“He’s tied up at a meeting across town.”
“A business meeting?” She stared, incredulous. How could Denny even think about business when his son was missing?
“A press conference or something, I think.” Mike put a hand on her shoulder. “Come on. I’ll radio the team and they’ll catch up with us. Take me back to Jackson and Scott.”
“Now that I’m here, I can talk to the sheriff,” she said. She started to move past him, but he blocked her way.
“We don’t have time for that,” he said. “I didn’t want to upset you before, but the truth is, Preston Smith is ahead of us. We can’t let him get to Jackson before we do.”
“Preston? The new employee?” A shiver ran through her at the name. The man Jackson had said had questioned him about Chinese visitors.
“He’s the one behind the kidnapping,” Mike said. “At least, that’s what Denny and I think. The sheriff isn’t listening to us about that, either.”
“Why wouldn’t the sheriff believe you?”
“He questioned Preston and apparently believed whatever lies Preston told him. But Denny and I are sure he’s involved. He’s been behaving oddly ever since we hired him. You met him, right?”
She nodded. And something about him had struck her as odd. “But if I talk to the sheriff…”
“Do you want to be responsible for Jackson’s death? That’s what will happen if Preston gets to him first.”
His words—and the harsh tone in which they were delivered—shook her. “All right,” she said. “I’ll take you to them.”
He nodded, then pulled out a radio and clicked a button. “I’m with Lily,” he said. “We’re going to pick up Jackson and Scott. Have the team meet us at the intersection of Forest Service roads 723 and 787.”
A garbled voice spoke through static. Lily couldn’t make out the words, but Mike seemed to understand. “Ten-four.” He pocketed the radio again, and turned to Lily. “Let’s go,” he said.
She shed her skis, stowed them and her pack in the back seat, then slid into the passenger seat. Warmth enveloped her, and she almost moaned with happiness. Just sitting down on something soft, and in such warmth, was luxurious. She forced her eyes open, fearing if she closed them she might fall asleep before they reached Scott and Jackson.
“I’M FREEZING.”JACKSON SATon a boulder by the side of the road and hugged his arms across his chest. He was so exhausted he kept falling in the snow, and Scott could no longer carry him, sothey had decided to sit down and wait. “When is Lily going to come back?”
“She’ll be here as soon as she can,” Scott said. “Or she’ll send someone to us.” Realistically he knew she hadn’t been gone that long, but standing here in this desolate place, cold seeping in and hunger gnawing at him, the minutes stretched to uncomfortable lengths. Even the dogs were miserable, alternately pacing and whining.
“I’m so hungry!” Jackson groaned and doubled over.
“So am I,” Scott said. “Try not to think about it.”
“How can I not think about it when I’m starving?”
Scott reminded himself that Jackson was only nine. He looked around for something to distract them both. Why hadn’t he at least thought to ask Lily to leave her pack, with the fire starters and mug for melting water?
Shelby sat up and growled, low in her throat. Hunter leaped to his feet. Both dogs stared toward the woods behind them. Hunter barked. Jackson sat up straight. “Someone’s coming!” he shouted.
Both dogs were barking now, the hair along their backs standing at attention. A figure in black emerged from the woods. A lean man with a square jaw and Roman nose stepped into their small clearing. “Call off the dogs!” he said in a commanding voice.
“Preston!” Jackson moved to stand next to Scott. “What are you doing here?”
Scott wasn’t sure Preston even heard the question over the racket the dogs were making. “Call off those dogs!” Preston shouted.
“Hunter! Shelby! Quiet!” Scott ordered.
Both dogs glanced back at him, as if to ask if he was sure. “Quiet,” he repeated. “Come. Sit.”
They moved to flank him and Jackson and sat, though all their attention was still riveted on Preston.
“Who are you?” Preston addressed Scott. “What are you doing with Jackson?”
“Who areyou?” Scott countered. Jackson had one hand on Scott’s hip, and was nibbling the thumbnail on his other hand.
