Cavern- a Dane Maddock Adventure by David Wood & Terry W. Ervin II

Author:David Wood & Terry W. Ervin II
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: action adventure, pulp adventure, new pulp, dane maddock, david wood, thriller, travel adventure, men's adventure, cussler
Publisher: Adrenaline Press
Published: 2018-10-22T00:00:00+00:00

13

Maddock pulled the rented SUV halfway off the narrow county road just before a culvert bridge, allowing the oncoming semi hauling a good-sized backhoe room to pass. A white work truck followed close behind. Block letters painted on the truck’s door said it belonged to Lakeside Star Excavation, based in Cleveland, Ohio.

Staring ahead, Bones said, “Looks like that crew just left our farm.”

Maddock waited while a white van pulled out of the farm’s gravel driveway and turned left, opposite the direction of the truck.

“Couldn’t read the side of the van,” Maddock said.

“One word looked like ‘Graphic.’” Bones shrugged. “How do they expect to drum up business if people can’t read what’s on their van?”

“Graphic,” Maddock said with a grin. “Bet it belongs to our friend Johnny Harshbinner.”

“Follow him?”

Maddock shook his head as he pulled back onto the road. It was already late afternoon. “I’m more interested in Mrs. Harshbinner’s farm.”

He took the long gravel driveway leading up to the old brick farmhouse. It was two stories, with tall, narrow windows and a porch that encompassed all but the house’s west-facing side, opposite the drive. A handful of towering oaks offered shade and a line of white spruce stood to break western winds that might blow across the soybean fields surrounding the house. Two large red barns stood fifty yards behind the home, and about a quarter mile away, atop a sloping rise with a lane running up to it, stood what had to be the Hilltop Barn. It was red as well, but appeared larger than the other two.

Bones pointed to the gray vehicle parked in front of the detached garage next to the farmhouse. Lights, a yellow star, and lettering identified it as belonging to the county sheriff.

“Might explain why Johnny and his excavation crew left,” Maddock said, remembering Johnny complaining about his mother changing the locks. He and Bones had permission to be on the property. Might be good to let that fact be known to local law enforcement. If they ran off Johnny’s crew, they weren’t collaborating with Trident. Or, at least this particular deputy sheriff wasn’t.

As it stood, if Trident was involved, odds were they only suspected there might be something of value on the farm property. They wouldn’t be fully mobilized. With any luck, he and Bones could get in, find any crystals, videotape for Ruth Harshbinner along the way, and everybody would win. Everybody defined as the good guys. Maddock approached the farmhouse at five miles per hour, allowing the deputy sheriff sitting inside his Ford Crown Victoria to determine he and Bones weren’t a threat, despite the fact that they were outsiders to the local community, as evidenced by their rented SUV’s plates.

Bones scoffed. “Dude’s doing his paperwork.”

Maddock shook his head. “Looks like he’s on the radio, probably with Dispatch.” He pulled their white SUV to a stop about thirty feet away. “Paperwork or radio, it’s part of the job.”

The deputy stepped out of his vehicle and donned his hat before approaching. Maddock lowered his driver-side window.

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