ACT 4
The helicopter flew through the sky, brushing over the tree tops. James hung out the door,
looking down through the trees, hoping to find Chase and Sarah. He knew it would be like
trying to find a needle in a haystack, but he wasn't going to give up. But it wasn't
looking good. They had been at it for almost ninety minutes, circling over and over until
a particular area had been searched as best as possible before moving on to the next spot.
And so far, they had seen no signs of Chase and Sarah or Mason and Doug. Not even the
tracks of a snowmobile.
The sky was beginning to darken, the sun dropping down to the horizon. Clouds were
moving in overhead, and the wind was picking up. The chances of finding them soon were
virtually non-existent. And James knew it. He was telling himself just that when he heard
the pilot, John Cooper, say in his ear, "I don't think we can do anymore. We're going to
have to turn back."
James ignored him for a moment, wanting to push on, but he knew the combination of
growing winds, dark clouds, and low fuel could only spell disaster. He gave in with a sigh,
adjusted his headset mike. "Yeah. Okay," he said, sounding disappointed. The chopper made
a wide turn over the trees and straightened, heading back the way it had come. James hit
his fist on his leg, cursing silently.
Chase and Sarah trudged through the snow as the night grew dark above them. "I don't think
we're going to find any caves out here," she said. "What'll we do for the night?"
Chase shook his head. "I don't know. We still got a little time before it gets really
dark, so let's keep going and sees what's up ahead."
"You know, I have to say, for someone who claims they don't have much outdoor
experience, you've been doing pretty good."
Chase laughed. "Thanks. I think it's just my natural desire to live that makes me do
it."
They pushed through the next line of foliage and found themselves falling forward,
sliding down a mild embankment. Chase heard Sarah yelling as they tumbled side over side.
For a brief moment, he thought of how glad he was it was snow and not rock. He slide on
his back for a moment, arms up in the air, before turning sideways and rolling over again.
The world was topsy-turvy around him.
Then he rolled to a stop at the bottom, on his side looking back up the embankment,
just as Sarah came rolling right into him. They collided and had to laugh. But then they
looked at each other and fell quiet.
"You know," she said, "I heard somewhere that relationships that start under intense
circumstances never work out."
"Really? Where'd you hear that?"
"Some movie."
He laughed. "Come on." He helped her to her feet and started walking.
They had walked for about ten minutes when Sarah suddenly stopped and pointed at
something in the distance. "What is that?"
Chase looked, but it was hard to see in the darkening light. He shook his head. "I
don't know. Let's check it out."
As they approached, they began to make out it's shape. It was square, with a slightly-
pointed top. In the dark, they had to get within mere yards of it before realizing what it
was. It was a shack. Sarah smiled. "I don't believe it. What is this doing way out here?"
"Who cares? Let's get inside before we freeze."
It was obvious the shack hadn't been used in sometime. The snow was piled up against
the door halfway, and the curtained windows were covered in grime. The lock and chain were
both rusted. Chase broke it with just three hits from his foot and pulled the chain away.
But the snow blocked the door from opening. "Give me a hand." With Sarah's help, he was
able to pull the door out, revealing the inside. They leaned it.
The shack was about seven-feet by seven-feet, with a table against one side and some
wall-mounted cabinets against the others. Chase opened the first cabinet carefully, half-
expecting a spider or something to jump out at him. But nothing did. The shelves were lined
with what looked like hunting equipment: knifes and traps and such. The second cabinet
revealed tools: screwdrivers, hammers, a tin can full of nails, a few rolls of tape, a
couple saws, and some empty cans.
"What is it?" Sarah asked, still in the doorway.
Chase shook his head. "Looks like some kind of hunter's place. Someone must come up
here during the hunting season."
"Do you think it'll be okay to stay here for the night?"
Chase sighed. "I don't see why not. It's better than sleeping out in the cold. We
just have to make sure we're out of here first thing in the morning, because if Mason
comes across this place, he'll hit it for sure without warning."
"That's what I mean," she said, "Mason. The cave was a little more hidden than this.
This thing is sort of out in sight, you know?"
"Yeah, that's true. But look at us. We hardly saw it, and it's completely dark now.
