Page 10 of The Catcher (High Peaks Murder, Mystery and Crime Thrillers #5)
A s Noah gunned the engine of his Bronco, the vehicle surged forward, its tires gripping the winding pavement of the Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway. McKenzie gripped the door handle, his knuckles turning white as the car hugged the curves like a daredevil on a thrill ride.
The fall foliage flashed by in a blur of reds, oranges, and yellows, a vibrant tapestry that painted the landscape with the colors of the season. The crisp air whipped through the open windows, carrying the scent of pine and earth.
In the rearview mirror, Noah saw the two sheriff’s cruisers following close behind, their lights flashing intermittently.
Sam and Isabella were in one of those cruisers; their presence was crucial to the investigation.
Sam’s familiarity with the cache located at the observatory on Whiteface Mountain could prove invaluable.
As they ascended higher and higher, the mist began to roll in, shrouding the landscape in a ghostly veil. The towering peaks of the Adirondacks loomed in the distance, their jagged silhouettes cutting through the haze.
High Peaks Lake glittered like a sapphire jewel nestled among the mountains, its surface rippling gently in the breeze. Beyond it, the islands dotted the water like stepping stones, their lush greenery contrasting sharply with the rocky terrain.
As they approached, Noah’s eyes caught sight of the castle made from native stone. Its turrets reached toward the sky with an air of regal grandeur; the restaurant and gift shop nestled nearby, their warm lights beckoning weary travelers.
Memories flooded Noah’s mind as he remembered visiting this iconic spot. He remembered Mia and Ethan laughing as they explored the grounds together, their excitement palpable in the crisp mountain air.
But there was no time for nostalgia now. With the investigation pressing on, Noah focused on the task at hand, his senses sharp and alert as they continued their ascent up the mountain.
As they arrived at the summit, Noah eased the Bronco into a parking spot, the engine rumbling softly as he cut the ignition. Sam hopped out of the cruiser behind them, his cell phone already in hand, and led the way confidently.
“The geocache isn’t far from here. It’s been a while since I’ve been up here. It’s an easy find,” Sam remarked, glancing back at Noah with a grateful smile. “You know I appreciate you bringing us out for this. ”
“This isn’t a tour, kid,” McKenzie interjected before Noah could respond. “You’re saving us time. That’s all.”
“Damn right about that. So what... you think that kid in the forest was killed by some psycho who is now using geocaches to lead you to his girlfriend who went missing?” Sam asked.
Noah exchanged a glance with McKenzie, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features. “Where did you hear that?”
“One of the deputies told us on the way up,” Sam replied calmly, gesturing toward the cops trailing behind them. “And the missing teens made front page news in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise .”
Noah sighed inwardly, the frustration of dealing with leaks evident in his expression. It seemed there was no stopping people from flapping their gums, even in a serious investigation.
Ignoring Sam’s speculation, they continued through an archway in Whiteface Castle, the imposing structure casting a shadow over them. As they emerged on the other side, they looked up toward the Summit Weather Observatory tower, its metal frame standing tall against the backdrop of the sky.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. Is the geocache up there?” McKenzie asked, squinting against the sun’s glare.
“Oh yeah. It’s just under a mile, but well worth it for the views,” Sam replied enthusiastically, already charging ahead. “Come on, boomer!”
McKenzie glared at the kid.
“I think we should take the elevator,” McKenzie suggested, eyeing the steep incline with a hint of reluctance.
“Can’t. It’s out of service,” Noah said, pointing to a weathered sign affixed to the elevator door.
“Just our luck,” McKenzie muttered under his breath, his shoulders slumping in resignation.
Undeterred, they pressed on up the rocky path, their footsteps echoing against the silence of the mountain. The ascent was grueling, each step a challenge against the steep incline. Loose gravel shifted beneath their feet, threatening to send them tumbling backward with every misstep.
As they climbed higher, the view opened before them, revealing a breathtaking panorama of the surrounding landscape. The vibrant colors of fall painted the mountainside in hues of gold and crimson, a stark contrast to the rugged terrain below.
McKenzie gripped the railing tightly, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he struggled to keep pace with the younger men. Noah’s legs felt like lead; his lungs burned from climbing. He could relate. Age was catching up with him as much as it was for McKenzie, his senior.
“Are you all right, old-timer?” Sam asked, casting a concerned glance at McKenzie.
