Page 13 of Mountain Void

Lorenz beckoned Charlie forward. “She’s right here.”

“Théo! Are you okay?”

The boy raced past him and into Charlie’s waiting arms.

“Oh, Théo.” Charlie hugged the boy tightly, as if afraid he might vanish again. “We were so worried.”

“I want to stay here, Ms. Charlie,” he sobbed.

“What happened?” she asked gently. “What upset you?”

His sobs only grew louder.

Feeling like an interloper, Lorenz dialed Beau’s number. “Call off the search. We’ve got the boy. He’s okay.”

He turned to the boy. “We need to get out of here, buddy. Let your friends see you’re safe.”

Charlie took the hint and stood. The boy’s hand disappeared trustingly into hers.

Lorenz jumped down first, steadying them as they climbed out.

They’d barely started walking back when a loud voice cut through.

“Let go of my kid!”

Lorenz turned.

A big man shoved through the gathering crowd, face flushed. Something shone in his dark eyes.

Not fear. Anger.

Before Lorenz could move, Charlie stepped forward, her body a clear barrier between the man and the child.

“Monsieur Pelletier,” she said, her voice calm but strained, one hand tightening around Théo’s shoulder. “Théo’s okay. We don’t want to frighten him.”

“You lost my son,” the man roared. “You lost my son!”

Charlie flinched, but didn’t retreat. “We found him quickly. He wasn’t in any danger.”

“That’s not for you to decide,” the man snapped, jabbing a finger towards her chest. “You had one job today. One job. And you couldn’t do it.”

Lorenz stepped forward, placing himself squarely between them.

“Sir,” he said, his voice level, “I’m going to need you to calm down.”

The man’s eyes rounded on him, as if noticing him for the first time. “And who the hell are you?”

“Lieutenant van der Berg,” Lorenz replied coolly. “And the person asking you—politely—to lower your voice, unless you wish to be escorted from the premises.”

He looked back to see Théo pressed closer to Charlie’s side, fingers digging into her jacket.

“I’m going to sue,” the man went on. “Her. The school. And you too, if you don’t get out of my way.”

The finger wagged inches away from Lorenz’s chest.

Lorenz didn’t move, but he made sure his eyes telegraphed his intent.

Touch me, and I’ll break that finger.