We still had a tiny bit of light left when we barely saw it all. Like I said, don't worry.
It should be okay."
Through the doorway, Chase saw something flicker by. He stepped out and looked up.
It was beginning to snow. "Gee. There goes our footprints," he said, and smiled. "I've got
an idea. I saw another lock in that cabinet with a key. I'll relock the door from the
outside, push the snow back up against it so that it looks like it hasn't bern opened,
then come back in through one of the windows, okay?"
"Sounds good."
"Then let's do it."
James came back into the ranger station and saw Ranger Gilyard applying a new dressing to
August's wound. Ranger Gordy was speaking into a red phone. August, lying on a small cot,
looked over. "Find them?"
James shook his head, pulling his gloves off. "No. Had to turn back because of low
fuel and the dark."
August rolled his head, mumbling something to himself. He had eaten while James was
gone, and was starting to feel a little better, and a lot less hungry. James, too, had had
some food when he returned from the chopper, but he didn't eat much. He was too concerned
about having to let a whole night go before he could resume the search. But they both knew
that bumbling around out there at night, especially if a storm was moving in, would be
worthless.
At least they would be able to spend the night inside a warm environment, with food
and water a short step away. But they couldn't stop thinking about Chase and Sarah, out
there all alone, with no food or no protection from the weather other than what they were
wearing. And a cold-blooded killer on their trail. They would have to wait the night out
in frustration until they could resume the next morning.
"Okay," Ranger Gordy said into the phone. "Thank you." He hung up. "The medical
chopper won't be able to get in tonight."
James turned from the window. "Why not?"
"Weather station's tracking a storm that's moving into the area right now. They won't
be able to get her until it passes."
"Damn." James walked to the window, arms crossed over his chest.
Cooper came back inside, knocking the snow from his jacket. "Man, it's cold out
there," he said. "Where's that coffee?"
Gordy gestured at the pot. "Just finished."
"Snow's starting to fall, too," Gilyard said, looking out the window. He finished
with the dressing, and August shifted to put his arm back in its sleeve.
Gordy walked over and stood beside James, staring out the window at the darkening
forest. "Detective, I know you're worried. But I suggest you get some rest. You're going
to have a big day tomorrow."
Upon further inspection of the cabinets, Chase had found a couple thick blankets up on
the top shelf. But there were no pillows, so their bundled up jackets would have to do.
He'd also found a kerosene lantern and some matches, which gave the shack a bit of light.
Not a lot, but enough so that they could see one another. They were both lying on their
backs. "So what made you decide to become a cop?" Chase asked.
"My dad was a cop, and so was my uncle. One of my cousins was one, too. I didn't
have any brothers, so I thought it would be interesting to have a female cop in the family."
"Any sisters?"
"Just one," she said, and added quietly, "She was killed when I was fourteen."
He turned his head, looking through the dark at her. "I'm sorry."
"Thanks. She was two years older than me. We lived in a so-so neighbor in New York.
I was home sick one day, and she skipped school to take care of me. We were really close.
Anyway, we ran out of something, I can't even remember what it was, and she went to this
little market that was down on the corner of our street. She was gone for a long time,
and I was starting to worry when I heard a knock on the door. I looked and saw it was a
policeman, and I opened the door. He told me that there had been a robbery in the store.
The clerk was shot but survived. He told the police that the robber shot Nicole just
because she walked in on the act. She died instantly."
She was quiet for a moment. Chase detected the hurt in her voice. "That was when I
decided to be a cop. I wanted to stop stuff like that from happening to other people."
She looked over at him, making a dismissive motion with her hand. "I'm sorry, I'm just
rambling."
"No, that's okay."
"What about you? What made you want to be a cop?"
Chase looked like he didn't want to talk about it. "Sort of the same situation. My
father was a cop. He was killed in a bank robbery. I was little at the time. I went with
him. He was just going in to cash a check, and these two came in and started robbing the
place. My dad tried to stop them. He killed one and wounded the other, he got away, but
my dad took a shot to the heart. He died right there in front of me."
Sarah was staring. "My God. That's terrible. I can't imagine what that was like."
