“No, but I was pretending to be to provide cover for Agent Macrae.”
Anthony scowled. Connor wasn’t sure if this was because Anthony disapproved of this strategy or because this was hisdefault facial expression. “What happened at the rally?” Anthony asked.
“Greer learned I was with ski patrol. He asked if I had experience working with explosives. When I told him I did, he asked for my help.”
Anthony had tensed. “What kind of help?”
“He said he needed help setting off a fireworks display at a rally in the town square on Martin Luther King Day. The rally was part of his planned protest. He showed us the fireworks—bottle rockets and Roman candles and things like that. I declined to help, and he seemed disappointed. But then three days later, we had the inbounds avalanche at the resort. I thought—and Agent Macrae agreed—that it might be some members of the protest group practicing with stolen cast boosters prior to a bigger action planned during the holiday weekend.”
“Why MLK weekend?” Anthony asked.
“It’s one of the busiest weekends of the year for the resort,” Connor said. “We usually set a record for visitors. With lots of people here, Greer emphasized that he wanted to use the opportunity to sway public opinion against the ski resort expansion.”
“Did he specifically say what his plans are?”
“At the meeting last Friday night, he said he wanted people to deliberately impede skier traffic on the runs. There would also be groups collecting signatures on petitions all weekend, and on Sunday there’s a planned rally in the square, with a band and, presumably, a fireworks show.”
“I don’t believe any of that is illegal.”
“It’s not. But when Stacy went out to Greer’s ranch, she found people launching cast boosters at a quarry there. They said they were practicing for some big event Friday. She said Greer plans to set bombs at the resort. If they’re allowed to carry out those plans, hundreds of people could be injured or killed.”
“How do you know any of this?”
“When Stacy and her father didn’t return to their condo last night or answer my texts, I went out to the ranch to search for them. I found them locked in an old chicken house. I wasn’t able to free her and her father, but she told me what she learned and asked me to contact you.”
“I spoke with her father early yesterday morning. He must have told her I was in town.”
“He did. And now she needs your help.”
“How do I know you’re not telling me all this to set a trap? I go out to this ranch, and I’m ambushed.”
“I’m not asking you to go there by yourself. Can’t you get a team to go out there? Or ask the sheriff to back you up?”
“It’s not like we have people on standby in the next apartment,” he said. “It takes time to set up a raid. And we can’t rush in without probable cause.”
“One of your agents is being held hostage. Someone set off an avalanche in the resort Monday. Someone else planted a fake bomb at one of the ski lifts.”
Anthony’s scowl intensified. “You didn’t mention a bomb before.”
“Someone planted a pretty good replica of a cast booster with fuses at Lift Four yesterday.”
“But the bomb was fake.”
“Yes, but I think it was a practice run for tomorrow. Someone wanted to make sure they could plant a bomb without being detected.”
Anthony sat back and rubbed his jaw. “You can show me where Stacy and her father are being held?”
“Yes.”
“Then let me change clothes, and you can take me there.”
He rose, and Connor stood too. “Just you?” Connor asked.
“Once I’ve assessed the situation for myself, I’ll be in a better position to mobilize more help.”
“Fine. You change. I’ll meet you back here in fifteen minutes.”
“Where are you going?” Anthony asked as Connor headed for the door.
