Chapter 702 Chapter 702
The perfect spot ended up being an outcropped area below the top she thought they were going to. It wasn’t a tiny space, but it also wasn’t a very big space. Maybe she was just being a girl, but one of the first things she thought of was that with the area being so small and the only tree on it turned out to be something not very much bigger than she’d call a Charlie Brown Christmas tree—where was she going to go pee if she needed to?
Taggart came out of the two-person tent, which was issue number two she hadn’t considered until she saw it. “I think we leave guns in tent to stay dry.” He came over and held out a pair of binoculars.
“I locate where we is on map, and you look for the camp men use.” He squatted down and opened the map on his legs. He looked up and then to the left. “Okay. I think is that way.” He pointed. “Look and see.”
Raising them to her eyes, she looked in the direction he pointed. Adjusting the focus, she moved a fraction of an inch at a time, watching for anything that was natural. “How did they get here? Did anyone say if they used snowmobiles or anything?”
“I no think to ask.”
He spoke from beside her, so she knew he stood up.
“Maybe look where trees no too thick. I think they no have pack to pull.”
She thought he was right about that. They would have had to haul their gear in. Until today she’d never heard of someone thinking to use their animal to pull gear and supplies. She moved again and then froze and went back a fraction in the other direction. Something had flashed, like a reflection off the sun. It took some focus to see it, but she found the tents. There were two of them, and they were much larger than the one behind her. “Found it.” She pointed and then held out the binoculars for him to look.
“Ah, is good view. Yes?”
“We should be able to monitor if they all come back.”
“Is good.” He looked around more and then looked at her. “We call Kenzo now.”
Deva went over and got her phone. “I’ll send a text, just in case now isn’t a good time for him to talk.” When she looked over again, he was checking the sky with the binoculars.
“I see Hadleigh.” He said quietly. “She circle over right.” He pointed.
Deva checked the sky and could make out a bird but couldn’t say if it was an eagle or other kind. Her phone buzzed in her hand. Kenzo had replied and told her to call Calum. “Kenzo must not be able to talk. We’re supposed to call Calum.”
“Okay. Call. I look for other bird in sky.”
She brought up her call list and hit Calum’s name.
“No put phone on speaker. Sound carry down over.”
She nodded and put it to her ear. She wouldn’t have thought of that. It was one more thing that told her how much Taggart had spent moving unseen and hiding.
“Yeah?”
“It’s Deva. Kenzo said to call you for updates.”
“Yeah. He’s laying low, keeping an eye on two that searching for us. Wynter is doing the same with the other two.”
“I thought there were five.”
“There is. No one has seen the fifth one.”
“Taggart. Check the camp again. There’s one man they haven’t located.”
“I do this.”
“You guys set up to watch the camp?”
Deva looked around. “We’re on a small outcropping halfway up a cliff.” It wasn’t an actual cliff, but hill didn’t explain it right.
“Is it a good location to see anyone coming and going?”
She nodded. “It is.”
“Okay. They can’t make a move until all of them are together. If they don’t all go back at dark, it’s going to be a long wait. Just sit tight, keep an eye on their camp, and someone will let you know when it’s time.”
Deva exhaled slowly. “Okay. Do I call you or text Kenzo if we see anything useful?”
“Don’t text him after dark.”
She nodded. She wouldn’t have thought of that. A phone lighting up with a message would be visible if someone was nearby. “Okay.”
“If it’s not resolved by the end of tomorrow, we’ll send more people to cover all bases at once.”
“All right. We’ll watch and wait.”
“Sounds good.” She was going to say goodbye and then changed her mind. “Any word from the person you have looking for Zain?”
“Not yet, but I’m sure they’ll be in touch soon.”
She watched Taggart drag the pack they’d pulled over and spread it out. He sat down on it and then raised the binoculars to his eyes. “Okay. Thank you.”
“Keep warm.” He hung up.
Deva put the phone back in the inside pocket of her jacket so she would feel if it vibrated.
“Is news of friend?” he didn’t look at her, just continued to watch the camp.
“Nothing yet.”
“That is good thing,” he said quietly. “If he no found now then it mean he has plan and is okay.”
She went over and sat on the canvas beside him. “You think he had a plan to run off and hide?”
“If is some thing he think he might has to do then he make plan as a just in case, you understand?”
Deva looked down into the trees, hoping she might see someone. “I hope you’re right. Whatever the reason he had to do this, I’m glad it was well thought out.”