Page 27 of Solstice

The woman was sinking toward the floor at Dori’s feet, weeping, but her husband caught her in his arms before she’d gone too far and pulled her against him. He looked as tortured as she did.

“I’ll do whatever I can,” she said. She handed her precious candle to the nearest person and then smoothed her hands over the woman’s heaving back. “I promise, Alice, I’ll try my hardest.”

She didn’t know if Alice was listening or not. She didn’t care. She turned and found Jason without having to search for him. She said, “I need to get out on the lake. I need some men to help me launch my uncle’s boat.”

“Dammit, Dori, you can’t go out there,” Jason said. “Work from here. Wave a pendulum over the charts and tell us where to send the state patrol boats. But don’t go out on the lake.”

She moved closer to him, clasped his hands in hers. “I think I have to. Don’t you get it, Jason? Maybe this is why I had to come back here. To save this kid. And even if it’s not. I’m going to try, no matter how much time you waste arguing with me.”

He swallowed hard, holding her eyes. “Then I’m damn well going with you.”

* * *

Jason could not believe he had let her come out on the boat in this weather. The waves battered the small craft mercilessly. He was at the controls, following her directions. The boat

had no cabin. A large glass windshield was all that stood between them and the biting wind.

“Where did you say they started from?” she asked. She was sitting in a vinyl seat beside him.

“The boat launch, a mile down the beach.”

“Then go west.”

“That’s the opposite direction!”

“There’s a strong current. It would have pulled them west. Especially if they’ve been out here any length of time.”

He searched her face. Pale cheeks in the glow of the panel lights. Wide, intense eyes.

“Trust me, Jason.”

“I do.” He headed the boat in the direction she told him. “But I have to ask, what are you basing this on?” he asked. “Instinct or...”

“Experience.”

“With missing kids?”

“No. With the lake. I know every inch of it. I’ve spent every summer out here since I was twelve, right at Uncle Gerald’s side. Studying his maps, charts, the currents, all the topography of the lake bottom. He took this Champ stuff seriously. And he taught me everything he knew.”

Jason nodded slowly. “You’re right. Hell, you’re probably more familiar with the lake than anyone in town.” He stared at her face. “But what about...the other?”

She nodded. “I’m open. I’m just...not getting anything yet.”

“So, you just…wait?”

“You keep us afloat, Jason. I’ll worry about the spooky stuff, all right?”

He seemed completely baffled. “I can’t help in some way? Like at your place the other night?”

She pursed her lips, sent him a sad smile. “I realize it probably freaked you out a little—that night, I mean. All the Witchcraft stuff.”

He tipped his head to one side.

“Look, it’s all right. Some people aren’t comfortable with magic, and that’s fine. But I can’t give it up, Jason. I think I had to go through this past year of trying to before I realized that. It’s who I am.” She reached to the wheel, putting her hand over his on it, and moved it slightly.

“I kind of figured that out before you did, remember? Wasn’t I the one who tried to tell you that very thing?”

“Yeah, you did, at that.” She smiled slightly. The wind was whipping strands of hair that had escaped her knit hat. “That was pretty cool of you, especially given your feelings about it all.”

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