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Harrison cursed and clicked off his phone. Dealing with bureaucrats was his least favorite part of the job. Calls to the mayor and city administrator were a waste of time. All they’d done was give him the number of the Lake Lotawana Association president. Maybe neither of them had ever been to the lake. Either that, or they were afraid they might have to leave their warm homes and venture out into the storm.
He called the number, preparing himself for another dead end. But when the president of the association answered, he was encouraged. Marge Meadows was not only an expert on the area around the lake but it was clear she also wanted to help.
“The place you’re looking for might be the old house on Waywind Road we plan to tear down in the spring. It’s become an eyesore after being deserted years ago. It’s the only one I think anyone could be squatting in.”
After getting directions from her, Harrison phoned the SWAT commander, who was waiting for instructions. “We’ll meet you at the entrance to the south side of the lake,” Harrison told him.
“Okay. But why don’t you ride with us? Our rescue vehicle can handle the ice. You’ll be safer.”
Harrison didn’t need to be convinced. He was grateful and accepted the commander’s invitation. “We’ll also need a containment device in case we find the missing virus sample,” he said. “Better suit up your guys appropriately.”
There was a silence from the other end of the phone. Then the commander said, “That will take us longer to prepare.”
“I don’t know how much time we have. Can you hustle?”
Another brief silence. Then the commander said, “I understand.”
Harrison sighed as he disconnected the call. He wasn’t sure whether he needed to discipline the BAU team or thank them. If he’d listened to them, he and the SWAT team would have headed out to the lake hours ago. It’s possible he’d made a huge mistake. If he had, how many people would have to pay the price for his blunder?
As he headed for the door, his phone rang again. After hearing what the person on the other end had to say, he called the SWAT commander back.
“Look,” Logan said as they inched their way down Waywind Road. “It’s a car in the ditch.” As they got closer, Logan grew excited. “It’s Alex’s.”
Monty pulled up next to the car and Logan got out. Had Alex been injured? A quick look told him the car was empty. As he headed back to the SUV, he stopped and stared down the road. Even though it was hard to see through the falling ice, he could make out a light. It looked like a house.
“There’s a house up the road,” he said to Monty as he got back into the car. “Let’s check it out. If she’s not there, we’ll go back to the CP. Okay?”
“We’re in it this far, we might as well go all the way,” Monty said in a low voice. “But if we get stuck out here and freeze to death, I’m coming back to haunt you.”
“I don’t think your plan will work. I’d be dead too—”
“Oh, shut up.” Monty shook his head. “I never want to be paired with you again, you know.”
“You don’t mean that.” Logan smiled. “You can’t help but like me. I’m a lovable human being.”
In spite of himself, Monty laughed. “Okay, lovable human being. Once more into the fray...”
“You know the rest of that poem from The Grey, right? From that film?”
Monty nodded. “‘Into the last good fight I’ll ever know. Live and die on this day. Live and die on this day.’”
“Let’s live, okay?”
“Okay. Sounds good.”
Monty put the SUV in gear and started for the house.
Mike forced Alex into a chair. He pulled a gun out of his waistband and trained it on her. “Sit there and don’t move. If you do, I will shoot you. I won’t hesitate for even a second. Do you understand me?”
Alex nodded, then looked the room over, trying to find a way out. She wasn’t going to just sit there and watch this girl die. The poor thing hadn’t taken her eyes off Alex ever since she’d walked into the room.
“Secure her,” Walker said to Mike. “I don’t trust her.”
“My handcuffs are upstairs,” Mike said. “I don’t think I should leave you alone with her.”
“I’m the Train Man,” Walker shouted. “I can keep her here.”
