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Chapter 25

Ruben

“Adriel?”

Irritated, I eyed the resort’s sports director. My tired brain couldn’t figure out why Adriel was standing at my door.

“Have you heard from Shane?” he wanted to know.

The question put me on alert.

“No! Why?” I opened the door wider and grabbed a sweater to put on. Meanwhile, Adriel stepped into the cabin.

He pressed his lips together, dropping his head.

“Adriel!” I almost yelled. “What about Shane?”

He shook his head. “We don’t know. We only received a general warning from British Columbia Mountain Rescue Headquarters. In the area where Shane was traveling yesterday, there were rockfalls that buried a mountain pass.” I stared at Adriel and couldn’t believe a word he was saying. He kept talking incessantly, as if his own voice calmed him. “Some vehicles were hit. Others were simply cut off and couldn’t go up or down. Unfortunately, since it happened right around the time the lifts were closing, these narrow roads were full.” He lifted his head and finally looked at me. “I was hoping Shane would have contacted you.”

I shook my head. “What does that mean now?” My hands were clammy. My head was empty. A dull pressure throbbed inside it. My stomach contracted into a lump of stone, and rage was boiling up.

Adriel raised his hands reassuringly. “It doesn’t mean anything. Except that I’ll stay in touch with the mountain rescue service and let you know immediately if I receive any information. And please let me know if you hear anything.”

I nodded, dread taking over.

After Adriel left, I got dressed in a flash, put my phone in my pocket, and hurried to the hotel. I had to find someone from the modeling group. Maybe Davey had told one of them.

The hotel reception wasn’t much help, so I waited in the lobby and kept my eyes peeled. I shifted nervously from foot to foot. Finally, I spotted two women heading for the exit with cigarettes in their hands.

“Wait, please. Excuse me. You were on the ski safari in British Columbia, weren’t you?”

One of them, wearing a bright red jacket, frowned. “Yes?” They didn’t stop, but left the hotel, and I trotted after them.

“Have you heard anything since yesterday about Davey, I mean Dave, the hair model?”

They both shook their heads. “No. Why?”

Indecisive, I hemmed and hawed. “There, um, may have been an accident. I couldn’t reach the snowboard instructor either and wanted to make sure they were both okay.”

The other one, who hadn’t said anything until then, burst out laughing. “Oh, I don’t think so. Dave had different plans with Shane. I’m sure they’re somewhere safe, finally fucking off the tension between them.” She smiled at me with a grin that was probably meant to be reassuring. “Don’t worry. I’m sure they’re fine and just having a good time.”

I closed my eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. No! This was pointless. “Does this mean you haven’t heard anything?”

They both shook their heads.

“If Dave gets in touch, please let the hotel know?”

The one in the red jacket shrugged noncommittally. “Sure. If you say so.”

I did.

On the way back to the cabin, my phone rang, and I pressed it to my ear without checking the number.

“Yes?” I called hectically.

“Hello, Ruby!” My mom sounded cheerful and relaxed. “I thought I’d call early since I have to go to work soon. Everything okay with you?”

I exhaled sharply and glanced at my phone. I didn’t want to miss a message from Shane.