“It is and it happens too often.Parents wanting to prove that they aren’t raising children who are out of control or have no discipline.This woman obviously took it too far, way too far.Do we know where the boys are now?”
“Men.They’re grown men,” said Hiro.“Miller is a very common surname so we’re still searching for them.We know that they purchased a used Ford F150 pick-up truck outside of Lincoln, Nebraska.They possessed no credit cards but might very well have had cash.”
“Considering what we know about the mother, that’s possible,” nodded Gator.
“Hey, I’ve found Zane Miller.His name appeared on a lease agreement in Santa Fe six months ago,” said AJ.
“No brother?” asked Remington.
“Not on the lease.I have a phone number for him.Do you want me to connect?” asked AJ.
“Do it,” said Ham.They waited as AJ dialed the number.It rang nine times before someone finally answered.
“H-hello?”
“Is this Zane Miller?” asked Remington.
“Wh-who is this?” he stuttered.
“Mr. Miller, I mean no harm to you.My name is Remington.I’m married to Saylor Carver.The former Saylor Carver.”
“Are you in the compound?” he asked.
“No.I assure you we are not.Is your brother with you?” he asked.
“You know about my brother?”
“Saylor told me that you had a brother and the two of you left the compound.She’s safe, Zane.Are you safe?”
“As long as you don’t give this number to them, I’m safe,” he said.
“Do they have access to a computer?” asked AJ knowing how easily they might find him.
“Yes but they’re not very good with it.They believe everyone is watching them and they’re right.Everyone should be watching them.”
“Zane, can you tell us what happened with your brother?” asked Remington.
“We left the compound together, promising to come back after, after we made the sale.”
“The sale?” asked Ham.
“Y-yes.It was the sale from the hunt.Except we got there and they wanted to hunt us.I was left in a shed, chained to a pole, and they took Monty, stripped him and told him they’d give him a five-minute head start.It wasn’t fair.There were dozens of them.We were just supposed to drop the merchandise but they were pissed because there was nothing to hunt.”
“Back up, son,” said Ham.“What were you selling them?”
“Hides.Animal hides.Bears, cougars, beaver, wolverine, horses, we even had a few zebras and an elephant.”
“Where on earth would you have gotten those skins?” asked Remington.
“God,” he whispered, his voice cracking.“I forget that Saylor would have never seen it.They own more land than the compound.It’s north, at the border of South and North Dakota.They buy up animals from zoos and wildlife places and then offer them up for the hunt.
“Monty and me were supposed to sell the hides to this man, except he didn’t want the hides, he wanted to hunt.”
“How did you get away?” asked Remington.
“The pole was attached to the floor with bolts but it was loose at the top.I shimmied up and swung my hands over the top of the pole.Then I took off, running as fast as I could.I didn’t stop.Not for two days or two nights.When I got to a phone, I called home.I was crying, begging them to send someone for me.”
“What did they say, son?” asked Ham.
