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“What exactly are we looking for?” asked Jenny.

“Good question, the only thing we’ve got tying Kane to the abduction is his van,” replied Mike.

“Which he could have ditched anywhere,” said Ali.

The group was silent as the realities of the situation sank in.

“We’re not going to see a van from up here,” said Maria.

“Good point,” said Rick. “What do you reckon, Mike. Do we risk going in for a closer look?”

“What have we got to lose?” he replied. “Let’s do it.”

Everyone leaned closer as Rick flew the drone lower. He brought it down over the forest to the north of the clearing, trying to minimize any chance someone inside would hear it. As it came down, they could see more of the side of the sheds.

“Is that building to the left open?” asked Maria.

On screen, it was difficult to see, as that side faced away from the drone and was in the shade cast by tall trees.

“See how something is reflecting light onto the shadow,” said Maria.

“Good spotting,” encouraged Jenny.

Rick maneuvered the drone, lowering it so they could see into the shed.

“That’s a white van,” exclaimed Ali, when they could see inside.

“Get in closer,” urged Jenny. “We need to see the plates.”

He nudged it forward, conscious that anyone inside might be able to hear the whirr of its blades.

Maria leaned forward, adjusting her glasses. “NDS880,” she read, well before Mike could make out the numbers.

“That’s the van. That’s the van,” repeated Mike. “Rick, get the drone out of there.”

“Roger.” Rick rocketed the drone skyward, climbing away from the logging camp.

“We’ve found them,” exclaimed Jenny.

“Not necessarily,” said Mike. “But we do need to get on the ground.”

“What are you boys thinking?” asked Charlie.

“We need to head back to Sooke,” said Mike. “Then we’ll infil by road and recce the camp in the earlier hours. If the pups are there, we’ll grab them and extract.”

A few minutes later the drone’s buzz filled the cabin as Rick brought it down on the rear of the boat.

“You sure you don’t want me to put you down on that dock?” asked Charlie.

“Too risky, we don’t know who’s over there. We hit them in the middle of the night, and at least we’ve got the element of surprise,” said Rick.

“Good call,” said Mike.

“I’ll raise the anchor and get us underway,” said Charlie.

It took the former submariner less than five minutes to warm the engines, weigh anchor, and get the Okanagan heading south. As the air temperature rapidly cooled, he moved from the flybridge to the cockpit, leaving Mike and Ali to brave the wind.

“God, I hope the puppies are there, Mike,” she said as he wrapped his arms around her. “If we don’t find them, Junior is going to be heartbroken.”