"It's the worst moment of my life."
"Did the police ever catch the guy who got away?"
He nodded, looking back at her. "I got him. Last November. He showed up in Los
Angeles. I didn't know it was him for awhile. August and I were working a robbery case,
and we happened to discover he was the one responsible. It took everything I had not to
turn the case into a personal vendetta. I did the job, and I did it by the book. But I
still got him."
There was a long moment of silence, during which it felt awkward. Sarah didn't know
if she should say something or not. But she was about to when he said, "I think we better
get some sleep." He reached out and turned the knob on the lantern, extinguishing the
flame and plunging the tiny shack back into total darkness. "Good night."
"Good night." She lay still for a moment, staring up, then rolled onto her side and
shut her eyes.
James was sitting on the edge of a chair, tying his last shoe. The first rays of light
were spilling over the horizon, and the detective was ready to resume the search. He had
eaten a quick breakfast--bacon, toast, and coffee--even though he didn't really feel like
eating. He just wanted to get in that chopper and get out there looking for Chase and
Sarah. He stood and pulled on his jacket, zipped it up. He turned to August. "I'm going
out," he said. "And I'm not coming back until I find Chase and the girl."
August was sitting up on the cot he had slept on. "I'll be waiting."
Cooper came back inside. "You ready?"
James turned. "All set," he said, and followed the pilot out the door.
Within moments they were flying high over the land, both looking for any signs of
Chase and the girl. So far they had seen nothing, but they had enough fuel to last a few
more hours before they would have to return, fuel up, and head back out. James hoped they
could find them before they had to return. They had been flying for almost an hour when
James suddenly shouted, "Hold it, hold it!"
Cooper hovered in mid-air. "What is it?" He tried looking down through the Plexi
bubble beneath his feet, but saw nothing.
"Back. Go back."
"Where?"
"Just back up," James said. He sounded annoyed. "Back up a little."
Not bothering to push on with questions, Cooper swung the chopper around in a slow
circle. James hung out the door slightly and looked. He pointed. "There. There it is? See
it?"
Cooper looked down again. He could see something partially hidden in the snow, but
couldn't make out what it was.
"You see it?"
"Yeah. What is it?"
James shook his head. "I don't know. Can you set us down?"
The pilot glanced about for a clearing that was large enough. "Yeah. Hang on a
second." The object James had spotted was mostly obscure by the snow, but it was dark
whatever it was, lying at the base of a rocky hillside. The chopper glided back and began
to descend, lowering gently. The landing struts felt solid on the ground, and Cooper said,
"Okay, we're down."
"I'll be right back." James hung the headset up on the hook, threw off his belt,
and bolted out of the chopper. He ran across the snow toward the object, still unable to
determine exactly what it was. It looked like a piece of clothing, but there was--
He stopped. Even from six feet away, he could clearly see what it was. He walked
forward slowly. It was a body. He swallowed, hoping it wasn't Chase. He crouched in the
snow and put a hand on the exposed shoulder, and slowly rolled the body over. He breathed
a sigh of relief. It was one of Mason's goons. He tried to remember. Doug, he thought it
was.
He sat back in the snow, thinking. With three goons down, the two he and August had
dealt with and this one, that left only Mason. Whether he was still alive or not, he had
no idea. But he knew he had to find Chase and the girl fast. He stood and started back for
the chopper, but stopped. He looked back at the body, lying there almost completely buried
in the snow. It didn't seem right to just leave it there. He walked back and pulled it
from the snow, crouched and lifted it over his shoulder, and headed back.
Cooper looked back over his shoulder as James put the body in the back. "Please tell
me that's not your friend."
"No. It's one of Mason's goons. Don't know what happened, but he's dead."
"What are you bringing him back for?"
"Just doesn't seem right to leave him out here." He finished strapping the body in
the back seat, letting it lie down, then climbed back into the front and buckled in. "Okay,
let's go."
The helicopter lifted off the ground, sending up a thin cloud of fresh snow, and
took off into the sky.
