Page 85 of Twice Missing
"What?" Noah's heart rate instantly spiked.
"Nathan. He's heading toward Saranac Lake."
Noah nearly lost his footing, and as he attempted to regain his balance, he dropped the huge knot of lights. They cascaded down, narrowly missing Ed and eliciting a string of colorful curses from the older man.
"Where are you?" Noah demanded, already mentally plotting the fastest route to intercept Nathan.
"Getting in my car, about to follow him," McKenzie replied.
"I'm on my way," Noah said, hurrying down the ladder. When he reached the bottom, Ed stared at him, a mixture of confusion and annoyance on his face. "I'm sorry. We'll have to do this later," Noah explained hastily.
"Oh, don't mind me. I'll just go ahead and do it myself. I'll probably break my neck, but you go ahead, duty calls," Ed said sarcastically. Noah grinned back at him as he bolted for his rental. The Bronco was a write-off, and he was in the process of getting the insurance firm to pay out so he could buy another vehicle.
Noah leaped into the Toyota 4Runner, the engine roaring to life as he turned the key. Tires spun on the gravel driveway, kicking up a spray of snow and ice as he tore out of his property. The landscape blurred past his windows, a mix of snow-laden trees and frost-covered fields. The thirty-minute journey from his home to the town of Saranac Lake passed in a haze of adrenaline and anticipation.
Nothing had been planned. No SWAT team. No one had been updated in the county or state departments for fear of a mole, someone who might be leaking informationto the Ashfords. All of which meant they were going into this blind, alone, and with little backup.
Of course, there was a chance it was a false alarm, but Nathan had stayed clear of Saranac Lake for the past two weeks. The sudden change in pattern set Noah's instincts on high alert.
Noah had arranged by phone to meet McKenzie at the Grand Union Supermarket parking lot. As he pulled in, tires crunching on the snow-covered asphalt, he spotted McKenzie's car. To his surprise, he saw not just McKenzie but Callie in the rear seat.
"I figured we might need some backup," McKenzie said as Noah approached.
Noah glanced at Callie, nodding curtly. As they pulled away, the car fell into uncomfortable silence. They hadn't spoken since her hospitalization. He could feel her eyes boring into the back of his head.
Clearing his throat, Noah broke the silence. "How are your injuries?" he asked, eyes fixed on the road.
"Good. On the mend," Callie replied, her voice neutral.
Noah nodded, glancing at the stores as they headed out of town and followed the winding road. The forest, weighed down by snow, passed by in their periphery, a silent witness to their mission.
"Any plans for Christmas?" Callie asked, attempting to bridge the awkward gap.
"Family get-together. You?" Noah asked without looking back.
"Spending it with..." she trailed off.
"Jake?" He glanced over his shoulder. She nodded. "Good."
"Look, I'm glad to see that your kids are okay," Callie offered.
"And if I didn't say it before, I appreciate what you did for them," Noah replied, his voice softening slightly.
"Glad to help."
"I'm sorry you wound up in the hospital."
"Just a flesh wound," Callie said, a hint of humor in her voice.
McKenzie interjected, breaking the moment. "All right, you two. If you're done kissing and making up, can I get a little direction here? We can't just roll up to The Cove. How do you want to do this?"
"Just get us as close as you can," Noah replied, his mind shifting back to the task at hand.
They ended up pulling off to a home just off Beaverwood Road. The driveway was barely visible under the fresh snow, the house a dark silhouette against the white landscape. They would have to trek through the snowy forest toward the secluded 85-acre estate, which was only a short distance away.
As they got out of the car, the cold air bit at their faces. They moved to the trunk, where McKenzie distributed ballistic vests and radios. The equipment felt heavy and reassuring as they strapped it on.
"We need you to wait here," McKenzie said to Callie.
