Chapter 41

FORTY-ONE

Jenna thrust supplies into their backpacks on the fly as Kane pushed the Beast harder along the slippery roads. The traffic was slight on the highway with only a few people venturing out in the blizzard. They made good time and soon bumped along the fire road at high speed. Kane kept the Beast sitting in the middle of the road and it never faltered as its powerful engine roared. They cut through the powder snow with ease and headed for a cabin in the distance. All around it, footlong icicles like daggers hung down from the gutters and snow spread over it like frosting and piled up along the windowsills. Before they reached it, a woman ran out carrying a shotgun waved them down. Kane slowed the truck and Jenna buzzed down her window. "I'm Sheriff Alton."

She listened as the woman explained the situation and indicated where Wolfe had gone. She turned to Kane and pointed. "That way."

"Wolfe won't get far and hasn't brought his snowmobiles. They were still at the office when I collected ours." Kane gunned the engine and they slid around the trees and followed a wide track.

They traveled for five minutes or so along the trail when Wolfe's white truck loomed up out of the blanketing snowfall. Jenna shook her head. She'd never known Wolfe to be irresponsible. "He must be on foot. Does he keep snowshoes in his truck?"

"I think so. Grab the backpacks. I'll unload the snowmobiles." Kane leaped from the Beast and had the snowmobiles on the ground in minutes. He gave Jenna a long look. "Maybe you should ride with me?"

Jenna pointed to the two sets of tracks slowly disappearing under the snow. "It looks like Wolfe followed the snowmobile and Emily went this way just in case. I'll follow Em. If the killer is down that track, Wolfe will need backup." She squeezed his arm. "I'll be fine. The girls need my help right now. We must split up." She removed her hat and tossed it inside the Beast and pulled out a helmet. "Go now."

"Yes, ma'am." Kane pulled her close and kissed her hard. "Use your com if you need me. He pushed an earbud into his ear, climbed onto the snowmobile, and took off along the winding track.

Jenna attached her earpiece and then pushed on her helmet. She raised the visor, preferring her sunglasses, and sighed with relief when the snowmobile started. She'd find Emily and they'd both be safer riding the snowmobile. Moving off, she ducked under low branches but kept her eyes on the fading footprints. How far ahead had Emily gone? They'd only been ten minutes or so behind them. Concern gripped her as the footsteps were crossed by the marks of a snowmobile. She tapped her com. "Dave, I have snowmobile tracks. There must be a crossover track somewhere close by."

"Copy, I can see Wolfe. I'll pick him up and try and find the cut-through. Hang back if you see the snowmobile. Don't tackle him alone."

Unable to see far ahead or hear much over the noise of her snowmobile, unease slid down Jenna's spine. The killer could be just ahead and she'd never know. "Copy."

The images of the frozen women flashed through her mind. There was no way Emily was going to be his next victim. Throwing caution to the wind, she followed the tracks. After what seemed like forever, in the distance she made out flashes of color. She recognized Emily's bright yellow hat bobbing along and her orange puffy jacket following the tree line. The wind was blowing the snow in flurries, making visibility difficult. Surely, Emily could hear her coming. The next second, there was a flash of red in the trees. The killer was heading their way. Fear for Emily's safety gripped her, and she accelerated. The snowmobile spluttered and stalled. Jenna leaped from the vehicle and waded through the thick snow. "Oh, please, let me get to her in time."