The small shack appeared empty, the curtained windows and pile of snow against the door
suggesting it hadn't been used in some time. The area was quiet, peaceful, only the usual
early morning sounds. But the silence was destroyed by the sudden noise of rapid machine
gun. Bullet holes pierced the tiny shed, splintering the walls and shattering the windows,
tearing the curtains to shreads. The sound of items breaking inside could be heard.
The shooting ceased, and Jack Mason smiled. "Ha," he said quietly. He kept the
weapon raised as she stepped forward cautiously, approaching one of the windows. He
wrenched the curtain out of the way and stuck the muzzle of the gun in, yelling.
The shack was empty. He saw some blankets on the floor that looked like they had
been used the night before, and a lantern up on a table. The wall cabinets were riddled
with bullet holes. One door hung open.
"Damn it!" Mason shouted. He spun in a circle, firing off shots at random. "Damn it!"
The bullets sprayed across the tree trunks, sendind out a shower of bark.
He walked around in frustration, mumbling under his breath, then stopped. He hurried
forward to a growth of bushes and inspected one. A long, thin branch was snapped, half of
it hanging down. He smiled and ran back to the snowmobile, climbed on, and raced off.
Chase and Sarah were already on the move, having started out just before the first rays
of light spilled over the horizon. They moved at a quickened pace, noticing from their
increased panting that the terrain was rising. "Looks like we're getting into more hills,"
she said.
"Yeah. Looks like it. I just hope to hell we haven't gotten turned around and are
heading in a completely wrong direction."
"I think we've stayed on course pretty good."
"I--" He stopped and turned, listening.
"What? Is it him?"
Chase was silent, listening. Then he shook his head. "Guess after so many moments
like this I'm starting to hear things. Come on." They pushed on up the hill.
"Can you tell what it is?" Cooper was saying.
The chopper was circling in the air above a wide-open area of land, not far from
where they had found the body. James was looking out the door. "Looks like one of the
snowmobiles. I don't see another one. I've got a bad feeling Mason's still out there
somewhere."
Cooper turned back as he heard something in his ear, then said to James, "It's for
you." He gestured at his headset.
James sat back and adjusted the tiny microphone in front of his lips. "Yeah?"
"James, it's August," a familiar, slightly-distorted voice crackled in his ear.
"What's going on?"
"The medical chopper's landing right now," he said. "Just wanted to tell you I was
leaving."
"Okay."
"Listen, you be careful, James."
"Don't worry. I will."
"Chase and the girl are out there, and you're going to find them."
"I hope so."
"Know so, James. I know you'll find them. Okay, I have to go. Contact me as soon as
you can when you get them."
James nodded. "I will."
"Okay. Good luck."
"Thanks, August," he said, and heard the connection close. James turned to Cooper
and gestured behind him. "Let's head back that way. A snowmobile down there, a body back
that way. I'm thinking maybe we should be looking down in that direction."
"Let's do it."
The chopper made a wide turned and headed off.
"No way," Sarah said, her eyes wide. "You have got to be kidding me."
She stood beside Chase, both of them staring at the surprise before them. Having
come over the top of the hill, they found themselves presented with the most incredible
obstacle so far. A rope bridge spanning a gap that looked like it was just shy of the
length of a football field, the ground a good four hundred feet or more below.
Chase was shaking his head slowly. "I don't see any other choice."
"Hu-uh. No way. I'm not crossing that."
"Sarah, I--"
"Forget it."
He took her by the shoulders. "Sarah, listen to me. We have to go across that. We
have no choice. We can't turn back. We'd run right into Mason eventually. We have to keep
going in this direction now, at least until we get to the other side."
She looked at the bridge. It looked sturdy enough, but that still wasn't saying much.
And it looked old, which was something else that didn't sit too well with her. She took a
deep breath. "Okay," she finally said. "But we do it slow."
"That's fine." She stepped onto the bridge. Chase followed. "Just don't get cocky,
Short Round," he said.
She gave him a wry smile over her shoulder. "Ha ha."
They started out across the bridge, keeping each hand on either side. They took
their steps slow. The boards beneath their feet were large, probably two or three inches
thick and five inches wide. Chase knew the bridge was probably very old, but he tried to
keep the bad thoughts off his mind as he walked.
"How you doing?"
