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"She said he has Michelle Waring, and she also mentioned something about a trap. Maybe Whitman's intending to use Michelle as a hostage—I don't know."
The ambulance doors slammed shut. Carol climbed in the front seat, and the vehicle pulled away, sirens wailing. Sheila watched it go, carrying with it perhaps their best chance of finding Michelle Waring before it was too late.
"Anyway," Sheila continued as the ambulance's taillights disappeared around a bend, "it wasn't very clear what Diana was talking about. She was fading in and out—it didn't make sense."
"Could have been delirious from dehydration," Finn suggested. "All that time in those tunnels..."
Sheila's eyes glided to Rachel, who was talking with one of the deputies, apparently asking for a ride.
"What do you want to do?" Finn asked.
"Above," Sheila murmured, her head bent low in thought as she began pacing. "She said he ran, then doubled back through some kind of door. A door 'above'..." She stopped suddenly. "Not a door. A trapdoor."
Finn's eyes widened. "Like a cellar entrance?"
"Or a private access point to the mines." Sheila pulled out the list of properties they'd gotten from Sarah Riggs. "Look at these addresses. Most of them are newer construction, built long after the mines closed. But some..." She pointed to several listings. "These are original homes. Built when the mines were still operating."
"When miners might have wanted their own way in and out," Finn said, following her logic. "Doc Sullivan mentioned that was common—private entrances that weren't on any official maps."
Sheila spread the list on the hood of her vehicle. "Twenty-three houses on Michelle's route. But we can eliminate the newer ones—anything built after 1980 wouldn't have connected to the mine system." She began crossing off addresses. "That leaves nine."
"Still too many to search quickly," Finn said. "We need to narrow it further."
"Okay, think. What else do we know about Whitman?" Sheila pulled out her notebook. "He's methodical. Organized. Military background. He'd want a property that offered privacy and control."
"Considering how important these mines are to him," Finn said, "he's probably living at this place. So none of the seasonal properties or vacation rentals." That eliminated four of the possibilities.
They studied the remaining properties. "This one," Finn said, pointing to an address. "Look at the note Riggs made—'Original mining-era cabin, recently renovated. Current resident unknown.'"
"What else?" Sheila asked, sensing he was onto something.
"It's isolated, set back from the road. Built in 1959, according to the records. Perfect if you wanted to come and go without being noticed."
Sheila felt that familiar tension in her chest—the sense of pieces clicking into place. "What about the other four properties?"
"Two are too close to other homes. One's been empty since a fire last year. And the last one..." He checked the notes. "Elderly couple, lived there forty years."
"So our best bet is the cabin."
He paused, his lips parting in surprise.
"What?" Sheila asked.
"The last-known residents... they were Theresa Whitman's aunt and uncle."
"Theresa died in the mines," Sheila said, remembering Sullivan's research. "A collapse in 1970 that Frank helped cover up."
Finn nodded. "According to these records, her aunt and uncle—the Caldwells—inherited the property. They were the only family Theresa had left. After she died, they tried to get custody of Peter, but Frank wouldn't allow it. They passed away about five years ago. Property's been vacant since."
"Until Peter came home," Sheila said quietly. "Back to his mother's family land—land that connected to the mines she died in."
This was all the confirmation she needed. "How far is it to the cabin?" she asked as she hurried toward her vehicle, followed by Finn.
"About three miles, but there's no direct road. We'll have to approach on foot for the last quarter mile."
"Call for backup," Sheila said, checking her weapon. "But tell them to maintain distance. No sirens, no helicopters. If Whitman hears us coming, he might kill Michelle."
"You think he has her?"