Chapter 20: The Final Hike

Alexa, Walt, and Stacy left her house at 3:13 AM. On the way to the car, Stacy asked Alexa if she wanted her to drive. Alexa gratefully accepted. Walt skipped coffee and donuts for the moment and claimed the backseat. He was snoring within five minutes.

As Walt slept, Stacy gave Alexa a more detailed recount of what she realized, without mentioning that it came to her as she was starting to pull off Walt’s boxers. Like Walt, Alexa jumped to the conclusion before Stacy finished her story.

“You sound convinced. Will you be OK if we go all the way out there and she’s either not there or left already?”

“I think she’ll be there. It’s only been a couple of days. She will feel like she needs to hide out for several days to a week or more. Even if she’s gone I bet we find evidence of her having been there.”

Alexa said, “Either way, it’s another step.”

Stacy took her eyes of the road for a second to look at Alexa. “Damn right it is.”

Walt woke about an hour before sunrise. Alexa passed him a lukewarm coffee, along with the box of donuts.

He took the box and selected one plain glazed donut, and another with chocolate icing and peanut sprinkles.

“Thanks,” said Walt. He ate half of the first donut in one bite. Alexa saw him and passed him a napkin. “Looks like you’ll need this, too.”

“Where are we?” asked Walt.

“About an hour out,” said Stacy.

For the rest of the drive Stacy filled them in on the details of what they will face when they arrive.

“There are no amenities, or even a road. The turn off is just a dirt trail that others have used to access the peak. The hike itself should be fairly easy.”

“Maybe this is a dumb question,” started Alexa, “but what are we going to do if she’s there?”

Walt said, “She is wanted for questioning after Danny was arrested, but she does not have an arrest warrant issued. Ideally, we’ll get her to talk and get her to admit to something criminal.”

“Then you’ll arrest her?” asked Alexa of Walt.

“No. I do not have jurisdiction here, but I can hold her as a private citizen. If that is the case, we’ll call for help.”

“Not much of a plan,” said Alexa.

“We’re not sure she’s even there,” said Walt.

Stacy bristled behind the wheel. “I’m sure.”

Walt changed topics. “When we get off the road, you said it is an easy hike? What, specifically, are we looking at?”

Stacy said, “Yes, it is a relatively easy walk for about three miles. The real challenge will be climbing Haunted Hill.”

“Challenge?” asked Alexa with a bit of concern.

“For me, this would have been a cake walk three years ago, but I’m out of practice. I don’t know how well you guys climb?”

Walt said, “I’ve done good with rock walls the few times I’ve tried ‘em.”

Alexa was quiet, but then said, “I’ll be fine. I run and ride my bike several times a week. Point me to the right path and I’ll do OK.”

Stacy felt better given their optimistic bravado.

She found the small turnoff and maneuvered into the dirt lane. She pulled in several car lengths, then put the car in reverse and backed in behind a small grove of trees to hide the car from the road. Stacy popped the truck and took out two backpacks she put there before they left. Walt looked at her quizzically, wondering when she had the time to put together backpacks.

“This is for you,” she said as she handed Walt a backpack. She helped him heft it over his shoulders and then pulled and fastened the straps so it fit snugly but comfortably.

Stacy pulled on the second backpack with a practiced ease. She tightened it in place bounced on her feet to settle the contents.

The three locked the car. Stacy took the lead and started on a pathless direction that appeared to be going away from the peak rising up to their left.

“Isn’t that where we’re going?” asked Alexa.

“It is, but trust me, we want to go this way. It’s only a bit longer and we avoid a dry creek bed and a rough, rocky patch just before the peak.”

They trooped along in silence for about an hour. Stacy stopped them and pulled water bottles off the backpacks. Each took several pulls off the bottle and rested for a few minutes.

“OK, in about thirty minutes we’ll get to the ascent. I’ve never actually climbed this one, but from what I’ve read on the forums, it’s strenuous but pretty straightforward.”

Right on schedule they arrived at the base of the hill. Stacy started picking her steps and easily climbed to the first tier. Alexa and Walt followed in her steps.

“Is everyone OK?” asked Stacy.

“I’m good,” said Walt.

“Me, too,” said Alexa. “Let’s knock this out.”

Stacy took a deep breath. “My guess is about thirty minutes of intense climbing from here until the plateau. If you get tired let me know and we’ll rest.”

Alexa and Walt exchanged looks but nodded. They started again. Stacy kept a slow but steady pace as they inched higher and higher. She reached a particularly tricky part and stopped. She called out her intended pathway and made sure her companions were comfortable with the next few steps.

Alexa double-stepped on two of the moves but did OK. They all reached a narrow ledge and rested. “One more push,” said Stacy.

Stacy led them for the last few feet and they arrived at the second tier summit. The sunlight was streaming over the horizon giving everything a pleasant golden hue.

“This is it. Not the top, but it’s where Gabe Mormon supposedly hid out to survive the storm.”

Walt looked around. The area was much smaller than he expected. He was about to question the likelihood Nikki could be hidden somewhere in the cliff when he got his answer.

“You found me. You probably think you’re so fucking smart.”

Nikki stood less than fifteen feet from them. In her hand she calmly held a 9mm Ruger. It was pointed at Stacy. Walt and Alexa instinctively took a step away from Stacy.

“Nikki, what the fuck are you doing? Are you going to shoot me like you did Eric? Too bad you couldn’t get your goons here to justify needing a gun.”

Nikki’s mouth curled into an even grin. “I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.”

“Sure you do. I met one of your ‘shady characters’ outside of Jacob’s house. The guy with the fucked up arm and all the tattoos. He’s kind of hard to forget, even if he’s only been seen on crappy hospital security video. I think he knew I suspected something. He tried to strong arm me, but Walt found me before he could do anything.”

Nikki laughed. Stacy responded by saying, “And by the way, Dr. Blasnick sends her regards. She said that she knew she shouldn’t have signed off on you. She suspected you faked it all.”

“That bitch doctor has more secrets than David Copperfield.”

“Yeah, we found them, too,” Stacy answered. “The doc is the one that gave us the lead to find you here.”

“Bitch,” Nikki spat. “She’ll pay for that one.”

“How?” asked Stacy in her most innocent voice. “Maybe she’ll make you be her bitch when you’re back inside. Instead of you only having to fuck Jacob for favors, you’re going to be eating her taco whenever she’s got the itch?”

“Fuck you!” Nikki screamed as she waved the gun menacingly.

Stacy continued to egg on Nikki. “Turns out you can’t even get into the drug trafficking biz without fucking it up. Danny goes and gets himself busted before you even get the training wheels taken off. What will he think when he learns he went down because of you? Think those roughnecks he hangs with will take your side or his?”