Three hours of walking and I finally made it to an empty barn, straw and a tiller was all it contained. I sat down on a bail pulled my 1911 from its holster and switched to a new mag, one that wasn’t mostly spent. It wouldn’t matter though.

  My phone buzzed. “Hello.”

  “Anthony, how are you doing this fine evening, I am in a greenhouse looking at the most splendid butterflies from acrost the world. You see I have been asked to provide a friend of yours with a plane, apparently, she needs a fast one.”

  “Funny time to finally call me back Hobbs.” I wasn’t in the mood.

  “Anthony, I was busy, surely you understand that. Like I was saying, it’ seems you are in a little mess, your government friends don’t seem to be able help you this time.”

  “You got a jet? I could use a ride, here in the next few minutes.”

  “Well I don’t have a jet, but I have loan your friend quit the propeller plane. She should be in Tooele in two hours, is that enough time?”

  I looked down the road at the next barn a few more miles away. The Rocky mountain Horror couldn’t be far from the valley, I could feel it coming.

  “We will know in two hours.”

  “Well, if you don’t make it, it’s been a pleasure to work with you, I will have your mother sent flowers. But if you do evade whatever is following you, I have a sewer problem I could use your help addressing.”

  “Ya, Hobbs I’ll take your money. If I get out of this. I’m going to need a new truck.”

  “Anthony you should take better care of your vehicles. Any way I have to go, these butterflies aren’t going to admire themselves.”

  I was going to save my strength for my inevitable confrontation but six bullets for the Rocky Mountain horror, the last for me really didn’t take all that much energy. I started running to the next barn.

  Halfway through the run the Rocky Mountain horror entered the valley. The sensation was like the echoes of the dead, this echo was alive and ravenous. By the time I reached the second barn, the starving echo was not far, somewhere in the hills above me. An old four-wheeler sat in the second barn, worn and slightly deflated. I turned the key, the engine came to life sputtering and popping.

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  As I backed the four-wheeler out of the barn, the sound of a propeller plane entered the valley, my phone started buzzing.

  “Heard from a friend of yours you were in trouble.” Red was on the other line. “Where are you? Any sign of the monster?”

  It was in the mountain to my right, a defining hollow echo. “Mountain on the east side of the valley, I am on a road parallel with the mountain.” I puttered along pushing the beat-up four-wheeler as hard as I dared.

  “Which mountain?” She asked

  I brought the four-wheeler to a stop. Listening to the sound of her plane.

  “Down the valley to the south, about two thirds of the way, do you see the mountain that cuts into the valley? It sounds like it’s on your left, but I can’t see your plane.”

  There was some mumbling under the sound of the propeller. “I see it.”

  “I am on a four-wheeler parallel with the mountains to the east.”

  “Is there room on the road to put down the plain?”

  “I think so, some wires around, but the road is pretty straight.”

  “k.”

  Soon a nice slick single propeller plane crested the eastern mountain. It made a big arc and came in for a landing on the gravel road, skipping a little. I ditched the Four-wheeler.

  Amber popped the cock pit open as I climbed up on the wing.

  “Your mom knows you’re doing this?” I shouted at her. She Gave me a wicked smile. “Of course not.”

  I climbed in next to her, and pulled the door closed behind me with a hard cluck.

  Red had the plane back in the air before I could figure out the seat belt. “You know where Sinew Mountain is?” I asked barking into my headset.

  “You don’t have to yell. I can hear you just fine. I don’t, Grace refused to tell me.” She spoke into her head set glancing over at me.

  “Fly over these mountains to the east.” I pointed. “We need to lure the creature back to his mountain. Go slow we don’t want to lose it.” I laughed at the end of the statement. Losing it was the only thing I wanted right now.

  “How’s it feel?” Red asked out of the blue, veering the plain to the east and getting what felt to me like way too close to the mountain.

  “What are you talking about?” I muttered looking at the tree tops whizzing not too far below.

  “You know… being hunted. You do it all the time what’s the other end like?” The nerve she was smiling at me.

  “Do you know what’s beneath us?”

  “I have an idea. But your friend didn’t go into detail when he called and offered me his plan.”

  “Hobbs.” I couldn’t keep it in. How did he know I was in trouble, how did he know who amber was?

  “You shouldn’t talk to him he’s dangerous.”

  “We’re all dangerous.” She was still smiling. “You’re avoiding the question.”

  I wasn’t going to give her what she was looking for.

  “Come on admit it, you’re just as terrified as Loren was of you.” She was smiling as she slowly glided us over the mountain below. The hungry echoing pounding of the Rocky Mountain horror was almost unbearable. He was close so very close to his goal.

  “No comment?”

  I looked over at her. “I think we could gain a little more elevation.”

  She glanced back at me, her lips still curled in a slight smile. “I want your help with something. I’m looking for someone. My father actually, I was told you knew him.”

  “What’s his name,” I asked. Gosh I hope I hadn’t killed him; I have killed most fay I’ve run into up to this point.

  Her smile faded. “Victor, apparently the two of you were pretty close.”

  My next thought sank deep down where the echo of the Rocky Mountain Horror still haunted me. How do you find a dead man?