Read Online The Island Project: A Thriller by Taylor Buck - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Taylor Buck
Ads: Link
in pretty deep. It would take days to search the whole thing. Let alone the paperwork to tread through protected land like that. And, Terry, I’m not even sure an animal had anything to do with this.”
“So we’ve got a killer hopping around on stilts, wielding a syringe full of Pentothal,” said Sullivan dryly.
Lee shook his head at Sullivan’s remark. “Don’t worry. I’ve got this. I just need a little more time.”
“Well, you have very little. I haven’t given the press anything to use yet. As far as they know, a man died of a heart attack face down in the mud in his back yard. We only have a few days before the details start surfacing. You know how these things go. You’re lucky the press hasn’t caught onto anything yet. And, Jimmy, we absolutely can not allow that to happen.”
“Thanks…I know.”
“One more day. That’s what I’m giving you,” said Sullivan.
Lee stared out into the thick forest as he pondered the scene. Nothing was matching up. He kept finding new evidence that contradicted the path he was headed. He caught himself zoning out. He could hear Sullivan speaking but he wasn’t paying attention. He looked the opposite direction, across the island, and noticed heavy cloud formations way off in the distance. A thick, black veil dipping down into the sea, hundreds of miles off shore—slowly creeping it’s way over.
“You see that? Those thunderheads. Still far off—but they’ll be here tonight,” said Lee.
Sullivan turned and looked in the same direction. “You got that right. I hope you got what you needed here. ‘Cause it’ll all be washed away in a few hours,” Sullivan said as he shielded his eyes. “It’ll all be gone.”
CHAPTER 17
HAKALAU FOREST NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
15 OCTOBER, 10:45 A.M.
Bennett and Kelly pulled into the north parking lot of the forest reserve at 10:45 a.m. Two other cars were parked there already. Bennett pulled in next to a Jeep Cherokee. Most likely the rangers, Bennett thought to himself. He got out of the truck and walked around to the bed to grab their packs. He hoisted Kelly’s pack out and handed it to her. Lifting it, he noticed her bag had some considerable weight to it.
“What do you have in here? An anvil ?”
Kelly laughed out loud. “I know. It’s heavy, huh? I brought my field equipment along just in case I need it.”
“Got it. Good thinking. And if we’re in trouble, at least we’ll have something insanely heavy to throw at it.” Kelly laughed again.
“Ok, here’s the trailhead. The trail winds back about two miles and then tees into another trail at the bamboo forest. About a mile east of that is a waterfall that looks over the valley. I spotted the cat from on top of the falls. I figure we venture in toward the falls and at least take a look. At least we know the cat has been there.”
“Sounds great. You lead,” said Kelly.
Bennett led Kelly through the jungle the way he had come out the day before. They walked at a steady pace, making good time as they hiked along the path, venturing off here and there only to avoid going through some overgrown brush. Bennett was impressed with Kelly’s ability to keep up. About two miles in, they reached the bamboo tunnels.
“Here’s the bamboo forest. That means we’re more than halfway there.”
Bennett ducked slightly below the clearing and entered. The bamboo tunnel ran for about a half mile. The path twisted and turned through thickly woven bamboo chutes reaching high into the sky. Tunnels like these were common to the islands. The locals cleared narrow paths to create access routes through the forests. This specific one looked to be used as more of a game path now.
“These tunnels are amazing!” Kelly exclaimed.
The tunnels really were quite fantastic to walk through. Kelly reached out and ran her fingers along the thick chutes as she walked. The bamboo was impressively large. Some of the chutes looked to measure about eight inches across. The
“So we’ve got a killer hopping around on stilts, wielding a syringe full of Pentothal,” said Sullivan dryly.
Lee shook his head at Sullivan’s remark. “Don’t worry. I’ve got this. I just need a little more time.”
“Well, you have very little. I haven’t given the press anything to use yet. As far as they know, a man died of a heart attack face down in the mud in his back yard. We only have a few days before the details start surfacing. You know how these things go. You’re lucky the press hasn’t caught onto anything yet. And, Jimmy, we absolutely can not allow that to happen.”
“Thanks…I know.”
“One more day. That’s what I’m giving you,” said Sullivan.
Lee stared out into the thick forest as he pondered the scene. Nothing was matching up. He kept finding new evidence that contradicted the path he was headed. He caught himself zoning out. He could hear Sullivan speaking but he wasn’t paying attention. He looked the opposite direction, across the island, and noticed heavy cloud formations way off in the distance. A thick, black veil dipping down into the sea, hundreds of miles off shore—slowly creeping it’s way over.
“You see that? Those thunderheads. Still far off—but they’ll be here tonight,” said Lee.
Sullivan turned and looked in the same direction. “You got that right. I hope you got what you needed here. ‘Cause it’ll all be washed away in a few hours,” Sullivan said as he shielded his eyes. “It’ll all be gone.”
CHAPTER 17
HAKALAU FOREST NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
15 OCTOBER, 10:45 A.M.
Bennett and Kelly pulled into the north parking lot of the forest reserve at 10:45 a.m. Two other cars were parked there already. Bennett pulled in next to a Jeep Cherokee. Most likely the rangers, Bennett thought to himself. He got out of the truck and walked around to the bed to grab their packs. He hoisted Kelly’s pack out and handed it to her. Lifting it, he noticed her bag had some considerable weight to it.
“What do you have in here? An anvil ?”
Kelly laughed out loud. “I know. It’s heavy, huh? I brought my field equipment along just in case I need it.”
“Got it. Good thinking. And if we’re in trouble, at least we’ll have something insanely heavy to throw at it.” Kelly laughed again.
“Ok, here’s the trailhead. The trail winds back about two miles and then tees into another trail at the bamboo forest. About a mile east of that is a waterfall that looks over the valley. I spotted the cat from on top of the falls. I figure we venture in toward the falls and at least take a look. At least we know the cat has been there.”
“Sounds great. You lead,” said Kelly.
Bennett led Kelly through the jungle the way he had come out the day before. They walked at a steady pace, making good time as they hiked along the path, venturing off here and there only to avoid going through some overgrown brush. Bennett was impressed with Kelly’s ability to keep up. About two miles in, they reached the bamboo tunnels.
“Here’s the bamboo forest. That means we’re more than halfway there.”
Bennett ducked slightly below the clearing and entered. The bamboo tunnel ran for about a half mile. The path twisted and turned through thickly woven bamboo chutes reaching high into the sky. Tunnels like these were common to the islands. The locals cleared narrow paths to create access routes through the forests. This specific one looked to be used as more of a game path now.
“These tunnels are amazing!” Kelly exclaimed.
The tunnels really were quite fantastic to walk through. Kelly reached out and ran her fingers along the thick chutes as she walked. The bamboo was impressively large. Some of the chutes looked to measure about eight inches across. The
Similar Books
