Ben had made it sound like this was a top secret mission. Yet from the moment O’Dell arrived, she couldn’t help thinking the government had pieced together a slapdash team. She was told that Peter Logan was held up in D.C. and that his assistant, Isabel Klein, was supposed to meet her. But instead, a young National Guardsman named Ross showed up in her place.
Dr. Gunther looked as if she herself had been through the landslide. Her long gray hair was tied back and tucked into a headscarf, but strands waved across her face. One end of her scarf wrapped tightly around her neck and into the collar of her baggy jacket, as if she were prepared for deathly cold temperatures. The rain had stopped for the moment, leaving a gray sky masked behind a thick cloud of fog. The breeze brought a damp chill, but nothing that warranted Dr. Gunther’s wardrobe.
The top of the woman’s head came to O’Dell’s chin, and the oversized clothing made her thin frame look even smaller. And though she didn’t use a cane or a walking stick, she moved with a pronounced limp. Even when it slowed them down she made no excuse or explanation for the handicap.
“And where is that first body being kept?” the medical examiner asked.
That surprised O’Dell. She had presumed Dr. Gunther had already been involved.
“It’s my understanding a temporary morgue has been set up a couple blocks from the high school.”
“A couple blocks from the high school?” The woman’s brow furrowed as she tried to retrieve what must have been familiar territory. “You don’t mean Ralph’s Meat Locker, do you?”
The guardsman’s ears flushed with his answer before he said, “I wouldn’t know, ma’am. I haven’t been involved in that aspect of the recovery.”
By now they were at the top of the incline and O’Dell could see three guardsmen setting up equipment. They already had two tents, one most likely being used to shelter the remains. O’Dell could hear rushing water. Not more than a couple of feet away a muddy stream raced over rocks and debris.
Guardsman Ross pointed at the water and said, “The last slide broke that free. Someplace underneath is where they left at least one body buried.”
“Is this where the research facility was located?” O’Dell asked, knowing that one of the bodies had already been identified as one of the scientists.
“It’s my understanding that the facility was located about a half mile up.” He pointed in the direction, but there was nothing that looked remotely like a brick building—only debris and mud.
“We’re still trying to find it,” Ross added when he noticed O’Dell still searching. “Landslides can dismantle buildings and relocate objects—vehicles, furniture, bodies—miles from where they originated. That body we think is under the water might not even be there anymore. We’re waiting on the K9 unit to relocate it. Hopefully it didn’t get washed farther downhill.”
“I thought the K9 unit was already here?” O’Dell asked, expecting to see Ryder Creed and trying not to sound disappointed.
“Actually, he and his dog found the bodies yesterday. Then all hell broke loose. It’s my understanding he was buried under that last slide. If it wasn’t for his dog, they might not have found him in time.”
“Is he okay?”
“Must be.” He checked his cell phone. “Sounds like they’re sending him back up here.”
28.
Creed had to take several detours to get to the Hillcrest area. Vance had warned him that some roads and bridges might be ripped up a bit. That proved to be an understatement. Thick layers of fog replaced the rain, making it difficult to see chunks of the road missing until he was practically on top of them. But still, he was glad to be back in the driver’s seat of his own Jeep Grand Cherokee. Even more glad to have Grace sitting in the back watching the road through the space between the front seats, where she could also see and catch her owner’s eye every now and then. The girl was excited to be getting back to work.
He had packed what he needed for himself as well as for Grace. Though Jason had insisted that Hannah hadn’t meant for Grace to work the disaster area, she had still loaded a duffel bag with all of the dog’s gear, including two extra pink squeaky elephant toys that Grace loved as her reward.
Vance had promised they’d do this quietly. He’d have his back if Logan had a problem with it. Creed had to admit he was surprised Logan still hadn’t shown up in Haywood County. So it seemed possible that they might be able to offer this family some help with little attention. Possible until Creed saw a local TV van and camera crew waiting at the curb in front of the two-story house that belonged to the missing woman and her daughter.
He parked around the corner, making sure that the neighbor’s house blocked them from view. He wanted to put Grace’s vest on and slide on his own gear before drawing any attention.