Chapter 13
The helicopter touched down at South River just before sunset.
Angelo was exhausted.
The journey had been long, and the discussions with the medical authorities had taken far longer than he had expected. But he had managed to secure what he needed.
A small team of specialists was being assembled.
They would come to South River as soon as the necessary arrangements were completed.
For the first time since arriving in the town, Angelo felt that he had finally taken control of the situation.
He stepped out of the helicopter and immediately noticed something was wrong.
The mine compound was unusually quiet.
Too quiet.
Russell was standing near the landing area, but he wasn't alone.
Maya stood beside him.
Angelo stopped.
For several seconds, neither of them said anything.
Maya looked different.
Perhaps it was because he hadn't seen her for several days.
Perhaps it was because he had spent much of his time away thinking about her.
Whatever the reason, seeing her again sent an unexpected warmth through him.
"Welcome back, Mr. Black," she said.
Angelo smiled.
"I was beginning to think you were avoiding me."
Maya looked away.
"Why would I do that?"
"I don't know. Maybe because you disappeared."
"I had things to do."
"Important things?"
"Very."
Angelo wanted to ask more, but Russell interrupted.
"We have a problem."
Angelo's expression immediately changed.
"What happened?"
Russell glanced at Maya before answering.
"Someone broke into your office."
Angelo felt the exhaustion disappear.
"When?"
"We don't know."
"What was taken?"
Russell hesitated.
"The surveillance file."
Angelo stared at him.
"The photographs?"
"Yes."
His mind immediately returned to the photographs of himself around town.
"Anything else?"
"Nothing that we can identify."
Angelo walked quickly toward the boarding house.
Daniel and Marcus followed.
Maya remained behind.
Inside his office, Angelo examined everything carefully.
There were no broken windows.
No damaged locks.
Whoever had entered had either possessed a key or known how to bypass the security.
His desk drawers had been opened.
The documents had been disturbed.
But only one thing was missing.
The file containing the photographs.
Angelo turned toward Daniel.
"You were guarding this place."
Daniel's expression hardened.
"We were with the helicopter."
"For how long?"
"About three hours."
"Who had access?"
"Russell. The staff. Possibly the security personnel at the mine."
Angelo looked at Marcus.
"And nobody saw anything?"
"No."
Angelo walked to the window.
Someone had broken into his office while he was away.
Not to steal money.
Not to steal company documents.
They wanted the photographs.
Why?
He turned around.
"Where's Russell?"
Marcus shook his head.
"He was here when we arrived."
"And now?"
"He's gone."
Angelo frowned.
That wasn't like Russell.
He walked outside.
The evening air was cool, and the town was beginning to settle into darkness.
Maya was still standing near the boarding house.
"Where did Russell go?"
"He said he had to check something at the mine."
Angelo looked toward the compound.
"Did he say what?"
"No."
Angelo stared at her.
"Did you know someone had broken into my office?"
Maya hesitated.
"No."
Angelo studied her face.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Maya quietly asked, "Did you find what you were looking for?"
"Not yet."
She nodded.
"Maybe you should be careful."
Angelo smiled faintly.
"That's becoming everyone's favorite advice around here."
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
Maya looked toward the road.
"There are things about this town you don't understand."
Angelo's smile disappeared.
"Then help me understand them."
She looked at him.
"I don't know if I can."
"Why?"
Before she could answer, the sound of a vehicle approaching interrupted them.
A black truck came speeding down the road.
It stopped abruptly outside the boarding house.
Two men jumped out.
Daniel immediately moved in front of Angelo.
The men weren't wearing mine uniforms.
One of them shouted.
"Mr. Black!"
Angelo stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
"We're here from the medical team."
Angelo relaxed slightly.
"That was fast."
The man nodded.
"We've been instructed to begin preparations immediately."
Angelo looked at the equipment being unloaded from the truck.
For the first time, he felt a small measure of hope.
Maybe they could finally determine what was killing the people of South River.
But then he noticed something.
The second man wasn't looking at him.
He was looking at Maya.
And Maya was looking back at him.
There was recognition in her eyes.
Angelo noticed.
"Do you know him?"
Maya's face immediately changed.
"No."
The man turned away.
Angelo said nothing.
But he remembered it.
He had learned one thing since arriving in South River.
People here were terrible at hiding secrets.
He turned toward the medical team.
"Let's get started."
As the specialists carried their equipment inside, Angelo looked once more toward the dark road leading out of town.
Someone had stolen his photographs.
Someone had been following him.
Someone had tried to keep him away from the eastern zone.
And now a stranger had arrived who appeared to know Maya.
Angelo suddenly realized that the mystery surrounding South River was much bigger than the mine.
And he had a feeling Maya was standing closer to the center of it than she was willing to admit.