Page 91 of Fire Peak

He held up his hands in a “mean no harm” gesture. “I’m not the scary one. Right, Ruth?”

With her chin propped on the oranges, eyes wide, she nodded. Then, between the rack of rental videos and a Gatorade display, she burst into tears. After a glance at Kathy, who waved her permission, he took her by the elbow and steered her outside.

“What’s going on?” he asked as gently as he could manage. “Why are you so scared?”

“You’re…you’re the police.” Her voice wavered between fear and worry. “We had so much trouble from the FBI.”

Oh lord. Still, after all this time, people thought he was the law.

“I’m not the police. I promise you. I’m just a guy whose daughter is missing. She and Elias have gotten close. They might be together and I’m trying to figure out where. That’s it.” He held up his hand as if making a vow. “If you know anything, I’d be so grateful if you could share. I’m very worried about both of them.”

“I don’t know.” She shook her head, her eyes wide and teary.

“Then why did you start crying when you saw me?”

“Because of that Russian man. He came and said we owed him because of some agreement he made with Luke. He said we’d better stay out of his way. He said you and Charlie were going to help him.”

“Help him? I’m not helping him do a fu…” He remembered that Chilkoots didn’t swear. “Do anything. I just want my daughter back. Do you have any idea where he might have taken Hailey and Elias? Think, Ruth. Please.”

Ruth gnawed at her lower lip, looking so anxious he worried she might cry again. “I don’t know. I don’t know who he is. He seemed so crazy.”

“Did he say anything that might give a clue? Please.”

“Well, he mentioned Solomon. He said Solomon owed him too. That’s all I know. Please, I hope you find them. I have to get back to the kids.”

Ruth hurried off to her ancient GMC truck, and gunned it down the road, enveloping him in a cloud of dust.

Solomon. So he was involved. But hadn’t Pinky said that Vasily and Solomon hated each other? Were they working together now?

But that made no sense. Why would Solomon want him to spy on the Chechens if he and Vasily were already working together? Maybe they didn’t trust each other.

He was about to head for his own truck, but he remembered his promise to Charlie, and went back inside to check his phone. Charlie still hadn’t texted him back. He called her, praying he didn’t get her voice mail or a signal too scratchy to understand.

She answered. “Hi. Can’t talk.” The tension in her voice sent up a hundred red flares.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s…shit. They’ve been in contact. They have Hailey, but don’t worry about it. I’m going to take care of it. I’ll do what they want, then they’ll let her go.”

He didn’t like the sound of that. “What do they want?”

“It’s…it’s better if you don’t know.”

“Charlie. Listen to me. Don’t do anything illegal. Promise me.”

“I can’t promise that, Nick. I’m sorry.”

He growled deep in his throat. If only he could be in two places at once. Charlie shouldn’t be on her own with this nightmare. “I think Solomon is involved. I’m headed for his camper now.”

“No,” she said sharply.

“I’ll be careful. I know what I’m doing.”

“No, I mean, if Solomon has them, it’s probably at his mining claim. I’ve geolocated the signal to somewhere in the forest east of town. They’re using a sat phone.”

“Headed there now. Don’t do anything rash until I can do my thing. Understand?”

“I have to. There’s no time. Shit. I have to go.”

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