Trail Of Terror Chapter 4

Trail Of Terror

Chapter 4 

Josh

 Vik? He’s my brother Ben’s friend. Not mine. I don’t really know him.

You’ll have to come with us regardless, Officer Murphy said. Dad was seated at the kitchen table sipping his coffee and got up and came over to us.

What is this about, he said, looking between the officer and me.

The officer sighed. I’m sorry, sir, but we just need to speak to Josh and his brothers. You are free to accompany them if you wish.

I certainly will accompany you. My son Cody is still a minor.

Right, the officer said, sheepishly.

Just let me change and we’ll be on our way, Dad said.

The police car was parked in the driveway. Another officer was on the radio to headquarters. Dad and I got in the backseat while the Officer Murphy got in the passenger seat.

We can’t locate Ben Clayton, the other officer, a female named Overton, said to Murphy. 

We passed a car on our way here, Overton said, turning to face us. It was a Chevy Cavalier, dark blue. License B9T955.

That’s Ben’s car. Where did you say you found it?

Just along the road by the bridge to the mainland, Murphy said, putting the car in gear. A few moments later we saw the car off to the side of the road. No one was around.

George called me just a while ago. He found the car when he was driving Cody to his band’s practice in town. I got a text message from Ben soon after saying that he was OK, that he was with Tyson Brady.

You should have mentioned this to us earlier, Mr. Clayton, Murphy said, stopping the police car behind Ben’s car.

Why? Dad said. You didn’t ask me about my other sons’ whereabouts. I thought you already knew where they were.

Neither Murphy nor Overton responded. They got out of the car and approached Ben’s car. They returned a few moments later.

Any idea why he left the car here? Murphy asked as he got back in the driver’s seat.

No, Dad said. He didn’t mention anything about his car, just that he changed his mind about going into town and was with Tyson.

And who is this Tyson Brady. A friend?

No, I said ruefully. Tyson’s father Roscoe works in the lab with Mom and Dad. He’s a bit of a—well jerk.

Josh, Dad admonished. That’s not fair.

I remained silent. Overton made a call into headquarters.

Where does Mr. Brady live? Murphy asked.

Back down the trail past our house. They live in the log house along the road past the labs, Dad said resignedly.

Murphy turned the cruiser around and we headed back down the road past our house. Soon the Brady’s home came into view. It looked deserted.

Mr. Brady Sr. is in the lab, Dad said when Overton returned from knocking on the door to the house.

We headed to the lab and parked. We followed the two officers into the lab. The building housed a few different labs actually. A forensic lab that specialized in crime scene investigation. A chemical lab where experiments on chemicals were performed. The government lab was underground and was only accessible through a special door at the end of the corridor. The local police did not even know about this special lab.

There was a computer lab as well. Roscoe Brady was working in the chemical lab.

He looked up in surprise when the two officers followed us into the room where he was seated at a table with beakers and syringes surrounding him.

He was of medium height with dark brown hair and beard. He had on a white lab coat. Goggles covered his eyes. He removed them as he got up from his seat.

Are you Roscoe Brady? Overton asked and Roscoe nodded, glancing at Dad.

It’s OK, Roscoe, the police are just looking for Ben and Tyson, Dad said.

I—ah haven’t seen my son since last night, Roscoe said. And I haven’t seen Ben either.

When is the last time you saw Ben Clayton? Murphy asked, opening up his small notebook.

I—ah don’t remember. It was before they left on their trip, he stammered, looking again at Dad.

My sons ran an errand for me in Vancouver, Dad said evenly. They took our plane and returned last night. My son Josh here was flying.

Murphy nodded. Ok, he said. So, Mr. Brady, you haven’t seen your son or Ben Clayton today at all?

N-no, Roscoe said, scratching his beard nervously.

Very well, thank you for your time, Mr. Brady, Overton remarked. She turned to us. We will now go to the station in Maple Grove. When Ben shows up, we will want to talk to him as well. Actually, him especially as he is friends with Mr. Nath.

Overton and Murphy followed Dad and me from the lab and we returned to the car.

If it’s all the same to you, I would like to follow you into town in our own car, Dad said to the officers. That way we can return on our own when we’re done.

Murphy and Overton exchanged a glance then concurred.

A few minutes later, we were once again on our way to town. Cody was likely already at Police Headquarters as he was already in town. I was worried about Ben, though. His connection to Vikram Nath and now the fact that he was with Tyson Brady.

Tyson was not a friend. He disliked our family since he believed that his father should be running the labs. Roscoe was quite willing to leave the reins of the operation to Mom and Dad, but his son didn’t agree. So why did Ben leave his car and go off with Tyson? It made no sense.

We passed his car as we followed the police cruiser, then crossed the bridge to the mainland. Thick forest bordered the road into the town of Maple Grove. The town was so named as there was a grove of maple trees in the centre of town that had been planted by some visitors to the area over a hundred years earlier. Ben had told us this the day we arrived in the area, being as he was the resident brain of the family—after Mom and Dad of course.

