Long Road to Mercy (Atlee Pine, #1)(91)

“This have anything to do with the mule that was found butchered down there? And the missing person?”

“You heard about that?”

“This is not exactly New York City. Now, a missing person around here is not so rare, but a cut-up mule is something different.”

“Like I said, I’m just going down to chill out.”

“When are you planning to leave?” asked Yazzie.

“Tonight.”

“You just got back. It’s been a long trip. We can grab some dinner tonight and you can relax before heading out.”

“I don’t think I have time to relax, Jen.”

*



Later that day, Pine sat on a couch in the basement in the Yazzies’ home in Tuba City.

She had seen on the news feed that the Southwest Chief had encountered signal problems, which had necessitated the abrupt stop. There had been some electrical problems and a few bumps and bruises with passengers and crew, but no serious injuries. Freight trains used the same set of tracks, and care had to be taken because the signaling system was critical in making sure one train did not slam into another. There had been no mention of the shattered window.

But a body had been discovered near the tracks, the news had reported. No identification had been made.

Pine doubted one ever would be. But at least Sung Nam Chung was certifiably dead.

She had the borrowed gear all together and had gone over her checklist, which was about eighty items long. These included good hiking shoes with support and traction soles, trekking poles, a battery-powered headlamp, a wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen, a first aid kit, salty food, a whistle and signal mirror, something to sleep in, and a lightweight tarp, plus layers of clothing. She would also be taking a refillable hydration bladder with a flow system activated by biting down on the mouthpiece. And all that would weigh less than twenty-five pounds.

And, of course, she had her twin pistols. They were additional weight, but Pine figured they might be the most important items she carried with her.

If she wanted to get back alive.

Blum, who was staying upstairs in the spare bedroom, came down and joined her on the couch. She looked over the equipment. “What route will you take down?”

“Either Bright Angel or South Kaibab—I haven’t decided yet.”

“Have you figured out the location from the latitude and longitude?”

“As close as I could. I can’t pinpoint it exactly from that.”

“Which is even more reason for you not to go alone.”

“I can’t exactly call in a regiment of FBI agents, Carol. In fact, I can’t call anybody in, considering our own government apparently is in this up to their eyeballs somehow.”

“I could—” she began.

“No, Carol, you couldn’t.”

Blum looked away. “What happened on the train,” she began.

“You saved my life. No way I’m beating that guy without you there.”

“It was only fair, since I endangered your life by letting him capture me.”

“I think you can be excused for not taking him out all by yourself.”

“At least we were able to find that little girl’s mom.”

“Yeah, she was really scared. Little kids need their parents.”

“Yes, they do,” said Blum, looking at Pine, but she kept her gaze on the floor. She cleared her throat. “If there is a nuke down there? What are you going to do?”

“Hopefully, I can find David Roth and he can help me disarm it.”

“He’s been missing for a while now. He might be dead.”

“He might be. But I still have to try.”

“You realize that there are others out there besides the late Sung Nam Chung who want to find Roth.”

“I’m aware of that, Carol.”

“And they might have come to the same conclusion as you have. That he might still be in the Canyon.”

“Which means I might have some company down there,” said Pine.





Chapter

51



OOH AAH POINT.

The remarkable views from here had obviously been the genesis for the name.

Pine had traveled nearly a mile on the South Kaibab Trail and while doing so had descended about six hundred feet below the South Rim, which stood at about 7,200 feet above sea level. The Rim had been cool and pine scented. That would change dramatically the farther down she trekked. The South Rim averaged nearly sixty inches of snow a year, while Phantom Ranch received less than one.

Jennifer Yazzie had dropped her off at the trailhead.

“Joe called before we left,” she said as Pine was getting her gear out.

“You didn’t tell him—”

“No. But he did tell me something you might want to know.”

“What’s that?” said Pine as she strapped on her backpack.

“Joe said some feds have been poking around.”

“For what?”

“They were asking about you.”

“What agency?”

“That’s the thing. It wasn’t clear.”

“How could it not be clear? Didn’t they badge Joe and show him their creds?”

“Apparently not. And so he didn’t tell them anything.” She paused and smiled. “Not that he would have anyway, without checking with you.”