The Remedy (19 page)

So if this is my only option for any sort of company, why the hell am I still living here?

It wasn’t the first time Jake had asked himself the question. The lack of prospects in Embry, VT was only magnified when he happened to venture to a more populated areas like Portland, places where seeing a pretty, single girl in a bar wasn’t just a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. Jake knew he had to get out of here someday—and someday soon, to be precise. While in his thirties, the bachelor still had a chance. There was time to raise some hell with a sexy little hellcat. He just had to find her. And he doubted she was hiding somewhere out here behind an oak tree.

Jake forced himself to concentrate on keeping his wheels on the dimly lit path. He could start prioritizing his life tomorrow. For now, it was best to simply enjoy the brisk but comfortable coolness of a temperate early autumn night and be thankful for the freedom his occupation afforded him every day. He’d rather be tearing along in a grown-up toy with a buddy leading the way than stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on his commute home from another nine-to-five cubicle sentence. So yes, companionship was valuable for sure, but freedom…

Freedom was priceless.

All the same, when Doug had realized he’d left his keys at the station, Jake was grateful for an excuse to avoid heading straight home, as he usually did.

“Ah, shit!” Doug had said, padding his pockets and feeling nothing. “Damn it all to hell, I left my keys at Maple Ridge.”

Jake had been halfway to the headquarters’ front door, just about to say good night to Phil and punch out.

“You sure they’re not inside?” Jake motioned to the building.

“Yeah, I’m sure. The front door handle was loose this morning, so I used the little Swiss Army knife on my keychain to tighten the screw. I remember putting down my keys while I gave it a test and must have totally spaced on picking them back up.”

Jake nodded. “Just give me a second and I’ll take the trip with you.”

“You don’t have to do that. Go home already.” Doug was making his way to an ATV.

“No, wait for me.” Jake turned and jogged to the door. “I want to, it’s a nice night. Just let me give Phil the heads-up and we’ll shoot right up there.”

Doug swung his leg over the seat of a dark red ATV and straddled the transport like a cowboy on horseback. “Suit yourself. Just hurry up. I want to get home for
South Park
.”

“Oh, in that case I’ll radio for a chopper!”

Jake could hear Doug chuckle as he swung the door open. Phil was shutting off the office lights and reaching for his coat.

“Another day, another doughnut,” Phil said, snagging the last remaining donut hole from a cardboard carton sitting by the coffee machine. He crumpled the container and chucked it in the wastebasket. Through a mouthful of pastry he said, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Sure thing, Phil. Doug and I are just gonna shoot up to Maple and grab his keys. Chucklehead left them there this morning.”

Phil looked at him curiously.

“You’re going, too?”

“Yeah, just gonna tag along and make sure the jackass doesn’t leave his head there this time.”

Phil finished pulling his coat over his shoulders. “Seems like an awful lot of trouble, Jake. Why don’t I just give him a ride home and he can get them in the morning?”

Jake pulled open the top drawer of the cabinets that sat to the left of the entrance. As expected, he was able to locate a Maglite flashlight among various pens, screwdrivers, and other miscellaneous items strewn about the junk drawer. He clicked it on to test the batteries. Satisfied with its power, Jake made his way back to the door.

“Yeah, pointless for me to go, too, but what can I say? I guess I must be really bored. You can lock the door behind me. I’ll see ya.”

Phil mumbled something but got cut off as the door swung closed behind Jake, who got only three steps away from the building when he remembered an important question. Jake threw Doug a “one second” gesture with his finger and darted back inside.

“Hey, Phil.” The older man still stood by the coat hangers, staring into space, looking as if he were drowning in a sea of troubling thoughts. The elder ranger flinched at the sound of Jake’s voice and snapped out of it. Jake couldn’t help but notice how much older Phil’s eyes looked than the last time he had noticed them.

“Were there any messages today? Calls, radio activity, whatever?”

Phil stared at Jake, apparently thinking very hard about a question that should’ve been an easy, instant answer.

Man, he must have had a long day. Thank God that cast comes off tomorrow
.

Phil finally cleared his throat and spoke.

“Nope. Not a thing.”

