Abbott Claire - Search and Rescue

SEARCH
AND
RESCUE

SEARCH
AND
RESCUE

Gail Anderson-Dargatz

Copyright 2014 Gail Anderson-Dargatz

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced
or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording or by any information storage
and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without permission
in writing from the publisher.

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Anderson-Dargatz, Gail, 1963, author
Search and rescue / Gail Anderson-Dargatz.
(Rapid Reads)

Issued in print and electronic formats.
ISBN 978-1-4598-0576-7 (pbk.).--ISBN 978-1-4598-0577-4 (pdf ).-
ISBN 978-1-4598-0578-1 (epub)

I. Title. II. Series: Rapid reads
PS8551.N3574S43 2014 C813'.54 C2014-901571-2
C2014-01572-0

First published in the United States, 2014
Library of Congress Control Number: 2014935366

Summary: In this work of crime fiction, Claire Abbott, a small-town
reporter, uses her sixth sense to find a missing girl. (RL 3.0)

Orca Book Publishers gratefully acknowledges the support for
its publishing programs provided by the following agencies:
the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund and the
Canada Council for the Arts, and the Province of British Columbia
through the BC Arts Council and the Book Publishing Tax Credit.

Cover design by Jenn Playford
Cover photography by Corbis

www.orcabook.com

17 16 15 14 4 3 2 1

For Mitch, who remembers me when

CONTENTS

I felt that familiar ache in my stomach as I drove to my date. I knew something was wrong. More than that, I knew I had to head down Pine Road.

The restaurant where my date Trevor waited for me was in the other direction, on Lakeshore. Still, I followed my instincts and turned right. Like it or not, my mother had taught me to take that gut feeling seriously. I was glad I did. When I drove into that quiet suburb, I saw a car burning. The hood was up, and flames burst from the engine.

A young guy stood several yards away, staring at the fire, scratching his head. His eyes were red, like he was about to cry. That beater on fire was likely his first car.

I pulled over and opened my car door. You okay? I called across the road.

I guess, he said. My car is trashed though.

I got out of my Honda Civic, embarrassed that I showed too much leg. I was dressed for my date, not work. My red skirt was short, cut well above my knees. My high heels made my legs seem even longer.

The kid paused to take me in as I stood. Then he recognized me. Hey, youre that reporter. You took pictures of my soccer team at the high school this fall.

Thats me, I said. I hunt down stories for our weekly newspaper, the Black LakeTimes. Today was supposed to be my day off, but here was news.

Shit, the guy said. Just my luck. Bad enough this happens. Now everybody will know about it.

He was right. A photo of this car on fire would make the front page.

I grabbed my camera and notepad. Then I slipped on my coat as I walked toward the burning car. We were well into November, and the evening air was cold.

The kid didnt wear a jacket, just jeans and a T-shirt. He shivered. I held out my hand to shake his. Im Claire Abbott.

I know, he said. He wouldnt take my hand. I see your name in the paper all the time.

I clicked my pen and got ready to jot down his name. And you are?

You can get my name from the cops.

I shrugged off his rude behavior. People often snubbed me. A person in an accident didnt want his photo in the paper. I understood, but this was my job. I had to fill the newspaper every week. In a town as small as Black Lake, that was tough.

I aimed my camera and took a shot of the guys burning car. Have you phoned for a fire truck? I asked him.

Of course I have, he said. You think Im stupid? He held up his cell phone. Theyre on the way.

If you need anything

The teen turned his back on me, not letting me finish.

I waited for the fire truck by my car. I knew Id get a better photo when the firefighters arrived. I didnt have to wait long. Within minutes, the fire truck wailed down the street and stopped behind the burning car.

The fire chief, Jim Wallis, jumped out. His team of volunteer firefighters followed, all of them wearing their gear. They hooked the truck hoses to the nearest hydrant. With that water, they quickly put out the fire. I got my front-page shot of the firefighters hosing down the flames.

Once the men had the fire under control, the chief crossed the road to see me.

So Radar strikes again, eh? Jim asked. You always have to be the first at a fire, dont you, Claire? Youre making the fire department look bad, you know.

Jim called me Radar after that character on the old TV show M*A*S*H. Radar was the kid with the teddy bear. He knew what was happening before anyone else did. Like Radar, I was often the first on the scene when someone was in trouble.

Jim shook his head and chuckled. Youre just like your mother.

I cringed. My mother was convinced she was a remote viewer. She thought she could see with her mind events that were happening far away. Mom often called up the police with tips to help them solve their cases.

I knew the cops thought she was a crackpot. Jim was about the only emergency worker in town who took her seriously. Then again, I think he was still a little in love with her. Hed dated Mom after she divorced Dad.

Believe me, I told him. Im nothing like my mother.

Jim gave me a look like he knew better. We both turned back to the young mans blackened car. Smoke and steam still billowed from the engine.

You hear about the Miller girl? Jim asked me.

Helen Miller? The woman who owns the bakery on Lakeshore Road?

No, her daughter, Amber. Jim took off his helmet and ran a hand through his hair. Shes missing. She went for a jog on the wilderness trail and got lost. She never came home.

I felt a chill run through me. I knew something about that story wasnt quite right. Shes seventeen, I said, trying to shake off the feeling. Girls that age forget to phone home. Shes likely just hanging out with her boyfriend.

You mean Doug Conner? Jim shook his head. My granddaughter told me they arent dating anymore. Amber broke up with him a couple of weeks ago. She had a basketball game scheduled for this afternoon. Her mom and her teammates said shed never miss it.

I hugged myself. She shouldnt be out in this weather. Were getting snow this evening.

Exactly, said Jim. Amber wont last the night in that forest. Search and Rescue is trying to find her now. Theyve got a camp set up at the foot of Little Mountain.

I felt that familiar tug in my stomach again. Ive got to get over there, I said. I turned away from Jim and opened my car door.

Hey, what about Trevor? Jim asked. He took the day off for your date. I had to scramble to get a replacement.

Trevor was a firefighter, a member of Jims team. Wed met at a house fire a couple of months earlier. I was first to arrive that time too.

Ill phone him, I said. When Jim gave me