Page 6 of Zero Visibility

“Don’t say where.” He stopped her. His warning tone came through the phone clearly. “There’s a chance they’ll trace my phone through the calls I’ve made to you earlier. Get rid of this phone you’re using and activate another one of the burners. Call me when you reach the destination . . . or if there’s trouble. I’ll need to get rid of my phone as a safety precaution.” He gave her another number to reach him. “That’s my friend Tegan’s phone. I’ll see you as soon as I can. Please be careful, Jen.”

What he said filled her with fear. “I will. I’ll call you soon.” Jen ended the call, then pulled off the road and tossed the phone from the truck. She dug out another phone and turned it on, then pulled back onto the road. Standing still for too long made her a target. Best to keep moving.

They’d accused Ben of being a traitor. She knew her husband better than anyone. Someone who had a lot of power had set the bombs and killed innocent people in an attempt to do what? Take over the country? The world? The thought was terrifying.

The battered and worn sign for the Silver Hills Ski Village appeared up ahead. Jen exited onto the road while bittersweet memories flooded her mind. The last time she’d been here stood out in her mind. It was right before it had closed. She and Ben had made a special trip here to celebrate their anniversary because they’d come here for their honeymoon. They’d been so happy back then.

Jen pulled up in front of the closed gate to the village. Nothing but darkness showed beyond. The place had been shut down for years. The last Jen heard the owners had declared bankruptcy.

She got out of the truck and went over to the gate, praying it wasn’t locked. The headlights illuminated the decrepit gate through snowflakes swirling around. There was no lock. She heaved a huge sigh of relief and struggled with the rusty gate until the bolt released and it swung free.

Jen climbed back into the truck, pulled through, then got out to close the gate. Once inside, she drove past the lodge that also served as the village’s lobby. The truck’s headlights revealed how dire the place had become. The once quaint town square was showing signs of neglect. Nothing remained of Santa’s village. The ski lifts were corroded skeletons of the past.

There were hours to fill before Ben arrived. Jen pulled the truck over to a row of small cabins. The one on the end was where she and Ben had stayed both times. Unbeknownst to her, Ben had made the reservation and had recreated everything from their honeymoon right down to the dozen red roses.

Jen fought against the tears clogging her throat and found their cabin. She killed the lights and grabbed the .38, then climbed out and tried the door. It was locked.

Fighting a hopeless feeling, she went around to the side and tried each window. All were locked. There was only one choice remaining. Shielding her eyes, Jen smashed the butt of the gun against the window. Glass scattered everywhere, landing around her feet and inside the cabin. With her gloved hand, she carefully removed the remaining shards of glass and unlocked the window and forced it up.

It took all her upper body strength to heave herself up to the window frame. She swung her legs over and jumped. Her boots crunched the glass fragments scattered on the wood floor.

She stood in the middle of the bedroom. The place was the same as she remembered it, only covered in layers of dust. Memories of her time here with Ben crowded in, and she strode out of the room.

A quick search of the place assured her there were no predators close, human or beast. Satisfied, she hurried out to the truck, grabbed her bag and killed the engine before returning to the cabin.

She’d promised Ben to call once she made it safely here. Jen grabbed the prepaid phone and called the number he’d given her. A man she didn’t recognize answered the phone.

She hesitated, unsure how much to tell this stranger. “I’m looking for Ben.”

A painful few seconds ticked by. “You must be Jen. Hang on a second.” Silence followed and Ben came on the line.

“Are you okay?” The fear in her husband’s voice was clear.

“I’m fine. I made it to the ski village. I’m at the cabin we stayed in.” Did he, too, remember the special time they’d shared here?

“I’m glad you’re safe,” he whispered. “Is there any sign you were followed?”

She quashed the panic those words evoked. “No. I was careful.”

“Good. We should be there by mid-morning at the latest.” He paused. “Please be careful. I won’t be able to relax until I see you’re safe. I love you, Jen.”

No matter what stood between them, she still loved him. Tears gathered in her eyes. “I love you, too.” Her voice broke and she ended the call. She’d made so many mistakes. Instead of sticking around and telling him what was troubling her, she’d run. Though she tried to blame Ben for all their problems, in truth, she hadn’t been there for him either.

Jen scrubbed the back of her hand over her eyes. Foolish tears.

To take her mind off all the worries surrounding her heart, she unzipped her bag and grabbed one of the energy bars and a bottle of water she’d brought along for nourishment. Dusting off the kitchen table and chair, she sat. Her body craved rest, yet her brain wouldn’t slow down. It kept replaying the events of the day like a broken 45.

Who were the men who came to her door? She had no idea, but she had a feeling they were the bad guys in this story. At least she’d had the forethought to destroy her old phone before leaving the house and had flushed the SIM card down the toilet. Was it enough to protect Ben? If they had a way to access her phone records, they’d find Ben’s number. Trace it and go after him. The thought of what might happen to him terrified her.

The cold of the place penetrated through her heavy coat. There was a small fireplace in the corner of the living room. Did she dare risk making a fire? With the temperatures plummeting to below freezing, there was no choice. She’d have to stay warm to survive.

She placed several pieces of wood stacked in the corner on the grate and struck a match to some paper left for kindling.

Once it caught, the warmth quickly eased away the chill.

Christmas Eve. A few months back she hadn’t envisioned this would be how her Christmas would go. She hadn’t had the nerve to tell Ben the truth before their world had fallen apart. Now, there’d be no hiding it. She touched her midsection. Was there a chance for them to fix their marriage and be a family again?

Please God,yes.

---