that the deaths have all been so different. From a serial killer standpoint it would make more sense to kill everyone the same way. There must be a reason the killer is doing things the way he is. I mean, Mario was injured in an explosion. He happened to be off that day, so the killer had to arrange for Charlie to get food poisoning. Why not just wait until the next day, when Mario would be on duty?”

“Good point.”

“Better yet, why not just slip some poison in his coffee? The timing and method of the deaths must have some sort of significance to the killer.”

“Yeah, but what?” Devon asked.

“I have no idea. Other than the fact that he wanted the deaths to look like accidents.”

“The more we research this the more complicated it gets.”

“And we still don’t have motives for the murders,” Alyson pointed out. “I’m leaning toward Bret as the killer, but I can’t imagine why he’d do it. I guess we should keep looking.”

“Quite the task maker, aren’t you?” Devon returned to the computer.

“I’d just really like to get this wrapped up. I can’t help wondering if there are other intended victims. Maybe if we can get this figured out in time we can save a life.”

“I’m not sure we can find the motive behind a psycho killer’s actions on the Web,” Devon said.

“At least we can try.” Alyson sat quietly with her thoughts as Devon continued to work. If it weren’t for the fact that there was a killer on the loose and she felt like crap she’d be having a really good time. The resort was absolutely fabulous.

“I think I found something,” Devon said after several minutes.

“What?”

“A newspaper article. You’ll want to take a look at this. There’s a photo.”

Alyson walked over to the computer and looked over Devon’s shoulder. “Oh my God. I think we’ve found the murderer
and
the next victim.”

“‘A military court in Washington, DC, ruled today that six of the seven defendants in the Kabul murders were innocent of all charges. The marine squad, made up of seven GIs, was dispatched to infiltrate a terrorist cell in the capital city of Kabul. The premises where the terrorists were believed to reside was ambushed and all occupants were killed. An investigation showed that the home was not occupied by armed terrorists but by an uninvolved family,’” Devon read.

“Oh God. No wonder Mario wanted to hide out. How awful. Couldn’t they tell that the family was innocent?”

“There’s more. ‘An extensive investigation and interviews with all involved uncovered the fact that one member in the party was responsible for all the shooting, while the other six tried to stop him. The court ruled that Private Bret Robbins suffered a psychotic breakdown during the attack. He was transferred to a psychiatric facility upon deliverance of the verdict.’”

“So the other six were Mario, Stacy, Bruce, Martha, Todd, and…” Alyson asked.

“Someone named Mark Wallace.”

“Do you think he’s here?”

“I think we’d better find out. Get dressed; we’ll see if Dawn at the front desk can tell us if he’s registered. If we’re lucky the slide kept him away.”

Alyson threw on some clothes and returned to the living room, where Devon was leaving another message for his father.

“The others have the Expedition,” Alyson pointed out.

“There’s a two-seater snowmobile out back. We’ll have to take that. Bundle up; it’s bound to be a nippy ride and I don’t want you getting any sicker than you already are.”

Alyson pulled on her heaviest jacket and her hat, gloves, and snow boots. She wrapped a scarf around her neck for good measure and joined Devon outside.

The ride to the main lodge was indeed a chilly one. Devon had given her a helmet with a face shield, but she still could feel the cold air on her cheeks.

Devon pulled up in front of the lodge and hopped off. “I hope Dawn’s here today. Someone who doesn’t know us might not give us information about registered guests.”

“Dawn,” Alyson greeted her as they walked in. “I need to know if you have a Mark Wallace registered.”

“I’ll check. No, no Mark Wallace. We do have an employee named Mark Wallace, though.”

“Where does he work?’

“He’s on the avalanche crew. Just started a couple of months ago. You could check with security to see where he is right now. I heard they were going to clear the backside of the mountain today, so I’m betting he’s there.”

“This is pretty urgent. Can you call security for us to check?”

“Sure. Hang on.”

“Clear the back side of the mountain?” Alyson whispered as Dawn called.

“If there’s an avalanche danger they set off explosives to create a controlled avalanche. It lessens the potential for a real one.”

“Security confirmed he’s with the blast team,” Dawn informed them.

“Do you have a map of where they are? Preferably a topographical one?” Devon asked.

“No, but I’ll have Raina in security fax one over. Give me a few minutes.”