We arrived at Police Headquarters, a block over from the maple grove. Cody was already being questioned and Dad was soon in the room with him. I followed a few minutes later.

What do you know about Vikram Nath? One of the investigating officers asked me after I took a seat next to Cody who just gave me a questioning look.

Not much. I know him from school, I said. I don’t really know anything about him. He’s Ben’s friend. And if he were here, he could tell you more than me or likely Cody as well.

The investigating officer, Officer Melrose nodded and made notes. Vikram Nath was at your home two weeks ago on Friday, Melrose remarked, checking his notes.

I shrugged. I guess. I don’t remember.

Did he leave anything behind, or do you recall him brining anything with him when he arrived but then left without taking it.

What do you mean? I asked, glancing at Cody and Dad.

An envelope or a small box. Did you see him when he was at your home?

I shook my head. I don’t—recall seeing him.

Me either, Cody said exasperated. Can we go now?

Melrose glared at Cody then turned back to me. So, you didn’t see him leave anything behind, then.

How could I have seen that, if I didn’t see him at all that day? I turned to dad. Why do the police always ask dumb questions?

Josh—Dad admonished with a furrowed brow.

It was Melrose’s turn to glare at me.

Your sons are quite disrespectful of authority, Mr. Clayton.

It might help, Dad remarked, ignoring him, that if we knew why these questions are necessary. And what Mr. Nath has been charged with. Surely this is not a secret?

Vikram Nath has been charged with smuggling, Melrose said after a pause.

Smuggling? Dad said, incredulous. But Vik is only a high school student. What was he charged with smuggling?

I am not at liberty to extrapolate on Mr. Nath’s charges. We believe that Mr. Nath’s recent trip to India was to set up a smuggling operation. Our location near the Pacific Ocean makes it a prime area for smuggling—add to that our remoteness. And Storm Island and its proximity to the ocean is suspect as well.

And you think because we live on an island that has access to the ocean and because my son is Vik’s friend—that he’s what? That he’s involved? That any of us are involved? That’s ludicrous.

Then you won’t mind us searching your premises? And any other area of your lab that we deem may be pertinent?

Dad shook his head. Not without a warrant. I can’t believe you called my sons here for questioning without notifying me first. Especially Cody who is only 16.  I also can’t believe you are accusing us of helping with a supposed smuggling operation. We are new to this town and resent the implication that we are involved in anything illegal.

I’m not accusing you of anything, Mr. Clayton.

I also don’t believe that Mr. Nath is involved—but I cannot speak for him. I don’t really know him.

Mr. Clayton. We apologize for this—handling of the situation. We don’t get much of this kind of thing here in Maple Grove. It just seems that it’s too much of a co-incidence that you arrive in the area. You live on Storm Island and have a lab built there. Your son befriends Mr. Nath, who then travels to India under suspicious circumstances soon after. Just what kind of experiments are you working on out there?

That is classified. Dad said finally. We work for the government of Canada. I know Ottawa is far away, but there is where you need to look for answers. Answers that I can’t give you at the present.

Melrose nodded. Again, we apologize, he said. You are free to go. But I will get that warrant.

Very well, Dad said, turning to Cody and me. Let’s go, boys.

As we got up and were about to leave, Melrose said. We need to speak to Ben, he said. He still might know something about Mr. Nath.

Dad nodded. Very well. We’ll let you know when we find him.

Thanks, Melrose said. He turned back to his paperwork, which was a dismissal. Just as well, I didn’t want to spend another minute in that cramped little room.

Out in the corridor Dad turned to us. We need to find your brother. He might still be on the island. I’m worried that he was seen with Tyson. I trust Roscoe, but his son—I don’t trust him at all.

We returned to the car. Cody put in a call to George who was still at the hardware store to tell him that he wouldn’t need a ride back to the island. Then we set out.

We arrived back home shortly thereafter. Mom was in the kitchen, still dressed in her lab coat.

Roscoe told me about the police visit, she said, taking a sip of her coffee. What’s wrong?

Dad related what had happened and about Vik being arrested for smuggling.

And they think Ben is involved? Mom asked incredulous.

Not at the present, Dad said. But they are suspicious—of us and of our operation here. I need to call Ottawa. He turned to Cody and me.

I need you boys to find your brother.

Right, I said. Come on, I said to Cody. Let’s use the ATV’s. Some of those trails can be treacherous.

He smiled. Sure, I’ve been itching to use those since we moved here, he said.

Boys, Dad said. This is serious. We need to find Ben—and soon.

I know, and we’ll be careful, I said.

As Cody and I made our way to the garage where the ATV’s were, I had a nagging feeling Ben was in trouble. We didn’t always see eye to eye but the fact that he was in danger, I was worried for him. I had a bad feeling something had happened to him.