“Good night. We are private support hired by the Whitaker family. We received notice of movement in this area.
Noah didn't look out the window. He didn't change the tone.
“There are only pines, snow, and a girl who sleeps early.
One of the men moved his hand to his waist. Noah saw the gesture. It was not a radio. It was a weapon.
Can we go on to check?
"No.
The woman’s smile disappeared.
The family is offering a reward of 1,000,000 dollars for information.
“Then look for her where they look for men who need money.
The door closed before they answered.
Noah crossed the room in 3 steps, erected a carpet and opened a trapdoor leading to an old service tunnel built when the cabin was forested. Celeste understood without asking. He wrapped her in a blanket and helped her down.
Upstairs, the window glass exploded.
Then the smell of gasoline came in.
When they left the other end of the tunnel, Noah's cabin burned behind them. The fire lit the snow with a cruel orange glow. Half a mile away, in Gus' house, Mia appeared on the porch crying, held by the old man.
“Dad!
Noah wanted to run to her. Celeste held him by the arm.
“Don’t leave her alone.
But it was already late. The woman in the clean jacket was next to Gus's truck, talking on the phone and looking directly at the girl.
Then Celeste recognized his voice.
It was Marlene, Derek's personal assistant.
And what he said on the phone froze everyone's blood:
The woman is still alive. And the ranger has a daughter.
Part 3 SOON