* * *

The forest became deathly quiet the moment Jake turned off the ignition of his ATV. Doug was already waiting for him when he arrived, the younger ranger pulling the key ring connected to the zip cord from his belt. Jake left his vehicle running so its headlight would make Doug’s task of unlocking the door easier, but once the key had opened the lock, Jake killed the engine, leaving the rangers in total silence and darkness.

Doug’s flashlight switched on inside the cabin.

“Hold on,” Jake yelled, swinging his leg around from its straddled position on the ATV’s seat. “I’ll get the generator going. It’ll make it easier to find your keys.”

Doug shone the light on himself so that Jake could see the thumbs-up sign he was flashing through the window.

Jake laughed and returned one of his own. As he trotted around the corner of the cabin, using his flashlight to avoid tripping on a stone or tree root, Jake realized that the newest member of their team was growing on him. Sure, Doug still had a lot to learn about protocol and routine, but he was a natural team player.

The woods of northeast Vermont may not contain drug dealers and gang members, but having a partner watching his back was just as important to Jake as it would be to a New York City cop. The forest had its own dangers, and trekking through them with a certified dumbass was just as dangerous as flying solo, if not more so. But fortunately, Doug was proving to have a good-enough head on his shoulders. He’d come into his own soon enough and prove to be just as valuable as Phil. Not to mention, he was funny as hell.

The generator was nothing remarkable—just a standard diesel engine, rusted from the humidity and requiring a few more tugs than it should have to get it started these days. Shining his light over the gas gauge, Jake grimaced when he saw how low the fuel level was. Before they locked up and returned to headquarters, they would have to remember to refill the tank. Doug should’ve checked it this morning.

Another time, Jake would remind Doug of his duties. For now, there was surely enough gas for the brief amount of time the two were going to spend in the cabin.

After a few vigorous yanks of the ignition cord and a couple muttered curse words, Jake finally got the old generator to turn over. The noise of the rumbling engine roared through the quiet night, drowning out the steady drone of the night’s chirping insects. Any slumbering beast nearby would surely be disturbed now, grumbling as they trudged away in search of another bed.

The light above Jake’s head flickered, and then radiated a steady, bright light. Mission accomplished.

Jake clicked off his flashlight and made his way to the outpost’s front door. Upon entering the building, several things immediately struck him as odd.

First, two of the cardboard boxes of supplies that were usually stacked neatly in the corner had been dragged into the center of the room and left open.

Next, although Phil had said that all had been quiet tonight, the distress beacon of the outpost’s radio had been activated, beeping and blinking along.

Finally, Doug stood at the table that supported the radio with a hand-scribbled note between his fingers.

“Now what the hell is going on here?”

Doug shrugged. “Well, the keys aren’t the only thing I found. Check this out.”

Jake accepted the note from Doug and gestured to the open boxes. “Did you leave these out this morning?”

“Just read the note.”

The sigh that escaped Jake’s lips could be heard over the noise of the generator. Without even looking at the message in his hands, he knew it was going to be a long night.

“Yep,” he mumbled. “Looks like we’ve got some people who need help.”

Doug nodded. “It would explain who activated the radio.” The eagerness in his voice was undeniable, like a young warrior finally getting the chance to step onto a battlefield. Jake was thankful he’d decided to tag along with Doug—he wouldn’t have wanted him to discover this alone. Zeal could get a guy in trouble without a more experienced partner watching his back.

“All right,” Jake said, squeezing the bridge of his nose and massaging little circles with his fingers. “So according to this note we’ve got a hiker who’s sick and can’t make it out of the woods on foot. We’ll head over to their location and check it out. If possible, we’ll give ’em a ride out. If not, we’ll radio in some assistance. Sound good?”

Doug grinned. “Hell yeah.”

Oh boy
.

“Okay, then. Chuck these boxes back in the corner, turn off the radio, and wait for me by the four-wheelers.”

“Where are you going?” Doug was already closing up one of the boxes and sliding it along the floor.

He turned back to Doug and with a deadpan face said, “To turn off the generator.”

Doug winced. “Oh yeah, of course.”

“Just kill that radio, huh? I’ll see you outside.” Jake exited, sighing yet again.

