Garibaldi Mountain

By Kathleen W. Forbes

Holly Brannigan and her three teenage friends–Paul Castles, Ted Lumley, and her best friend, Bonnie Tilson–have helped attorney David Brannigan on cases in the past, but this is the most dangerous mystery yet. A family with three children has disappeared, along with a close friend of the family, while camping in Garibaldi Provincial Park. When Holly and her friends hear of the disaster, they join a Mountain Search and Rescue team of volunteers. In very short order, Holly’s team find clues that make them suspicious of foul play.

Follow Holly and her team as they search through torrential rain and fog, confront a dangerous wolf and its pack, and dodge men with bows and arrows who are terrorizing them as they race the clock to find the missing family. There are new threats and dangers at every turn!

A Holly Brannigan Mystery: Garibaldi Mountain is the third in the series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Word Alive Press
• Release date: Jan 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781486611270

Book preview

GARIBALDI MOUNTAIN

Copyright © 2016 by Kathleen W. Forbes

All rights reserved. Neither this publication nor any part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

EPUB Version

ISBN: 978-1-4866-1127-0

Word Alive Press

131 Cordite Road, Winnipeg, MB R3W 1S1

www.wordalivepress.ca

Cataloguing in Publication information may be obtained through Library and Archives Canada

I dedicate this book to my daughters, Holly and Lynda.

They are my cheering section.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This is to acknowledge my sincere thanks to my Editor, Kerry Wilson, for her patience and encouragement as she edited Garibaldi Mountain and other books for me.

Also thanks to Kylee Unrau, my Project Manager for her many helpful suggestions. And to Word Alive Press, for the professionalism in the publishing and presentation of each of my books.

CHAPTER 1: The Disappearance

CHAPTER 2: North West Mountain Search and Rescue

CHAPTER 3: Whistling Winds Campground

CHAPTER 4: Garibaldi Creek and Mountain Trails

CHAPTER 5: Wolf Pack

CHAPTER 6: The Cabin

CHAPTER 7: Dark Terror

CHAPTER 8: Lake and Foothills

CHAPTER 9: The Mine

CHAPTER 10: The Waterfall

CHAPTER 11: Despair

CHAPTER 12: The Cave-In

CHAPTER 13: The Hood and His Not So Merry Men

CHAPTER 14: The Pit

CHAPTER 15: Campfire Meeting

CHAPTER 16: The Fog

CHAPTER 17: Trapped Underground

CHAPTER 18: Get Me Out of Here

CHAPTER 19: New Scuba Recruits

CHAPTER 20: Happy Birthday Beneath the Sea

CHAPTER 1: THE DISAPPEARANCE

I wish you were staying longer, Grandma, said Holly. We haven’t done everything I’d planned for you.

Hush now, darlin’ girl. This old body can’t keep up to everything you want to do. This ferry trip is the last of a wonderful holiday. Leave something for the next time. You’ve shown me more of this amazing country than I’d ever dreamed of, and I’m fair worn out.

Your grandmother’s right, said Holly’s mother, Susan. For the past month, you’ve dragged her on one sightseeing trip after another. You even insisted on her flying to Alberta for the Calgary Stampede, where she spent three days in the crowds and sweltering heat. And then we visited the badlands of Alberta, and the hoodoos and dinosaurs at the museum. I don’t wonder she is tired, because I’m a lot younger than she is, and I’m worn out. Today is restful, because we can’t get off the boat until it docks.

It’s not that I’m not grateful, m’darlin’. I most certainly am! You’ve shown me things about this great country that I could only read about.

Grandma smiled at her grand-daughter. Ireland would fit easily into one corner of this one province. It’s just a tiny wee island, and the most I’ve ever travelled for a holiday is from Donnymead to Belfast, or to Port Rush by the sea. But since your Grandfather went to Heaven, I’ve not been on a holiday till now. I’ve never even been to the south of Ireland in my life.

Then the next time we go to Ireland to visit you, we’ll rent a big fancy motor home and tour all over the beautiful isle of Erin to introduce you and us to the land of dreams where fairies and little people live, said Holly. We’ll take our time and enjoy the green fields and mountains and lakes that we read about in poetry.

Och, aye! Wouldn’t that be lovely, sighed Grandma.

I wonder where your father got off to, said Susan.

I saw him talking to some people at the gift shop, said Holly.

It’s great that David was able to come with us today, said Susan. He’s been so busy lately, we hardly ever see him. He needed a rest, but knowing my husband, he’s probably been talking business to whoever cornered him at the gift shop.

Just then, David joined his family on the deck. He was carrying a tray of fruit punch and ice cream sundaes.