“What good’s a topographical map going to do us?” Alyson whispered. “Do you know how to read one?”

“Actually, I do. Plus I have a GPS back at the house. We’ll pick it up on the way. Once we punch in the coordinates it should lead us right to him.”

Alyson sneezed.

“Maybe you should wait at the house. I can go alone.”

“No way. I’m going. I’ll be fine.”

“Okay, it’s your fun case of pneumonia.”

“I’m not going to get pneumonia. I just have a little cold.”

“Here’s the map.” Dawn handed it to Devon. “I had Raina circle his probable location. Why do you want to see him so bad anyway?”

“You know all the weird stuff that’s been happening lately?”

“’Nuff said. Good luck; there’s some pretty steep terrain up there and the avalanche danger is rated as extreme today. Be careful.”

“We will. Thanks again.”

“Should we tell someone where we’re going?” Alyson asked.

“I left a message for my dad and Dawn knows exactly where we’re headed. Dad checks his messages like clockwork. At this point I’m not sure who else to trust.”

“Good point.”

“Let’s get the GPS and head up the mountain. It’s quite a ways. It’ll probably take an hour or more to get there by snowmobile.”

“That long? I’d better stock up on Kleenex.”

The ride up the mountain was both long and dangerous. The fresh powder slowed the journey and made the trip more difficult. As the machine lumbered to plow through the soft snow, it threw up a trail that left both Devon and Alyson soaked to the skin.

“How much longer?” Alyson yelled.

“At least another half hour.”

“I hope we’re not too late.”

“Me too. Maybe Bret’s not even up there.”

Alyson held on tight as they navigated the deep snow. It was too hard to be heard over the roar of the engine.

“Why do you think Bret killed all those people?” Alyson asked when they stopped so Devon could consult the map. “Do you think he felt betrayed when they testified against him?”

“Probably. Although Mario got him a job and covered for him when he flaked. You’d think that would count for something.”

“People with psychological problems are capable of anything,” Alyson said. “He expected to see terrorists in that house, so he saw them even when his eyes told him differently. Maybe he sees the rest of his squad as the enemy. Who knows how someone like that might think? I just hope we’re not too late.”

“I just hope we get there before the sun goes behind the mountain. I don’t want to have to navigate this in the dark.”

“Mac and the others are going to freak out when they get home and we’re not there.” Alyson realized they’d never make it back before they got home.

“I know. I didn’t want to leave a note telling them where we were because then they’d really freak out. My dad will have to fill them in. I’m betting he’s gotten my message by now and is right behind us.”

“I hope so. Backup would be nice.”

Devon tucked the map into his jacket and they continued on the journey. To say that it was cold would be putting it mildly. In fact, to say that it was freezing would be putting it mildly. Alyson was sure she was going to turn completely blue if they didn’t arrive at their destination soon.

“I think I see something up ahead,” Devon said. “A reflection of some type. Keep your eyes peeled. I think we’re getting close.”

“Any idea how we’re going to stop Bret if he is up here? He has a closet full of explosives and we don’t even have a slingshot, let alone a gun.”

“Yeah, I thought of that. I’m hoping he won’t be there and we can warn Mark before it’s too late. If Bret’s already there, chances are we’re too late and we’ll have to run.”

“It looks like there’s a platform of some type up ahead.” Alyson pointed into the distance.

“Probably the launch pad from which they can set the explosion.”

“It looks like there’s someone walking around. Here’s hoping its Mark and not Bret.”

Devon drove closer, and Alyson hoped whoever was on the platform was so engrossed with their task they wouldn’t notice them coming.

“There’s someone on the mountain,” Alyson said. “It looks like someone in snowshoes.”

Suddenly there was a loud blast, and a wall of snow coursed down the mountain, taking the man on snowshoes with it.

“Oh, God. That guy just got buried alive,” Alyson shouted.

“Hang on. I’m betting that was Mark, and Bret’s going to notice us any minute.”

Devon changed direction and headed into the trees, pushing the machine as fast as it would go. A bullet whizzed past them and ricocheted off a nearby tree. Devon headed deeper into the tree cover in an attempt to lose their tail. Several more bullets whizzed past before Devon managed to push far enough ahead to pull out of range.

“Are you okay?” he yelled.

“I’m fine.”

Devon drove deeper and deeper into the forest until he was convinced they were no longer being followed.