A cloud of mosquitoes and moths had collected around the dangling light above the generator. Judging by the direction this night was taking, Jake knew his own sleep schedule was probably going to match up with that of these bugs.

What was I saying about freedom?

In reality, Jake was as much of a slave to his occupation as anyone in a cubicle. So maybe he didn’t answer to a beer-bellied boss in a three-piece suit. He answered to clueless, foolish tourists in over their heads. And all he had to look forward to when it was all done was a microwavable meal of turkey medallions and mashed potatoes.

His fingers searching the backside of the generator for the off-switch, Jake found himself hoping that he and Doug would be able to wrap this all up nicely tonight and then toast a job well done over a glass of Purdy’s fresh squeezed orange juice tomorrow morning. That is, if he could just find the damn switch…

Something round and cold touched the backside of his neck, freezing him in his awkward squatting position.

“Leave it running, Jake.”

Phil?

Jake peered over his shoulder to indeed discover his more senior coworker standing behind him. Even more surprising was the rifle he had aimed right behind Jake’s left ear.

“Now stand up, nice and slow.” Phil was speaking loud enough to be heard over the rumble of the generator, but his tone was as cool and as casual as could be.

“Uh, what are you doing, Phil?” Jake slowly stood up and looked him directly in the eyes.

“Where’s Doug?” Phil didn’t even seem to hear Jake’s last question.

“He’s in front, waiting at the ATVs. Man, I didn’t even hear you drive up.”

“I parked a little ways out and hiked the rest of the way.”

“On your busted foot? Jesus, Phil, you mind explaining what the fuck is—”

Phil pushed the barrel of the rifle underneath Jake’s chin and applied enough force to cut into his skin.

“Never mind that. Just tell Doug to go on ahead without you.”

Jake squinted “
What
?”

“Tell him you’re gonna refuel the generator and you’ll be right behind him.”

“For God’s sake, Phil, what did I do? You don’t think I’m messing around with your wife, do you? Is that it?

Phil pushed the barrel upward into Jake’s throat hard enough to choke him. “Tell him!”

After a brief bout of coughing, Jake yelled, “Doug? Doug!”

A moment later, a voice rose over the generator’s roar.

“Yeah?”

“Get on your horse and start heading for those hikers. I’ll be right behind you.”

“Really?”

Jake’s eyes never left Phil’s as he spoke. “Yeah, I just need to check something here. But we shouldn’t keep those people waiting any longer if they’re really in trouble. So go, I’m two steps behind you. Just keep your radio on, okay?”

There was a pause and then, “If that’s what you want.”

“I’ll catch up. Now go!”

Doug didn’t reply, but soon after came sound of his ATV starting and the growl of its engine fading as he drove away. The generator was now the only noise Jake could hear. He still had no clue what Phil was up to, but was relieved that he’d sent Doug away. Whether Phil was drunk or not, Jake didn’t think that the older man would actually hurt him. But Doug and his smart mouth would’ve been a different matter.

“All right, Phil, he’s gone.” Jake forced his voice to maintain a calm, even tone. “It’s just us now. So how about you lower the gun and tell me what’s bothering you. Okay?”

Phil cleared his throat and spat a phlegmy wad on the dried leaves at his feet. “Not yet. We’re going inside first. So turn around and walk, slowly, to the front door.”

“Yeah, sure, Phil. You got it. But, you know, the gun’s not necessary.”

As he turned away from Phil’s face, Jake took a deep breath through his nose in an effort to smell any sort of liquor on Phil’s breath. The test came out clean. Whatever reason Phil had to take Jake at gunpoint, he was doing it dead sober. And this frightened Jake even more.

Once inside the cabin, Phil commanded him to grab the chair at the radio desk and place it in the center of the room.

“Now sit down and reach your hands behind the back of the chair.”

“Phil—”

“Now!”

Jake did as he was told. He heard Phil clear his throat.

“I’m going to tie your hands together now. Please, Jake, I’m begging you, don’t move. God knows I do not want to shoot you. But I swear I’ll do it if you make me.”

Jake frowned. “I don’t believe this, Phil. What the fuck are you doing?”