I thought you might like a little treat, he said with a grin. Strawberry sundaes! I’m afraid that’s all they had, so I hope that’s okay, and fruit punch.

Oh, that’s lovely, his mother said. It is a wee bit hot, don’t you think?

Yes, said Susan. I wondered where you’d gone to, David. I know you always find someone to talk business with, but surely on a boat you can get away from business, at least till we dock.

Sorry, Susan, but I met some people who were from North West Mountain Search and Rescue. They told me some very interesting news. David went on to explain. Apparently, there’s a family missing on or around Garibaldi Mountain. They have cell phones with them, but nobody has been able to locate them. They also have internet sticks, but haven’t been answering emails or Skype. The last anyone heard, they were at Whistling Winds Campground at Garibaldi Creek, so the search and rescue people were called in.

Wow! I hope they’re alright. Maybe their cells and computers aren’t working because they’re in a dead zone. How do they train for search and rescue? Holly asked.

I believe there’s a course at the university, her father said. If you’re interested, why don’t you ask them? Their director is with them. They’re standing over there by the rail.

I think I will, Holly said, and she made her way over to the group of people her father had indicated.

Hi there, she said when she reached the group. My name is Holly Brannigan. You were just talking to my father, David Brannigan, over at the gift shop.

Yes. I remember him. Pleased to meet you, said the man who seemed to be in charge. What can we do for you?

Could I ask you some questions? she asked.

Sure thing. What would you like to know?

I’m interested to know where one would train for search and rescue. My friends and I might like to volunteer.

There’s a course that requires screening and testing before you’d be accepted. Not everybody is accepted for the course. We’re not interested in people who think it would be a fun thing to do. What talents do you have that might benefit the team?

Holly liked the man right away and wished her friends Bonnie, Paul, and Ted were with her. They usually did everything together, but because her grandmother was visiting from Ireland, she was spending time with her introducing her to Canada.

I’m one of a team of four scuba divers, she said, and we’ve saved the lives of several people in the past couple of months. One member of our group is a certified life guard.

If you can prove that, we would very much like to talk to you and your team. We’re looking for people with specialized training. My name is Malcolm Andrews, the director and trainer for North West Mountain Search and Rescue. Here’s my card. Talk to your team and then call me.

If we decide to do this, Daddy will want to know more about your organization. I don’t know if he told you or not, but he’s a lawyer and investigator.

Great! There are times when we need a lawyer, especially one who’s an investigator. Wait … I think I know who he is. I’ve read about him. Good to know.

Do you have any information that I could read up on to explain what it is you do? Holly asked.

Malcolm had a case full of information, so he gave Holly plenty of reading material.

I’ll look forward to your call, he smiled.

When Holly rejoined her parents, she told her father all she had learned. She said she would be interested in teaming up with them if her friends were also interested. He said he would check into the group and let her know what he came up with.

Oh no! Susan exclaimed. It just gets more and more dangerous. Everything Holly decides to do is dangerous.

My friends and I protect each other, said Holly. We don’t go anywhere alone, and we’d be trying to help these poor people who’ve maybe strayed off the beaten path. We know the area since we’ve camped there, and Ted is good at tracking.

Learning how to survive in a wilderness setting and how to protect yourself is the way to avoid danger, David told his wife, and as long as her friends and team mates are on board, then I’m for it. Don’t worry, Susan, I’ll do a background check on the organization."

Och, aye, girls need to know how to protect themselves these days, said Grandma. It’s not the same as it was when I was a girl.

What do you mean, Grandma? Holly asked.

"Well, drugs are a big problem today, and they seem to be a much bigger problem than alcohol ever was. An alcoholic will drink until he passes out. It may cause trouble in his family, but one needle overdose can kill. The criminal element has taken control of the drug business.

I may live in the tiny wee village of Donnymead, but that doesn’t mean I don’t keep up with the news. I know what’s going on in the world, and drugs are the ruination of today’s young people, and they can wipe out a whole generation of bright, healthy, young minds."

Wow, Grandma, that’s profound. You really are keeping up with what’s going on in the world.

I don’t know if you knew this, Pumpkin, her father said, but your grandma was a nurse in the military during the Second World War, and she knows by experience what drugs can do to bright, healthy, minds. Soldiers who were wounded and survived through the use of heavy drugs were rarely ever the same again. Sometimes the wounds got better, only to be replaced with depleted mental capacities because of the drugs. Sometimes they couldn’t kick the habit.

I didn’t know that about you, Grandma. You’re amazing! Was Grandpa in the military too during the war?

Yes, ‘tis how we met. His leg was broken, and I was his nurse.