"Fine." Sarah's eyes never left the boards below her. She took each one carefully,
adjusting her grip on the rope-rails before each step just incase one decided to break.
"Don't worry," she heard him say behind her. "We'll be to the other side before you
know it."
They were making pretty good time considering. Sarah made the mistake one point of
looking over the side and almost started to freak out, but Chase was able to calm her
down, and they continued. Against his will, Chase took a peek and instantly wished he had
listened to himself. It was a sight he certainly didn't need to see again.
Halfway across the bridge, a voice suddenly broke the silence. "McDonald!"
They both turned and looked.
Mason was standing atop the hill, holding a rifle. "Hey, McDonald! How about I save
you the ordeal of falling by just cuttin' you two down right here!?" He brought the rifle
up to fire, but he heard only a click. He pulled back on the hammer and tried again, but
nothing. He pulled the magazine out and looked. The clip was empty. "Damn it!" He threw
the rifle away.
"Sarah, run," Chase said, and she listened without thinking.
Mason charged down the short embankment toward the bridge. Chase looked back over
his shoulder and saw Mason come onto the bridge, running fast. A board gave way, and Sarah
dropped, screaming. Chase grabbed her arms, nearly falling after her, but managed to hang
on. He pulled her, and she clung to him. Mason was closing fast. Chase tore her away and
gestured ahead. "Come on. Run, run."
The three of them shook the bridge as they ran. Mason's foot broke through a board
and he feel to one knee, clutching the rope handles, but was back on his feet in no time.
Sarah ran a few feet in front of Chase, who looked back and saw Mason was gaining on them.
Chase poured on the speed, seeing the other end of the bridge up ahead. When he looked
back, Mason was almost there.
"Keep running, Sarah!"
She glanced back without dropping her speed. "What?"
"Keep running! Don't stop!" He reached into his jacket and pulled out the pocket
knife he had taken from Doug the day before, and turned just as Mason reached him.
Mason grabbed the knife hand with both of his, and Chase grabbed one of his hands.
Their eyes locked as they fought for possession of the knife. "How's it feel, McDonald?"
Mason asked through clenched teeth. "How's it feel to know you're about to die?"
Chase just stared back, holding the gaze. "You tell me."
Mason head-butted Chase, knocking him back. He came forward, but Chase kicked up,
planting his foot into Mason's stomach, making him stumble back. Chase scrambled to his
feet and turned to run, but Mason dived forward and grabbed onto his leg. Chase fell
forward, landing on the boards and sending up a cloud of snow. He saw the knife was still
in his hand, and without thinking, sliced it through the ropes in a flash.
"What are you doing?" Mason exclaimed. He struggled to grab the knife from Chase,
but he instead caught the detective's fist and fell back. Chase turned and sliced the
ropes on the other side. If he was going down, he was taking Mason with him.
Mason turned over and could only watch in horror as the ropes were sliced one by one.
The bridge began to shake, losing support from it's suspension frame. Both men got to their
feet at the same time. Chase swung. Mason ducked and caught Chase in a neck-hold. "It's
been a fun game, cop," Mason snarled in his ear. "But not all good guys win."
Chase swung the knife down on the rope-rail to his right. Mason heard the snapping
and 'twang'ing and looked over Chase's other shoulder. He saw the rope unraveling, and his
hold on Chase was released as the balance of the bridge buckeled. The right rail felt away,
causing the tension in the bridge to loosen. The left rail swung down.
The knife flew from Chase's hand as he threw his arms out to balance himself. Mason
was struggling to stay on his feet. The entire bridge dropped a foot or two from the lost
in support, throwing Chase down. He stuck his fingers between two boards and held tight.
He heard a sharp snap, a loud crack, and the bridge split in two and swung away from each
other. Sarah was almost to the far end when she felt the bridge acting funny under her feet.
Without looking back, she knew something was wrong, and she threw herself forward as she
reached the end, landing in the snow.
The bridge swung down, crashing hard into the cliffside. It shook violently,
threatening to break Chase free of his own grip. He looked down and was amazed to see
Mason below him, holding on tight, one hand grabbing a board and the other grabbing a
tangle of rope. He looked up. "Like to up the challenge, hu, McDonald? My kind of guy."
