Ancient Illusions

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Salmon City, Idaho

A feeling of dread hung over the coffee shop next door to the sheriff’s office in Salmon City, Idaho. It was early morning, and the local ranchers and townspeople gathered there were scared, including a stringer for the Idaho Statesman. All of them remembered the strange things that had happened two years earlier, and they were all wondering if this might be round two. The Lemhi County sheriff, Jake Sullivan, had gone into the River of No Return Wilderness Area two days earlier to investigate some strange livestock mutilations, and hadn’t returned.

A search party had been gathered, and they awaited their assignments. In charge was a deputy sheriff from Idaho Falls. Deputy Sheriff Brunswick had more experience dealing with difficult situations than Salmon’s Deputy Bill Mallick. Mallick remembered the heat that had rained down on Jake Sullivan earlier when eight students and teachers from Boise State vanished in the wilderness area. Mallick was glad to let Brunswick handle it.

Just then, the door opened, and in walked the focal point of their angst, Sheriff Jake Sullivan. Jake was barrel-chested and broad-shouldered, with close-cropped brown hair mottled with gray, and a craggy, weather-beaten face. Born in Salmon, he had left it for Los Angeles where he joined the police force and worked his way to a detective in Robbery-Homicide. When things didn’t turn out as planned in California, he had returned to Idaho where life was supposed to be a lot quieter.

“I heard you guys might be looking for me,” he said with a grin.

“Jake!” Charlotte Reed stood up. She and Jake had lived together almost two years, ever since they met during the search for the missing university group in the back country north of the Salmon River. A widow, she had worked as a forgery investigator for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. Her expertise was in Ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian art and antiquities.

Jake opened his arms and, as soon as he did, she ran to him. “You had us worried, you old coot! Where were you?”

The two kissed and hugged, and then Jake faced the room. “Thank you, everyone. I never imagined you’d mobilize so quickly, but it’s good to know you have my back.” He turned to Deputy Sheriff Brunswick and extended his hand. “Thanks for coming.”

“I’m glad you’re okay,” Brunswick said, shaking Jake’s hand.

“So am I,” Mallick said, as the deputy gave the sheriff a quick, awkward hug.

“What happened?” Brunswick asked.

Putting an arm around Charlotte’s shoulders, Jake again spoke to the group. “Someone jumped me out there—knocked off my horse. When I came to, my horse, satellite phone, and gun were gone. I walked toward the river and the next day reached Corn Creek Landing. But then I didn’t see a soul until sundown when a couple came by in a boat. Their communications equipment had stopped working, and they didn't know why. We didn’t travel when it was dark, so it took a while to make it back here. Soon as we got back—about ten minutes ago—I heard about this meeting and rushed over. So, please excuse my appearance.”

“You’re safe,” Charlotte said. “Who cares?”

“Listen, Jake,” Brunswick said, “I’d like you to fill me in on what’s going on out there. It sounds plenty strange, and maybe I can offer help. But for now, I’ll keep an eye on things while you get some sleep.”

Jake nodded. He was exhausted.

The coffee shop owner, Emily Parker, a woman Charlotte had grown uncharacteristically jealous of, handed Jake a cup of coffee. “I thought you could use this,” she said with a dimpled smile. “And, if you’re hungry, I made you some eggs, sausage, and biscuits. I know how much you love them.” She put the plate on a nearby table.

“Perfect! Thanks. I’m starving,” he said as he walked to the food. “Want some, too?” he asked Charlotte.

“I’m fine.”

They sat as he ate. She was being unusually quiet.

“Are you okay?” he asked after a while.

“Other than being scared to death, you mean?”

“I’m sorry,” Jake said.

She gave him a long, worried look. “You always are. But that doesn’t make it easier.”

“I don’t know what you’re getting at.”

“I know you don’t.” Her tone was quiet and sad. “That’s the problem. There’s something drawing you away from me, from Salmon City, from everything important to us. It’s changed you. Whenever you go out the Salmon River Road to Telichpah Flats or beyond, you come back even worse. And this time, you almost didn’t come back at all.”

He put down the biscuit, his brows crossed. “I don’t know why you feel this way. That’s not how I see it.”

“Right. It’s all my imagination,” she said. “But it isn’t. Something is wrong.”

“You’ve got that right, at least!” He was angry now. “Someone crazy is mutilating sheep and cattle, and my job is to find the son of a bitch.”

“It’s more than that.”

“I agree.” He picked up the biscuit and took another bite, his demeanor calmer as he said, “The amount of livestock killed has been unusual.”

“I’m saying the manner of the deaths is the problem.”

“And you think something surreal is going on?” Jake asked.

“Not surreal. Supernatural.”

“You’re wrong—and you’ll see that when I catch the very human bastards behind this mess.” He finished his breakfast and stood. “Let’s go home.”