“No. Just your permission.”
“It might not be safe,” he said. “I don’t know the people I’m dealing with on this, but they could very well be from a foreign government, or aligned with one.”
“I’m just a skier with a dog. They won’t be looking for me.”
He considered this for a moment, then nodded. “All right. Are you sure there isn’t anything I can give you to help?”
She thought for a moment. “Do you have a satellite phone?”
“I can get one.”
“It would be good to have. Cell phone coverage isn’t very good out there.”
“Do you need anything else?”
“Maybe some of Jackson’s warmest clothes? If I find him, he’ll need them.”
He nodded again. “When do you want to start?”
“In the morning. First light.”
“What about your job?”
“I’ll call in sick. My boss knows I’m upset about Jackson. I’ll tell him I’m not doing well and I need time.” Scott would probably be relieved to hear she planned to stay home. “Or I’lljust find someone to trade shifts. We do that all the time.” It would be better if she didn’t have to talk to Scott.
Denny stood, and she rose also. “Be back here first thing in the morning,” he said. “I’ll have the phone and the clothing for you.”
WHEN SKI PATROLmembers gathered the next morning, Scott surveyed the group. Brian and Anders were there with their dogs, along with Renee Castro, Chase Sergeant, Livi “Raz” Rasmussen, and Carson Slade. “Where’s Lily?” he asked, a knot of worry already forming in his chest.
“She called early this morning and asked if I would switch with her.” Nina spoke up from a back corner.
Scott checked his clipboard. Sure enough, Nina wasn’t on the schedule. “Is Lily sick?” he asked.
“I don’t think so,” Nina said. “She just said she had something to do.”
Scott nodded and forced himself to move on to the day’s assignments. But when the meeting was over, he waylaid Nina. “What did Lily say, exactly?” he asked.
She frowned. “What I told you—she said she had something to do today and asked if I would trade with her. She’s going to work next Saturday for me.”
“Did she sound upset about anything?”
“No. I don’t know. It was six in the morning. I wasn’t exactly awake.”
“She didn’t say anything about me?”
Nina’s eyes widened. “Why? What did you do?”
What had he done? Not been sensitive enough? Pushed her too hard? “She was just a little upset when I left her yesterday.”
“She knew that kid who was kidnapped and ended up dying in that avalanche, right?”
“Who told you that?” he asked.
“Lily told me she knew the kid,” Nina said.
“I mean, who told you he died?” Scott asked.
“It’s all over the news this morning.” Nina pulled out her phone and showed him. A headline declared Son of Endicott Industries Owner Killed in Avalanche.
