TEMPLARS QUEST: LUCEM SANCTAM (THE TEMPLARS QUEST CHRONICLES: A Historical Mystery Book 3) Read Free Page B

shaking hands and introductions, Sergeant Smith asked, “Did you break in here?”
    Baldwin lied again. “No, we found it this way. Four pickup trucks were here before us. They must have done it. They headed west on I-40. Did you come from that direction?”
    “Yes, but we didn’t see any pickup trucks. We only spotted a few cars and some business trucks. The guys that broke in here must have been the bandits we’ve been chasing.”
    “How many bandits are around here?”
    “We don’t really know.”
    I said, “We counted ten men.”
    Smith replied, “Yeah, they run around in small groups.”
    “How often do you get out this way?”
    “We try to make it here once a week. By the way, where are you heading to, Captain?” Sergeant Smith asked.
    Pointing at me, Baldwin said, “Jack, you tell him.”
    “Yeah sure … we’re going to Flagstaff area looking for missing Army families.”
    Deputy Smith nodded his head. “How many people are you looking for?”
    “I think twelve, but there might more. We don’t know for sure.”
    “Sergeant, how safe is Arizona?” Baldwin asked.
    “What do you mean safe?”
    “Are the cities safe so can people go about their daily business without being killed by gangs or bandits?”
    “Mostly, but you still need to carry a weapon for protection. You never know what’s going to happen. Most towns have a Police Force and the state has the Highway Patrol and National Guard on duty.”
    “So, you still have problems, but not as bad as New Mexico.”
    “Yeah, that’s right. New Mexico has problems because they didn’t have any National Guard troops and very few active Police Officers. The Governor didn’t think they needed them. Here in Arizona we still have a lot of trouble down near the Mexican border.”
    I asked, “What about Flagstaff area?”
    “It’s pretty safe, if you stay on the main highways,” Smith advised. “With your firepower I doubt anyone will screw around with you.”
    Deputy Smith’s radio came on and interrupted the conversation. After talking for a few minutes he advised, “Gentlemen, we have an emergency call and have to go. Do me a favor and lock this place up before you leave.”
    “Ok, will do. Stay safe out there,” Baldwin told them.
    Smith yelled back, while getting into his truck, “You too, Captain,” as he waved goodbye and sped away. We stood there a minute watching them leave.
    “Jack, why didn’t you tell them that Adam was kidnapped?” Maggie asked.
    “Because I don’t want the police involved in this. It’s family business and we’ll take care of it.”
    “Let’s look at the map again,” Baldwin said. “We have to figure out where these guys went.”
    I said, “My guess is, if the Sheriff didn’t see the four trucks, then they turned off I-40 somewhere and are taking back roads.”
    I moseyed over to White Feather who was talking to Black Horse on the couch. They glanced up at me and I asked, “White Feather, do you know this part of the country?”
    “Yes, I do. What would you like to know?”
    “If you were these guys, where would you hide at?”
    White Feather scratched his head as if thinking. “This is Navajo country. They might know where these men are.”
    “Who can we talk to about this?” Baldwin asked him.
    “I know several people we can speak to. They live in Indian Wells and Dilkon City, on the Navajo Reservation.”
    “Where exactly are these towns?” I asked. White Feather was pissing me off. Getting information out of him was like pulling teeth. You had to pry it out of him, he didn’t volunteer it.
    Mr. Feather stood up and advised, “Not far from here,” as he slowly walked to the map and pointed at the two towns. “If they went by these towns then someone saw them.”
    Indian Wells was on Route 77, just north about 50 miles. Dilkon City was just west of Indian Wells, on Navajo Route 15.
    Studying the map, it was clear, we needed to proceed west on I-40 for about five miles and exit on