He started climbing.
Chase looked up and saw the distance between him and the top. He knew he could make
it, and started climbing. The space between the boards was big enough for his fingers to
fit, but not big enough to accomodate more than the tip of his shoes. But with a cold-
blooded killer directly below him and climbing up, he found the ability to make it happen.
"What's that down there?" James shouted, pointing into the trees.
Cooper looked down. "Oh. Just a hunter's shack. Guy comes up during the hunting
season, stays for weeks in that little place. Probably goes crazy by the time he's ready
to leave."
"Look at that."
"What is it?"
"Looks like snowmobile tracks. And they're heading south. Come on, let's move."
The chopper swung out and headed south.
Mason reached up, grabbing for Chase's foot. "Come on, McDonald. Let's see if you can play
dirty with the best of them." He grabbed the detective's ankled and pulled.
Chase's grip came free, and he slid down the surface of the boards, crashing into
Mason and taking them several yards back down the length of bridge before they became
entangled in the lose ropes. Each held on with one hand while swinging with the other.
Chase swung with a right, catching Mason in the jaw. Mason swung the back of his left hand,
slamming Chase in the jaw. For a split second, Chase felt his grip on the ropes almost
loosen.
Mason's hand came back and locked around Chase's throat, squeezing. Chase grabbed
his wrist, but Mason had a tight grip on his throat. Chase felt his throat closing in on
itself. He could feel his lungs gasping for air. He could feel his head beginning to grow
light. His eyes were becoming hooded.
Mason was laughing. "This is the end of the line, McDonald." Chase lifted his eyes
and stared right back. "This is where you go to Hell," he said, and laughed again.
From somewhere deep inside, Chase managed to summon up every ouch of remaining
strength he had, and in one fast motion, slammed his knee into Mason's stomach. His grip
loosened, and Chase gasped for air as Mason doubled, clutching his ribs. He swung at Chase.
He moved out of the way, and Mason's fist hit the bridge. He yelled.
Chase gave him a right hook, and when Mason swung back, his left side was exposed.
Chase lifted his foot and kicked him in the ribs. Once, twice. That was all it took, and
the impact tore Mason from his grip. He fell screaming, arms and legs flailing in the air.
He dropped along the cliffside, felt his body bounce against the mountain and was thrown
away from it, and then the ground rushed up to meet him.
Chase turned away from the scene and rested against the bridge, still breathing
deeply. He heard the sound of distant thumping and lifted his head. A helicopter came over
the hill on the opposite side of the bridge and flew across the gorge.
James saw Sarah waving her arms in the air. He looked at Cooper. "Put us down close
by."
The pilot nodded and swung around to land several yards away in a clearing surrounded
by trees. James had thrown off his headset and belt and was out of his seat before the
chopper had completely set down. Sarah was running toward him. She grabbed his arms.
"Where's Chase?" he said.
She pointed behind her. "Back there. Down on the side of the mountain." They ran back.
Within seconds they were standing near the edge. James didn't know if he wanted to
look over, for fear of seeing the wrong man climbing up. Then they heard a tired breathing,
and a hand came into view, reaching over the edge and grabbing onto one of the last boards
in the bridge. Then a second hand appeared, and a moment later, they saw Chase McDonald
lift his head up. "Somebody want to give me a hand here?" he asked.
Sarah and James both smiled, excited and relieved at the same time. James hurried
forward and helped Chase up, and they both fell back into the snow. Chase looked like he
was getting his breathing under control. He looked at James. "Nice to see you again."
"Likewise." He smiled. "Tough day at work?"
"You wouldn't believe. Captain Jensen is probably wondering where the hell we are.
Where's August?"
"He's fine. He's on his way to a hospital."
"Hospital?"
"Yeah." James stood. "It's a long story. I'll explain on the way."
Sarah helped him lift Chase to his feet, and they began walked back to the helicopter.
"Hey, James. I've got an idea."
"What's that, Chase?"
"Once we get done and start for L.A., what do you say we just get a rental car?"
James laughed as they moved through the trees. "Sounds good to me."
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