Track Of The Cat

18

AT ten past nine in the morning Pacific Daylight time, A

Mr. Walters had been in a board meeting from three p.m. till nearly eight on July 2. Yes, she was certain. She'd been kept ru

A

For the moment she would put Erik and Christina into the "I

Karl Johnson was next.

In front of her on the desk was a yellow slip of paper: the phone message Marta had pressed on her when she'd first returned from Mexico. A

She dialed the number. Tim was in. From the faint swallowing sounds that came through the wire as she waited, A

After several minutes, Tim came on the line.

"Thanks for the blood test," A

"Yes," Tim replied. He was older than A

"Ketimine?"

"Yeah. It's pretty common. Vets use it to anesthetize animals. It puts them under more safely than the depressants they used to use."

A

"Sure you don't want it back?" His voice took on a teasing edge. "Used on people, the stuff is one hell of a hallucinogen. One more time for auld lang syne?"

"LSD!" A

"Not exactly, but it'll get you there."

"Tim, hang on to it a while for me, would you?"

"Sure."

"How about the dirt I sent?" This time A

"Looked like dirt to me," Dayton replied.

A

According to the backcountry permits she'd gone over with Ma

The only alternatives were hiking up North McKittrick Canyon or the Permian Reef Trail and camping beyond the park's boundary in the Lincoln National Forest. No permits were needed there. The Permian Reef Trail was more likely. North McKittrick was rough going and it was a long way before one reached good campsites.

Leaning back, A

After packing her gear, A

A

If Karl followed his pattern he would hike up Friday. Still, A

A

At nine-thirty a blue truck pulled into the parking lot. A man that could only be Karl Johnson-even at a distance he looked big-got out. He shouldered a red backpack and started up the trail toward the Permian Reef.

A

It took Karl only ninety minutes to climb the four miles and two thousand feet. Following him would require more than stealth, it would take stamina. He was still below her on the exposed switchbacks. Soon she would need a new hiding place, one close to the trail where it ran through the trees on the ridgetop. From there she would fall into place behind him when he passed.