Page 109 of Edge of Steele
She and Finn had reviewed an online video giving them an introduction to the caves and had prepared accordingly, including wearing boots. What they hadn’t prepared for was the deputy to be late. Still, Russ was waiting for news of Vick’s arrest, and she had to proceed, a deputy with them or not.
She stepped over to a placard and read more about the history of the caves until Finn and Otis both joined her again. Finn wore his jacket and helped her into hers.
“Let’s move,” Otis said. “We’ll have to go at a fast pace, but you both look in good shape and should be able to keep up.”
He led them down to the entrance, over metal grates, and into the cave’s yawning mouth. They had to duck just to get inside the space lined with large rock walls, and they made their way down narrow pathways and up a set of stone stairs.
Otis looked back but kept moving. “There are more than five hundred steps on our tour. Be prepared to duck too as some ceilings are only forty-five inches high.”
Ryleigh wished she were taking this tour as a visitor instead of a law enforcement officer looking for a suspect. What was she saying? She wished she wasn’t going into a cave at all. In such a confined space, if Vick knew they were looking at him for the bombings and was prepared to do battle, things could turn ugly fast.
Otis paused and looked over his shoulder. “This is where people often find out they’re claustrophobic. You both good with the small space?”
“I’m fine,” Ryleigh said, though she felt the walls closing in on her, she wouldn’t give in to her irrational fear.
Finn gave a sharp nod. Not a surprise. She couldn’t begin to imagine all the tight spots he’d found himself in as a SEAL.
“Then we’ll pick up the speed,” Otis said. “We’re headed uphill all the way through the mountain, so let me know if you get out of breath and need to rest.”
Even if she were breathing hard, Ryleigh would never let a man who was twice her age know it. She doubted Finn would either, but then she doubted this little hike would faze him at all.
They marched on and worked their way through narrow spaces. Under overhanging rocks and up steep wooden stairs before she heard a male voice leading the tour.
“They’re just ahead,” Otis called over his shoulder. “Go ahead and wait at the back of the group when we reach them. I’ll take over and move the group on. Can you please wait to question Barney until we’re out of earshot? Don’t want to upset our tour members.”
“We can do that,” Finn said.
Ryleigh stuck close to Otis but stopped behind the last of the visitors, who were looking at Otis with open suspicion. He whispered something to Vick, whose eyes widened. Otis turned to the group and told them of his tour takeover. She vaguely listened as he described some of the rock formations, but she used the time to study Vick.
He was about six feet tall, and his uniform stretched tight against a muscular physique. He had on a hat matching the other rangers, but it sat high atop his head that was shaped like a Mr. Potato Head toy. Long black bangs stuck out under his hat and above his large nose. A narrow chin made his face even longer. He might be buff as if he worked out, which the gym equipment in his garage would confirm, but he had an oddball appearance, as if his features weren’t put together in the right places.
Otis gave them a nod and led the group up a flight of stairs while Vick remained standing to the side of the narrow passage.
When the last guest reached the top stair and disappeared around a corner, she approached Vick and introduced herself and Finn.
He blinked rapidly at them. “What in the world could you want with me?”
“It’s about the bombs at Shadow Lake Logging,” she said, not beating around the bush when time was of the essence.
“What about them?” He started to put his hands into his pockets.
“Hands where I can see them,” Ryleigh said, and he stopped. “We would like to talk to you about your part in building them.”
“Me?” His squeaky voice rose up and echoed. “You have the wrong person.”
“Then explain the bomb schematics we found in your house and the materials in your shed.” Finn stepped closer, Vick shrinking away from his threatening look.
Ryleigh wished Finn hadn’t moved, but he’d let his impatience get to him.
Vick clenched and unclenched his jaw. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Finn moved even closer, his hands raised.
Ryleigh stepped in front of him before his threatening behavior gave the guy a heart attack. “It’s just a matter of time for our forensics experts to match your prints to the ones recovered at the bomb sites. And in Uri Gates’s vehicle.”
“Uri who?” His surprise seemed legit, but he couldn’t be surprised when the man was six feet under behind his shed.
“You’re testing our patience,” Finn said. “The man you killed and buried behind your shed.”
