Chapter 44
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.”
“What of Kenzo and Wynter? What is plan?”
She’d almost forgotten about that. “Kenzo and Wynter, both are staying close by to keep an eye on four that are searching, and we’re to watch for the fifth one or for them all to go back to their tents.”
“We watch for one at the camp and let them know where is he?”
“Basically. If we can’t get them all in one place by tomorrow night, Calum is sending more to help.”
“Is tricky thing. If is radio or phone in tent and one is there, they make call to tell that we found them.”
“Which means they’d send more because if we’re watching them then they’re close to the factory.”
“Yes. That.” He turned and looked at her. “Is to be long night. Go rest. I will watch for now.” He searched her face for a second and then turned back to watch.
“Okay.” She knew she wouldn’t sleep, but she should at least try. It was the responsible thing to do. “Do you want a sleeping bag or anything so you don’t get cold?”
He chuckled. “Is no cold here. I be at very cold place many, many time. This no so bad.”
“Okay.” She got up. “I guess we can’t make a fire or anything to eat later.”
“No fire is bad idea. We will eat what is in bag.”
She opened the tent.
“Deva.”
She turned and looked back to see he was still watching the camp.
“I should put on the white suit, so I no be see up here.”
She’d forgotten about them. They were both in black jackets and probably were visible from far away. “I’ll get it for you.”
“Thank you.” He continued to look.
~
Surprisingly she had napped briefly, but it made sense really. She hadn’t slept much when they had been at the location for the island, and the long drive had consisted of nodding off and then startling awake with the movement of the van. As far as she knew, Taggart had slept less than she had.
After getting the suit on and putting her chilly boots back on, she unzipped the tent to see Taggart was still sitting where she left him. Surely, he’d moved around a little. It was about an hour until dark. “Anything?”
“Missing man is at camp. He must have sleep but is up now and out of tent.”
“Did you message someone?”
“I send Calum message. I no want to talk and wake you.”
“Thanks.” She went over and sat down beside him. “Any word from Kenzo or Wynter?”
“Calum say ones looking for factory stop and settle down for night.”
She sighed. “So, they’re not going to be together tonight.”
“Is look that way.” He lowered the binoculars and the rubbed his eyes.
She held out her hand. “I’ll watch for a bit. You can get up and move around.”
“Okay. Yes.” He handed her the binoculars. “Thank you.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek softly. His lips were icy cold.
He stood up. “I think I might go down to bottom and shift and go take look at camp.”
She lowered the binoculars and looked up at him. “We were told to stay here and watch.”
“I no be seen. I just look around and see what is what.” He stretched his arms over his head. “Maybe see how they get to there or if they has some thing we need to know about.”
“You’re thinking weapons?”
“I’m thinking we no know and we need to.”
She squeezed her eyes shut. It was a good idea. The more they knew, the less they’d be unprepared. “I don’t know if it’s a good idea.”
“Is probably no good idea but is important to be ready for any thing to happen.” He bent down and dangled his hands over his feet. “I go when is dark.”
Deva unzipped her suit. “I’ll message Calum that you’re going to.”
Taggart grinned. “You think he tell me no to do?”
“I think we just need everyone to be informed.” She brought up his number and his message. With quick movement, she typed it out and hit send.
“Is hard for me to be used to many others to help.”
She looked at him again. “I guess it would be if you’re used to doing everything alone.”
“Alliance teams are smart thinkers and very ready for all things.”
“Up until we went to do the island, I didn’t have to be prepared for much, but I’m glad everyone else thinks ahead.” She lifted the cool metal to her eyes and looked to find the camp again.
“You think of things too, my beauty Deva. I know you has my back, and I no worry.”
Her phone buzzed and vibrated against the metal of the binoculars. She lowered them and checked the message. Part of her wished Calum disagreed with Taggart going, but he didn’t. “Calum says to be careful and let him know.”
“Okay. Good. I go eat some things and be ready when is dark.”
She heard him walk away. Tucking her phone back inside her jacket, she zipped up the suit and looked down into the trees. Would it be too much to ask for the guy down there to leave before Taggart got down there? How was he going to sneak up and check things out without that man seeing, hearing, or smelling him? She found him and watched him move around the area. He went over and lifted up what looked like a white tarp and reached in and got something. From this angle, there could be any number of things hiding under tarps, and she’d never see them. One thing she did know was going to happen when Taggart went down there was, she would be up here on the friendly end of one of those rifles in the tent, covering his back every step of the way.