Page 81 of Mountain Void

“Where are you exactly?”

“By the picnic tables. Fifteen minutes’ walk from the parking. “

“I know where that is.”

“The kids were having a snack, and we were bringing them in groups to the bathroom. It never occurred to me that—”

“Charlie,” Lorenz said, stopping her. “It’s going to be okay. Remind me of the man’s last name.”

“Pelletier,” Charlie said. “I don’t know his first name.”

“It’s okay. We’re putting out a call, and we’ll start searching for his vehicle.”

“Yes. He had to have a car. Rennie, did you see a car?”

Rennie shook her head. “No. I’m sorry. I didn’t think—”

“It’s not your fault,” Charlie said.

It’s mine.

“What do I do?” Charlie asked Lorenz. “Who do I call?”

She heard him speak to someone else for a moment. “I’ll make the calls. Stay where you are, Charlie. You have … how many kids do you have out there with you?”

“Forty-five kids.”

“Are there other teachers there with you?”

Charlie shook her head, even though he couldn’t see it. “I’m here with Carmen, Mathieu and Rennie.”

“Good. Can you call the bus, and get the kids back to school? We will need to talk with anyone who saw Pelletier, but the kids should leave. We’ll be there soon.”

Charlie’s hands shook in relief.

“You will?”

“We were on our way back to Les Bois from a training session. Tristan will detour and drop us off at the large parking lot outside the Parc de Merlet.”

“Oh, God … what if he hurts him?” Charlie asked.

“Stay calm, Charlie. Just as you’re doing. And keep all the kids together until the bus gets there. We’ll be there soon.”

Lorenz

Lorenz stood next to Beau, Hugo, and Ry, watching the helicopter carrying Alex rise into the air.

The chances of finding two people from above in a forest were not great, but it was worth a shot, particularly if they were in a car and moved onto roads.

Beau didn’t waste any time.

“I’ve already looped the colonel in,” he said. “Second team is on its way—thirty minutes out. We’ll start by speaking to the teachers and get the search organized.”

Lorenz gave a short nod, not even trying to pretend this wasn’t personal.

“We can’t assume anything about Pelletier’s intent. The colonel is liaising with the team who met his wife yesterday at the gendarmerie. Apparently Pelletier had been making threats. It got bad enough that she was afraid for her life and her child’s life.”

Shit.