AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh, just a little Alaska wilderness mayhem,” said Sam dryly.
“You know what we need?” Molly clapped her hands together. “A murder board.”
“A murder board?” Ani grabbed onto the nearest tree for support, while Sam groaned, clearly pained by her TV-show-inspired stroke of genius.
“Make that a murder and kidnapping board.” Molly shook her head at the two of them. “Don’t you guys watch any crime shows at all?”
“When’s the next flight out?” said Ani faintly.
“Actually, today,” Sam told her. “We’re flying to Blackbear, and you’re welcome to come with us.”
Molly didn’t want Ani to leave Firelight Ridge yet. Ani hadn’t had enough time to think yet. She’d arrived and immediately gotten sucked into Chilkoot drama.
But she kept that opinion to herself.
Ani glanced around at the spruce grove standing silent guard over the little clearing. Then up at the sky, where high above, a hawk was gliding in search of prey. Patches of snow glistened in the deep moss. The air held a pure freshness that spoke of magic.
There was magic out here, Molly knew it, even though she didn’t believe in “magic,” depending on how you defined it. She believed in Lila and her abilities. She believed that humans didn’t, couldn’t know everything. She believed in darkness and light, the depths and the heights—and Firelight Ridge had all of that.
“No, I’m staying,” said Ani softly. “If I can handle a twenty-hour shift in the ER, I can manage a murder board.”
“I was kidding about the murder board,” Molly told her. “You know me, I’m addicted to black humor even in the direst of circumstances. Anyway, I’m glad you’re staying. I’ll keep Elias company on the trip, but we’ll take you back to Lila’s first.”
Elias was very nervous about getting on a plane, which he’d never done before, and flying to Blackbear, where he’d never been, and talking to strangers he’d never met. But he’d warmed up to both Sam and Molly by now, so he put aside his fears and they all hiked back into town.
At Lila’s place, Ani went to take a nap while Molly put together a bag to bring to Blackbear. Instead of her wheeled suitcase, she filled her spacious red leather tote bag with snacks, water and supplies. iPad, yes please. There would be internet in Blackbear. A few changes of underwear, shampoo for the shower she was hopefully going to enjoy at some point. They’d have to stay overnight, right?
Lila and Charlie had agreed to take care of Buttercup while they were gone, so Charlie got busy making friends with the yellow collie. Not difficult to do; who wouldn’t love Buttercup?
Molly tried to imagine a woman who would let both Sam and Buttercup go, and couldn’t. It made no sense to her.
Lila borrowed Bear’s truck and drove the three of them to the airstrip. Sam and Elias sat in the crew cab, with Elias lying flat so that no one would catch sight of him as they drove through town.
Molly sat in the front passenger seat and admired Lila’s confidence in driving the big Ford F-250. She used to hate driving in New York. “I have a list of groceries for you to pickup, Molly.”
“This isn’t really a grocery run?—”
“Every trip to Blackbear is a grocery run,” she said firmly. “Right, Sam?”
“She’s right,” he agreed. “You’re just lucky ten other people haven’t passed along their lists.”
“Actually there are a few things on the list for Bear,” Lila admitted. “But only him. I swear. And Martha, she’s out of her favorite pickles.”
“Fine.” Molly sighed.
They pulled onto the gravel lot by the airstrip. Sam’s plane was perched right where he’d left it. With its jaunty red stripe and shining gray fuselage, it felt like an old friend.
“Everyone, stay here,” said Sam tautly as soon as they parked. “Elias, stay down.” He jumped out of the truck and hurried across the strip of tarmac to his plane.
When he came back, Molly got out of the truck to meet him. He held a folded piece of paper, which he passed to Molly. “I found this on the windshield.”
It was a note, which read, “I’m sorry, I was forced to do it. If something happens to me, it’s because I missed on purpose. Be careful. Don’t trust L or N.”
“From Soraya, do you think?”
He nodded, looking worried. “I thought there was someone with her. It looked like she was being coerced.”
Molly wondered how you could coerce someone who was holding a gun, but it probably wasn’t that difficult. I’ll tell your husband you’re sneaking behind his back. We’ll kick you out of the family. You’ll never see your kids again. Any of those would work.