Cool! How romantic is that?

Aye, well, I thought so too at the time. But your grandpa refused the heavy drugs for pain. He was aware of what they could do to a person’s brain. I was so thankful for that. If the pain got too much, he’d take a couple of aspirins, nothing else. I don’t think it helped a lot, but he managed to get through with just aspirin. He was captain, and he tried to set an example for the men. Some of the men became drug addicts because their pain was so bad; they couldn’t bear it. But then some of them were suffering with more than a broken leg. Some of them lost their limbs altogether, and the pain sent them into a depression that they weren’t able to handle.

I’m so glad we came on this trip today, Grandma. I’ve learned more about you than I did always rushing to go someplace, and I also heard about the North West Mountain Search and Rescue. I hope Bonnie and the guys will be interested.

Aye, m’ darlin’, sometimes you have to be still to learn.

I know you’re right, Grandma. I wish you weren’t going home in three days. Is there anything you especially would like to do that we haven’t done?

Och, aye, Grandma sighed. I would like to sit in your lovely garden and rest a while. I’m just plumb tired.

Susan pursed her lips and smiled as she gave David an imperceptible little nod. Then that’s exactly what we’re going to do, Mom, said Susan. And I’m going to sit right there with you. My daughter has plumb worn me out too.

Okay, I get the picture, said Holly. You should have told me, Grandma. I don’t want you to go home sick.

This old body just needs a little rest, m’ darlin’. You’ll be busy with your friends anyway planning your new adventure in the mountains. I wish I was young again so I could go with you. But alas, like they say, the mind is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Holly could see that her grandmother was looking tired, and she silently chided herself for not being more observant. She would be going home in three days and would need to rest up for the long trip back to Ireland.

David decided to have another talk with Malcolm Andrews while he was already available on the ferry. He had some questions and thought he would never have a better opportunity than while they were all on board.

An investigative lawyer never stopped being a lawyer. Holly was his only daughter, and even though it seemed he gave her a lot of rope, he always investigated whatever far out plan she came up with … for her protection.

He wanted to make sure all four kids would be safe. He would check out this North West Mountain Search and Rescue. The kids had managed to get themselves into some hairy situations in the past, but because he was fully cognizant of their plans, he’d managed to protect them.

I’d like to come with you, Daddy, Holly said.

Sure. Why not? Let’s go, Pumpkin!

They found the group on the top deck seated on deck chairs. David asked if they’d mind if he asked some more questions about the type of work they do.

Sure, have a seat, Sir, Malcolm Andrews said. And Holly, you can sit there beside Lynda. Lynda is my assistant director, and my second in command. And this is Alec and Jesse. What would you like to know, Sir?

Mostly, what kind of training do you offer? And what qualifications do you require? You can understand my interest, as my daughter and her friends are seventeen to nineteen years old.

When will you be eighteen, Holly? Malcolm asked

In two weeks, she answered, and Bonnie will be eighteen next month. Paul is eighteen, and Ted is nineteen.

That’s great, Malcolm said. You say you’re scuba divers. We try to choose people with extraordinary talents. Is there anything else you might contribute to enhancing the team?

Well, we each own a motor bike and have done some trail riding, and we’ve camped at Garibaldi Creek, so we know the area.

And they’ve helped me in some of my cases when teens were involved. her father added.

"That’s good to know! Lynda is the only one of my team who has been on Garibaldi Mountain, so that would be a great advantage. The training would include some martial arts for self defence. Learning to use a stun gun and other weapons is essential to protect you or your team from wild animals, or in some cases, dangerous people. That would be part of your training.

Of course you would have to be tested to find out if you’re mentally ready for this kind of training. You’d learn how to read maps, how to survive in the wilderness, and how to rescue someone in a dangerous situation.

How soon would you want us to begin training? Holly asked.

Right away. Tomorrow, if possible, Malcolm said. You have my card. Phone me back tonight after you’ve spoken to your team, and let me know what you decide, and if you’re all in agreement, I’ll give you a time and place to meet. I have a feeling that since you passed all the tests for scuba diving that you and your buddies will be just what we need to round out our team.

Yes, and they all passed their scuba diving tests with marks in the high nineties. Not only that, they completed a three week course in one week. This course sounds good to me, said David. What do you say, Holly?

It sounds exciting, Daddy. I wonder if I can reach Bonnie and the others on my cell. I might not have reception on the water. Thank you, Malcolm. I’ll be sure to get back to you early this evening with our decision, because we’ll only do it if we are all in agreement.

All for one and one for all, eh? The four musketeers—you’re a team! said Malcolm. "I like that. Well, I’ll be