from where we left off. I know a lot of you are anxious to help, and get frustrated that we’re so strict about the cutoff times. But it’s too dangerous out there to be fumbling around in the dark. And each of you has to check in at the base so we know that everyone is safe and accounted for.”
He looked around, making sure everyone was paying attention. “My usual speech still applies—don’t count on your cell phones or even the GPS in your cars to do much good out there. Something about that swamp plays havoc with electronics. Tomorrow morning we’re searching an area we searched previously, between five and ten miles northeast of a town called Mystic Glades, depending upon which grid you chose. So some of you on the far side might actually have better luck with your cell phones. But don’t rely on that. Memorize the landmarks we’ve noted on the map to help keep from getting lost. If you find anything that you think could be a clue about Miss Fullerton’s whereabouts, or her abductor, or if you just get turned around and lost, stay put, fire a flare, wait for backup.”
“Wait,” one of them said. “Why are we going over the same search area if we’ve already checked it out?”
“Because new evidence has surfaced to make us believe that a fresh look at these areas is warranted. Those of you in law enforcement, wear your vests. The rest of you, we’ll pass out vests in the morning. I know it’s hot and muggy out there and Kevlar can be miserable this time of year. But it might also save your life. So keep it on. We believe the killer may have returned to this section of the Glades, so everyone needs to be on high alert and extra careful.”
Surprised glances were exchanged around the table, and the low buzz of conversation filled the room as they considered this new development. Zack made a point of looking at each one of them until he regained their undivided attention. Even though he was just a police chief without any of his own deputies yet—having canceled the interviews the day he found Kaylee—he’d been trusted with the role as the search coordinator. And he took that role very seriously. He didn’t want to have anyone hurt or lost on his watch.
“Above all,” he continued, “be alert for predators of both the two-foot and four-foot variety. The gators will pretty much leave you alone as long as you leave them alone. But if you end up stepping on one, you’re likely to get your leg bitten off. So don’t put your foot somewhere that you can’t see the bottom. Meaning, stay out of the water, ladies and gentlemen. We’re doing a dry-land search. If we decide it’s warranted, we’ll have teams who specialize in water searches finish up our grids the next day.”
“How do we know if it’s warranted?” That question came from one of the newer deputies, Rick Carlson. Even though he was a rookie, in his first year on the force, he wasn’t some greenhorn kid that Zack had to worry about. This was Carlson’s second career after being laid off from his previous job. And he’d been one of the first to volunteer to help with the search.
Everyone, from newbie to seasoned officer, was pulling together like a big family in an effort to locate Fullerton. Zack just hoped he’d be lucky enough to find some deputies half as dedicated as them when he was able to return to the chore of hiring his own employees.
“Each of you is the one who makes that decision,” Zack said, in answer to Carlson’s question. “After your shift is over tomorrow and you check in at the base of operations, you’ll fill out a report showing what grid you searched, along with your recommendations for any further searching of that area. Recommendations include things like footprints, drag marks, bent or broken branches leading to the water...pretty much anything that might indicate that someone went through there into the water.
“In the shallow areas, be on the lookout for fabric or discarded items like
He looked around, making sure everyone was paying attention. “My usual speech still applies—don’t count on your cell phones or even the GPS in your cars to do much good out there. Something about that swamp plays havoc with electronics. Tomorrow morning we’re searching an area we searched previously, between five and ten miles northeast of a town called Mystic Glades, depending upon which grid you chose. So some of you on the far side might actually have better luck with your cell phones. But don’t rely on that. Memorize the landmarks we’ve noted on the map to help keep from getting lost. If you find anything that you think could be a clue about Miss Fullerton’s whereabouts, or her abductor, or if you just get turned around and lost, stay put, fire a flare, wait for backup.”
“Wait,” one of them said. “Why are we going over the same search area if we’ve already checked it out?”
“Because new evidence has surfaced to make us believe that a fresh look at these areas is warranted. Those of you in law enforcement, wear your vests. The rest of you, we’ll pass out vests in the morning. I know it’s hot and muggy out there and Kevlar can be miserable this time of year. But it might also save your life. So keep it on. We believe the killer may have returned to this section of the Glades, so everyone needs to be on high alert and extra careful.”
Surprised glances were exchanged around the table, and the low buzz of conversation filled the room as they considered this new development. Zack made a point of looking at each one of them until he regained their undivided attention. Even though he was just a police chief without any of his own deputies yet—having canceled the interviews the day he found Kaylee—he’d been trusted with the role as the search coordinator. And he took that role very seriously. He didn’t want to have anyone hurt or lost on his watch.
“Above all,” he continued, “be alert for predators of both the two-foot and four-foot variety. The gators will pretty much leave you alone as long as you leave them alone. But if you end up stepping on one, you’re likely to get your leg bitten off. So don’t put your foot somewhere that you can’t see the bottom. Meaning, stay out of the water, ladies and gentlemen. We’re doing a dry-land search. If we decide it’s warranted, we’ll have teams who specialize in water searches finish up our grids the next day.”
“How do we know if it’s warranted?” That question came from one of the newer deputies, Rick Carlson. Even though he was a rookie, in his first year on the force, he wasn’t some greenhorn kid that Zack had to worry about. This was Carlson’s second career after being laid off from his previous job. And he’d been one of the first to volunteer to help with the search.
Everyone, from newbie to seasoned officer, was pulling together like a big family in an effort to locate Fullerton. Zack just hoped he’d be lucky enough to find some deputies half as dedicated as them when he was able to return to the chore of hiring his own employees.
“Each of you is the one who makes that decision,” Zack said, in answer to Carlson’s question. “After your shift is over tomorrow and you check in at the base of operations, you’ll fill out a report showing what grid you searched, along with your recommendations for any further searching of that area. Recommendations include things like footprints, drag marks, bent or broken branches leading to the water...pretty much anything that might indicate that someone went through there into the water.
“In the shallow areas, be on the lookout for fabric or discarded items like
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