The Coffin Maker

Chapter 16

Ailsa had a stiff neck when she awoke seated in a padded armchair. Where are my shoes? The room was small and windowless. The door was heavy steel with the handle removed. Recessed in the wall next to the door, a dumbwaiter with a sliding door boasted the label, 'Food and Drink'. Secured by a wall bracket, a soundless television showed an episode of Gilligan's Island. The armchair was crammed against a camping cot, the kind that folds and fits inside a carry bag. A young woman was asleep on the cot and Ailsa knew in an instant it was Riley Pacocha. She was thin and pale and dressed in the same sweats listed on the missing person profile. Ailsa leaned over the edge of the cot and gently called her name. Riley's eyes flickered and focused on Ailsa. Immediately, the girl started to cry and in a weak voice, uttered, "Am I saved?"

The simple question hardened the reality of the situation. What am I to say, wondered Ailsa, without immediately dashing her hopes.

"I'm here to help you, Riley." Ailsa tucked her arm behind Riley's head and hugged her. "Everything is going to be fine," said Ailsa, knowing the gravity of the situation. "How do you feel?" Ailsa was shocked how weak the young woman appeared, her voice a monotone whisper.

"There's nothing to eat. I have an awful headache. Is he gone? Are my mom and dad here?"

"No. Only me. But I will get you home very soon," said Ailsa in a soothing tone.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Ailsa Craig. I am a private investigator. I have been looking for you."

"Can we go?" said Riley who struggled to sit up, but failed.

"Soon, I promise. Let me look around," said Ailsa.

***

The helicopter lifted from the roof of the Hennepin complex and flew almost due north. Beyond the city, there was an abrupt change in scenery and Blackwood remarked on the greenery. The pilot announced the flying time to Kerrick at thirty-five minutes. Further north, Blackwood noticed the landscape change to a hunter's paradise, the perfect mix of forest and open area.

The Pine County Sheriff and his deputies arrived from Pine City at the same time the helicopter touched down in a small clearing between the Burlington Northern Rail line and Main Street in Kerrick. The local officers stared at Wu's partially shaved head and the Sheriff made the mistake of presuming Blackwood the Special Agent. Wu shook off the snub, made the introductions and used her smartphone to show the Sheriff the GPS location of the hunting camp where the Bureau had traced Emiliano Velásquez's phone.

"It's an old logging road north of Lake Margaret," said the Sheriff, "...a couple of hunting camps and an abandoned mill.

"Is it possible to approach unseen?" asked Blackwood.

"The camp will be well off the road, probably in a clearing surrounded by deep woods," answered the Sheriff.

Wu waited until she had everyone's attention and made it clear she wanted a precision assault. "There is a high probability of two young women in captivity and I don't want this to end in a hail of bullets. It is paramount that we take the suspect alive. Is that understood?" Wu waited again while the officers nodded in turn. She asked the Sheriff, "What's our ETA?"

"About fifteen minutes," said the Sheriff.

"What about the ambulance?" asked Blackwood.

"It's on the way from Moose Lake," said the Sheriff.

"Okay, let's go," said Wu. She and Blackwood joined the Sheriff while the Special Weapons and Tactics team climbed into the patrol cars. A half dozen gawking adults and kids on bikes representing about twenty-five percent of the population of Kerrick watched the lawmakers depart.