Page 55 of A Pawn for Malice
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It took them nearly forty minutes to drive upto the popular tourist attraction known as Howe Caverns. It was apretty impressive spot with its gigantic white letters spelled outon the front lawn. They saw the lettering first, before the hugebuilding came into view.
“I’ve heard about this place, but never beenhere. How about you?”
“Came with my seventh-grade class. It’sreally awesome inside with its underground caves and lake.”
A chill ran up and down Bryan’s spine. All hecould think of was Jessica, tied up like an animal in a dark, dankcave all alone. This was the perfect place to keep her too, and whywouldn’t he. Corbat worked here for years. He probably knew everyinch of the caves and where to hide her. Management wouldn’t be thewiser. Bryan knew she wouldn’t be in the most likely places though,particularly not where the tours were conducted.
He had her in an area that either, hadn’tbeen discovered yet, or decided on not making accessible to thepublic for monetary reasons. They had less than twenty-four hoursto find her, and he prayed, they found the right place.
As they began to walk towards the mainbuilding, Bryan’s phone rang again and he recognized the mainnumber for the Capitol Police.
“Bryan here.”
“Senator it’s Sgt. Taft.”
“Mac, been waiting on your call. Tell meyou’ve got something.”
“You’re there already.”
“What? She’s here at Howe Caverns.”
“I knew you wouldn’t sit idle. The cop in youwouldn’t allow it. Both of your signals are coming from there rightnow. You want back up? I can call the greys in. They’ve got asub-station right there in Schoharie.”
“No. No, Mac. I don’t want to scare him off.We’ve got to move slow on this one. Thanks, a million. If hersignal changes, even minutely, text me. Once we go in, we’ll gosilent.”
“My eyes are glued to the screen, until youbring her home, Senator. If you change your mind about backup, callme.”
“Will do.”
He directed his attention to Ayden.
“You heard?”
Ayden nodded, smiling and asked. “You wannado the questioning? This guy may recognize you.”
Bryan shook his head no and responded. “Atthis point I don’t care. I’m along for the ride. You take the leadon this one.”
The moment they entered, it was plainly clearthe place might have been closed for reconstruction. Scaffolds wereoff to the right and the front lobby desk and furniture was coveredwith paint drop cloths.
“Can any one of you point me to the office?”Ayden called out to the workers, who turned when they entered thebuilding.
The painter closest to them acknowledgedfirst, pointing off to the left.
“Take that corridor to the left. First officeon your right.”
Bryan and Ayden both nodded their thanks andwent in the direction given.
The front office was empty, but they noticeda balding, rotund male in the office in the rear and headed thatway.
“We’re closed,” he barked out, noticing theirapproach.
Ayden unsnapped his badge and made itvisible.
“Det. Ayden Tyler, Albany P.D. I’ve got a fewquestions, if you don’t mind. You the owner?”
The owner huffed his disgust as he picked upa burning stogy from the ash tray on his desk and took a puff. Hescrutinized them both, turned his back to them, and plopped downinto his chair behind the desk.
