In a spectacle of light and sound the SUV shuddered and turned sideways as Wolf mashed the brake pedal and bounced into the flat, catching air before crashing hard into a deep puddle. The SUV lurched up with the sound of rending metal. He slammed hard into the seatbelt and then back into the seat.
And then he skidded to a halt. He shut off the howling siren and flashing lights and got out, waiting for a welcome party.
But none came. There was no movement. No flicking on of lights. No people. Nothing.
His knee screamed in pain from the fall inside the supermarket, but he ignored it and marched toward the trailers, his gun pulled and aimed forward.
His eyes snapped from point to point—the trailer doors, the tent where he’d talked to them the night before, the wash plant, the abandoned tractor near it, the parked ATV.
But no one was there.
He turned around and saw the glow behind the slope had disappeared. Somebody was down there. That’s where the two missing trucks were. That’s where they had her.
Another noise came out of the silence—first a crunching of car tires high up on the road, then a long squeal of brakes. The fog glowed for a second and twin headlights appeared.
McBeth’s black pickup truck coasted down at normal cruising speed. Wolf had seen headlights in his rearview mirror much earlier, but they had disappeared into the fog as he’d begun climbing the mountains toward the mine.
He had been ahead of them the whole time. Was this a play? Had he just barreled into a trap?
He reached the other two trucks parked in front of the trailers and ducked between them, waiting. There was no movement near the trailers, tent, or other machinery, but the light had appeared again down at the cut.
The truck inched its way down and stopped at the final turn into the mine, its headlights illuminating Wolf’s SUV, then it continued inside toward Wolf’s position. He saw two men inside—Koling in the passenger seat and McBeth behind the wheel. They were talking to one another, eyeing Wolf’s vehicle.
Another set of headlights swung into view, bobbing up the interior mine road, coming from the direction where Wolf had seen the glow. The twin points of light were closer together. It must have been one of their ATVs.
When the truck lined up to park next to the others, Wolf came out into the open, ran up to the passenger window and aimed his gun inside. “Stop right there!”
Koling’s eyes went wide behind the glass and he put up his hands. The truck lurched to a stop and McBeth put up his hands, too.
“Stop the truck and get out right now!”
McBeth shut off the engine and they got out, leaving the headlights on.
“Hey, hey, hey,” Koling said, stepping out. “What’s going on, Sheriff?”
“Get up against the hood, now!”
McBeth and Koling went to the front of the truck and put their hands on the hood, their long shadows stretching across the trailers.
“Lift up your coats!”
The ATV was now only fifty yards away. Wolf stepped close to McBeth and Koling, keeping them in between him and the approaching ATV.
Koling pulled up his coat and so did McBeth.
“Turn all the way around.”
“We’re not armed,” Koling said.
“Do it!”
They did as they were told, exposing their gun-free waistlines.
"What's going on?" McBeth asked.
The ATV came closer, the engine still revving hard.
“Where is she?”
Koling looked at him with a puzzled expression. “Who?”
Wolf aimed his gun at the mountainside and shot off a round. “Stop right there!” he screamed toward the approaching ATV.
Koling and McBeth jumped, putting their hands back on the hood.
“Whoa!” McBeth said. “What are you talking about?”
The ATV slowed to a stop and James Sexton climbed out. His eyes were wide, both hands up. “What’s happening?”
“Hands up where I can see them!”
Wolf went quickly to Koling and McBeth and frisked them with his free hand, keeping his eyes on Sexton.
“Whoa, watch it,” Koling said.
“Shut up and keep your hands there.” He went to McBeth and frisked him. “You too!” he yelled at Sexton. “Show me your waistband!”
“I’m not armed,” McBeth said.
Down the road, Sexton lifted his own jacket and turned full circle in his ATV headlights, showing he was unarmed as well.
"Where is she?” Wolf asked again, rounding the truck. He looked into the cab, seeing nothing but fast-food trash inside. He checked the truck bed and found nothing but a case of light beer and mud.
"Where were you just now?"
"At the liquor store,” Koling said. “Getting beer."
"Get on your knees, hands behind your back."
“Shit, brother.”
Wolf fired another shot. They did as they were told.
"We know about how you bought a steak at Lonnie's market Monday night,” Wolf said. “I said down on the ground!"
McBeth and Koling were frozen, staring toward the ATV.
Wolf saw why. Sexton had just finished ducking back into his ATV and came out with a pistol. Wolf’s talking had given him the split second he’d needed.
"Drop your gun!" Sexton’s voice was high-pitched and shrill. He stepped toward them, leading with his gun. The light from McBeth’s truck and the trailer flood illuminated his feral eyes.
Wolf put his hands out to his sides, but kept his gun in his grip.
"I said drop it."
Wolf hesitated, thinking of how quickly he could roll, aim, and fire.
Sexton’s gun flashed. A bullet zipped past Wolf’s head and ricocheted off the ground behind him.
“Okay! Okay!” He dropped his Glock.
"I knew it was you, asshole," Koling said. "I knew it."
"Where is Deputy Cain?" Wolf asked. “What did you do to her?”
"You son of a bitch!" Koling’s voice echoed off the mountain walls. "You killed him. I knew it was you this whole time."
"Be quiet," Wolf said to Koling.
But Koling was shaking his head. "You’re a sick bastard. I always knew you were a sick bastard. I knew it. I knew—"
Sexton’s gun popped twice. Blood fountained from Koling’s chest and his body went limp instantly, falling onto McBeth.
“Shit,” McBeth crawled out from under his downed