“Just a little dizzy,” McKenzie replied, his voice strained.
“That’s the elevation,” Sam explained.
Noah stopped, turning to face McKenzie with a look of concern. “We’ll wait for you.”
But McKenzie shook his head stubbornly. “I’m good,” he insisted, determination shining in his eyes as he pressed on, driving him forward.
Finally, they arrived at the building that housed the observatory tower, its weathered facade standing as a testament to years of withstanding the elements.
The observatory was used to monitor weather patterns and atmospheric conditions; its importance was evident in the array of scientific instruments scattered throughout the interior.
Outside, multiple coin-operated binoculars dotted the edge of the building, offering visitors a closer look at the breathtaking views that stretched out before them.
Noah couldn’t help but marvel at the sight, his thoughts momentarily drifting away from the grim task as he took in the beauty of the natural world.
Sam approached the wall, his brow furrowing in confusion. “Huh. That’s odd.”
“What is?” Noah asked, stepping closer to peer over Sam’s shoulder.
“Well, the GPS leads us to this spot, but the cache isn’t here,” Sam explained.
“Are you sure? You said you hadn’t been up here in a while. Maybe you forgot where it was?” Noah suggested, trying to find a logical explanation.
“No. I remember this one. This geocache is a traditional. Whoever this person is, they’re linking to existing geocaches owned by others, like mine and the one that’s supposed to be here.
Now, most geocaches come with a hint — some way to help you find it when the GPS coordinates aren’t helping, or it’s not obvious where the container is.
This one was by the wall because it used a fake stone.
The geocache was inside it. But that stone is missing,” Sam said, pointing to a space along the wall.
Noah sighed, his gaze shifting to the vast expanse beyond the wall. The wind whipped at his face, sending a shiver down his spine as he fought to maintain his balance. “You sure it didn’t get blown off?”
“Anything is possible, but from what I remember, it was pretty well secured between these two rocks. Now, there is one other alternative,” Sam replied.
“What’s that?” Noah asked, his curiosity piqued.
“It’s been muggled,” Sam explained matter-of-factly.
“Muggled? What does that mean?” McKenzie chimed in.
“Muggled. It’s a term used in the geocache community to describe a geocache removed or interfered with by non-geocachers.
They refer to them as muggles. The term is borrowed from the Harry Potter series, where muggles were non-magical individuals.
However, in this community, it just means anyone who isn’t geocaching,” Sam elaborated.
“And why would they take it?” Noah asked.
Sam shrugged. “Why does anyone do anything? Maybe it’s to piss people off. Maybe they think it’s junk. It’s cluttering up God’s earth. You name it; I’m sure there are reasons.”
McKenzie threw his arms up. “Aye, that’s just great! I just nearly killed myself ascending this hill to find it’s gone?” McKenzie grumbled, taking a seat on a nearby bench and exhaling heavily .
“Perhaps one of the staff removed it,” Noah suggested, scanning the area for any signs of maintenance personnel.
“And why would they do that?” McKenzie retorted.
Sam was quick to answer that. “Well, some have tried to dispute that the observatory at Whiteface Mountain is private property and you’re not supposed to have geocaches on private property without permission.
However, this isn’t private property,” Sam explained.
“It’s not privately owned, and it’s accessible to the public by a paved controlled highway.
But that’s not to say you don’t have some dipshits who think it is and will argue until they are blue in the face. ”
Noah nodded, absorbing the information. The kid was valuable.
Sure, they could get up to speed on this geocaching stuff, but it was easier to lean on someone else’s experience, and clearly, this kid knew it inside out.
The only trouble was he was the first to find the body.
If he had anything to do with it, it would only make sense that he would want to throw them off the scent.
But Noah didn’t get that sense. Still, nothing could be ruled out.
“Stay here, catch your breath, take in the views. I’ll go ask the staff,” Noah said, making a decision.
“I’ll come with you,” Sam offered, eager to be involved.
“No, you stay here. Keep searching. Besides, McKenzie has been just biting at the bit to learn about geocaching, haven’t you?” Noah said, shooting a wink at McKenzie.
McKenzie pursed his lips as if he was about to protest, but then a look of curiosity flickered across his face, and he nodded reluctantly. “Yeah, sure, I suppose I could learn a thing or two. ”