Stolen Innocents (The Shadow Series Book 2) by Addison Kline Page A
Authors: Addison Kline
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started the engine of his Jeep as Tristan climbed in the seat next to him. He grabbed her hand and suggested, “How about a drive to Wilhamette Creek?”
She smiled.
“Okay, we just have to be back by curfew to pick up the guys.”
***
Cole’s Jeep wound the steep curves of the Wilhamette backwoods as they climbed farther away from Elkhart. The Wilhamette Creek was located about twenty minutes from Elkhart and there was plenty to see and do there. Nature trails wound through the deep woods and you never knew what you might find hidden amidst the waterfalls and cliff-side scenery. Cole turned the Jeep off of the asphalt road and rumbled down a dirt path. The way down was winding and steep and you could find yourself wrapped around a tree if you didn’t have your wits about you. Tristan enjoyed the sights outside of her window as the Jeep sped down the hill, going deeper and deeper into the Wilhamette woods. Finally, they reached level ground and Tristan’s heart raced from excitement. She and Cole loved coming back here because it was so quiet and peaceful. The Jeep rambled down the road until it came to an abrupt stop. Cole had slammed his foot on the break. Tristan looked alarmed as she looked over at Cole.
“What’s wrong?” she asked with wide eyes.
Cole pointed out his window.
“Look. Someone broke into the old mine shaft,” Cole said with worry in his voice.
Tristan peered out the driver’s side window. The wooden gate that was intended to prevent entry to the dangerous mine was demolished. It looked like someone had crashed right through it with their car.
“Who would break in there? It’s so dangerous!” Tristan exclaimed.
“My best guess is that somebody is either hiding something in there or smuggling something.”
“Smuggling?”
“Yeah. This mine is long and runs all the way to Elkhart. An old map my father has shows that the other entrance to the mine is in the basement of Harrow’s.”
“There are a lot of entrances. There’s one at the old lighthouse, too.”
“Yeah, but apparently they’ve all been boarded up for over fifty years.”
With a dark tone to her voice, Tristan quipped, “Not all of them.”
Cole gave Tristan a knowing look as he grabbed a flashlight out of the glove box and flashed it down the mine. Something had definitely ripped through the tunnel. There were chips of black paint scuffed on the wood. Suddenly, a pair of headlights appeared on the road behind them, and they were approaching fast. Cole scrambled into action. He threw the flashlight into the Jeep, jumped into the driver’s seat and slammed on the gas.
“Let’s get outta here.”
***
“Where the hell did Tristan and Cole go?” lamented Shane as a beer bottle flew over his head and crashed against the wall behind him.
“I don’t know but we need to get out of here…” remarked Blake as he eyed the rowdy crowd warily.
“And what about him?” asked Shane as he pointed to Tommy who was rolling up his sleeves and preparing to go toe-to-toe with Hunter McCord.
“Dude’s lost his mind. Let’s go wait it out in Cole’s yard,” suggested Blake smartly.
***
The scene at 27 Caribou Road had changed dramatically in the short time since Cole and Tristan left. A group of people huddled in the yard as a fist fight broke out.
“That better not be Tommy!” yelled Tristan as she ran from the Jeep towards the fight.
“Shit…” said Cole as he chased after her.
He jumped the fence into the yard and fought his way to the center of the huddle. Tommy was engaging Hunter McCord, an ex-con, in a fist fight. Cole had heard of beer muscles before, but this was just ridiculous. He didn’t see Blake or Shane anywhere. So it would be up to him to take down the raging bull.
“I walk away for two seconds and you creep up on my girl…” yelled Tommy.
“I just offered
She smiled.
“Okay, we just have to be back by curfew to pick up the guys.”
***
Cole’s Jeep wound the steep curves of the Wilhamette backwoods as they climbed farther away from Elkhart. The Wilhamette Creek was located about twenty minutes from Elkhart and there was plenty to see and do there. Nature trails wound through the deep woods and you never knew what you might find hidden amidst the waterfalls and cliff-side scenery. Cole turned the Jeep off of the asphalt road and rumbled down a dirt path. The way down was winding and steep and you could find yourself wrapped around a tree if you didn’t have your wits about you. Tristan enjoyed the sights outside of her window as the Jeep sped down the hill, going deeper and deeper into the Wilhamette woods. Finally, they reached level ground and Tristan’s heart raced from excitement. She and Cole loved coming back here because it was so quiet and peaceful. The Jeep rambled down the road until it came to an abrupt stop. Cole had slammed his foot on the break. Tristan looked alarmed as she looked over at Cole.
“What’s wrong?” she asked with wide eyes.
Cole pointed out his window.
“Look. Someone broke into the old mine shaft,” Cole said with worry in his voice.
Tristan peered out the driver’s side window. The wooden gate that was intended to prevent entry to the dangerous mine was demolished. It looked like someone had crashed right through it with their car.
“Who would break in there? It’s so dangerous!” Tristan exclaimed.
“My best guess is that somebody is either hiding something in there or smuggling something.”
“Smuggling?”
“Yeah. This mine is long and runs all the way to Elkhart. An old map my father has shows that the other entrance to the mine is in the basement of Harrow’s.”
“There are a lot of entrances. There’s one at the old lighthouse, too.”
“Yeah, but apparently they’ve all been boarded up for over fifty years.”
With a dark tone to her voice, Tristan quipped, “Not all of them.”
Cole gave Tristan a knowing look as he grabbed a flashlight out of the glove box and flashed it down the mine. Something had definitely ripped through the tunnel. There were chips of black paint scuffed on the wood. Suddenly, a pair of headlights appeared on the road behind them, and they were approaching fast. Cole scrambled into action. He threw the flashlight into the Jeep, jumped into the driver’s seat and slammed on the gas.
“Let’s get outta here.”
***
“Where the hell did Tristan and Cole go?” lamented Shane as a beer bottle flew over his head and crashed against the wall behind him.
“I don’t know but we need to get out of here…” remarked Blake as he eyed the rowdy crowd warily.
“And what about him?” asked Shane as he pointed to Tommy who was rolling up his sleeves and preparing to go toe-to-toe with Hunter McCord.
“Dude’s lost his mind. Let’s go wait it out in Cole’s yard,” suggested Blake smartly.
***
The scene at 27 Caribou Road had changed dramatically in the short time since Cole and Tristan left. A group of people huddled in the yard as a fist fight broke out.
“That better not be Tommy!” yelled Tristan as she ran from the Jeep towards the fight.
“Shit…” said Cole as he chased after her.
He jumped the fence into the yard and fought his way to the center of the huddle. Tommy was engaging Hunter McCord, an ex-con, in a fist fight. Cole had heard of beer muscles before, but this was just ridiculous. He didn’t see Blake or Shane anywhere. So it would be up to him to take down the raging bull.
“I walk away for two seconds and you creep up on my girl…” yelled Tommy.
“I just offered
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