“Do you think we’re safe?” Alyson asked as Devon slowed down.

“I think so. It’s almost dark. I’m betting he turned back. Probably figured the elements would take care of us.”

“Will they? Take care of us? Do you have any idea where we are or how to get back?”

“No. I dropped the GPS when I was hauling through the trees. I suppose the village is down the mountain, but it’s getting late, and even if we did happen to luck out and be in the general vicinity, we’d never make it before we froze to death. We need to find shelter.”

“Shelter?” Alyson cried. “Shelter where? There’s nothing as far as the eye can see but trees and snow. We’re going to die, aren’t we?”

“No, we’re not going to die. Hang on; I’m going to climb to the top of that hill to see if I can get a sense of where we are. We still have the map. Maybe I can find a cave or something.”

“Oh, great. Let’s just bunk with Smokey.”

“Alyson, you need to get a grip. We need to keep clear heads if we’re going to get out of this.”

Alyson took a deep breath and willed herself to shut out the hysteria that was threatening to take over. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m hanging on. Let’s go.”

Devon drove to the top of the hill and got off the snowmobile. He sank to his waist in the fresh powder and slowly waded to the top of the summit, looking in all directions.

Alyson was shivering when he returned. “I think I saw a flash of some sort. Like a reflection. Let’s head that way and see what we can find. Are you okay?”

“Cold,” she stuttered. “It’s gotten so cold.”

“I know. Hang on. It won’t be much longer. I think the reflection was from a metal roof. I remember someone mentioning that there were hunting cabins up here that are used in the summer.”

Alyson prayed that Devon was right about the cabin. They’d never survive a night in the open.

She was shaking uncontrollably by the time they finally pulled up to the small hunting cabin. Devon picked her up and broke down the door.

The place was sparsely furnished, but there was a stone fireplace and a pile of wood. Devon set Alyson on a chair and started a fire. Then he searched the cabin for blankets. There was a double bed in the back room. Devon pulled off the mattress and set it on the floor in front of the fire. He piled all the blankets he could find on top of it and tucked everything in so any heat they generated would stay inside.

“Take off your clothes. They’re soaking wet.”

“Can’t. Hands are frozen. Can’t move.”

Devon picked Alyson up and set her on the floor near the fire. He stripped off her wet hat, coat, and gloves. He pulled off her boots, followed by her jeans and sweater. When she was stripped down to her bra and underwear he wrapped her in the blankets and stripped off his own clothes down to his boxer shorts. He threw another log on the fire and climbed under the blankets with her.

“It’s okay. You should be warm in a few minutes. Try to relax.”

“So cold. Can’t feel my legs or feet.”

“It’s okay. The feeling should return in a few minutes.”

Devon tucked Alyson beneath him. Alyson continued to shake as he rubbed her limbs, she imagined, in an attempt to stimulate circulation.

“So how’d you like your first snowmobile ride?” Devon asked. “That’s quite a machine. Pulled sixty even with both of us on it. I’ve been thinking about getting one, but I guess there’s not much snow in Cutter’s Cove. Maybe I’ll get a Jet Ski this summer. It’s probably a similar rush.”

Alyson felt herself begin to warm.

“I hope Andi’s dad isn’t too upset about the dent we put in the side of the snowmobile when we sideswiped that tree.” Devon continued to chatter on. “I heard Andi say he just got it this winter.”

“Devon,” Alyson whispered, “my legs. It feels like there are a million needles poking me.”

“That’s good. It means the circulation is coming back.”

“It hurts.”

Devon began rubbing her legs. Alyson started to cry as the pain increased.

“It’s okay. Just a few more minutes, I promise.”

Alyson balled up against the pain and Devon held her close. He whispered to her and kissed her neck. He promised the pain would be over soon, and when it was she’d start to feel warm.

Eventually, Alyson stopped crying and started to relax. She scooted closer to Devon and the warmth slowly returned to her limbs.

“Better?”

“I’m finally starting to feel warm.”

“You know, I’ve been fantasizing for months about doing this. Maybe not in this exact situation.”

“Devon…”

“Just kidding. Well, not really. But don’t worry; I’m just trying to warm you up, nothing more.”

“I can’t help thinking about Mark Wallace. How awful to be buried alive. I think it’s one of my worst fears, especially since the dreams I had last October, where I was buried in the cave-in.”