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“No,” she said in a dejected voice.
“Beggars.” Lotto nudged her shoulder with his own. “Choosers.”
She held in her sigh of despair. So far, this was the only act she had for the parade, besides Harry Wakefield playing Santa with no costume or sleigh. “Okay.” She wrote the boy’s name down in her empty notebook. “The middle school marching band will lead this year’s Santa parade.”
Davy took out his phone again and ran down the street, toward the flashing police and fire truck lights.
As she watched the boy run, she asked Lotto, “How many groups used to walk in the parade?”
“Thirty. Maybe forty.”
She closed her eyes and slumped over sideways until her head hit the metal arm rest. “I’m doomed.”
“Don’t give up.” He stood and held out a hand. “You go back inside and wait for the volunteers. In the meantime, I’ll make some gingersnaps.”
She took his hand so he could pull her up. Then she picked up her coffee mug and notebook. “You can bake?”
His grin almost lightened the darkness in his brown eyes. “Only gingersnaps.” He opened the café’s door so she could enter first. “But trust me on this, once I let the town know about my cookies you’ll have a line from here all the way down Main Street, past the church’s graveyard.”
“If you say so.” She didn’t believe him, but she was happy to enter the café’s warmth. At the very least, she could make a list–she was good at making lists–and figure out how to make this parade happen with Davy’s band and Harry’s Santa Claus. “Hopefully, by the end of the day we’ll have more sign-ups and Ben will be home in time for dinner.”
Lotto stood in the café’s doorway and nodded, but his eyes appeared more hooded than usual. “I’ll be back in ninety minutes with cookies and a crowd.” He stood aside as a group of girls entered the café and winked at Sophie. “I told you so.”
4
Ben stood in the center of the large group of people he’d assembled at the top of Mosby’s Gap and pointed to the woods behind him. He’d called in favors from the State Police and other localities, and Charlie Wallace had notified the FBI and requested more agents. Because of the terrain, and his relationship with Charlie, the feds were allowing Ben to handle the day’s activities.
“Ed?” Ben nodded to the caretaker who took care of the mountain Ben and his brothers had inherited from Caleb. “Tell everyone what you’ve been dealing with.”
Ed shoved his hands into his hunting jacket. His rifle hung over his shoulder, and he’d pulled his hat low over his eyes. Ben had already introduced the officers to Ed who’d confirmed that the man he’d been tracking fit Pepper’s description.
“Someone’s been living in these woods for at least six weeks,” Ed said. “I’ve picked up tracks, found carcasses of dead animals, and there’s been suspicious activity all over.”
“What kind of suspicious activity?” Charlie asked.
“Sabotage.” Ed cleared his throat and spat on the ground. “A shed burned. Food stolen from nearby campers. Caleb’s star…” Ed shook his head. “This person ruined the electrical system that powered the star. I haven’t been able to fix it, and I doubt it will work by tomorrow night.”
As more agents and officers asked Ed questions, Ben moved aside. He’d already given everyone a photo of Pepper, the Black Jacks prospect, along with other pertinent information. They were also all dressed for hunting a man through the winter woods with heavy coats, gloves, sturdy boots, and weapons.
When Ed was finished, Ben said, “Charlie Wallace’s intel matches Ed’s. I believe our suspect is hiding on this ridge. Once you enter those woods, stay with your teams. We don’t have enough SAT phones for everyone and cell phones don’t always work in these mountains.” He held up his copy of the paper maps he’d handed out to everyone. “You all have had basic orienteering, but I’ve broken you into groups, each with a compass and at least one local volunteer who’s familiar with these woods.”
He nodded at Gage, Jacob, Damian, Mr. Elmer, and a few of Mr. Elmer’s buddies. Unfortunately, Kane couldn’t make it back on time. And Ben’s other three brothers lived too far away to help this quickly. “Pepper is armed and dangerous. He’s also a suspected arsonist who tried to burn down our church last night.” Ben waved in Damian’s direction. “The FBI also believes Pepper burned the barn on the Fawkes’ property. We don’t know what else he’s planned, but he’s a threat. The sooner we find Pepper, the sooner we can get home to celebrate the holidays with our families.”
Mr. Elmer looked up at the sky and sniffed. “Weather’s coming. A blizzard. I can smell it.”
Ed nodded. “Probably starting around four p.m. Let’s hope we find this guy before we get snowed in.”
It didn’t take long to get each of the search parties on their way–except for the last party that consisted of Ben and Damian.
Ben handed Damian a copy of the map. “Can I assume you’re armed?”
Damian scoffed. “What do you think?”
Ben released a deep breath and handed Damian a SAT phone. He was both relieved and stressed to know Damian was carrying a weapon. On the other hand, Pepper would be armed as well. “You know I don’t trust you. That’s why I want you with me.”
Ben had spent years as a member of the Devil’s Renegade with his brother Kane and his childhood buddy Damian. They’d all been prospects together, but Damian was the only one who’d gone all in and become president before his thirtieth birthday.
“I don’t trust you either.” Damian clipped the phone to his belt loop and zipped his coat. “But right now, does it matter? Pepper wants to kill me, hurt your woman, and take down our town. If it wasn’t for the MC members living in these woods–”
