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Back at the lodge, I could hear guests sloaking, roused by the srab a roll and dog treats This never i treats are so great, I should eat theh, and I's

A quick word to Euests could wander down and declare they'd like an early uide services for the rest of the day This is my time, with Jack's daily check-in call

Granted, that conversation wasn't exactly deep Any phone call with Jack is alot used to that in the years orked together Did I expect it to change e moved beyond friendship? Yep Which proves that I'd ether Jack wasn't calling to talk He was calling to listen Calling to hear e life of Nadia Stafford, ad nauseauy who doesn't give a shit, I'e

I headed to the site where we're building our private chalet It's right on the edge of our cell service periphery, intentionally so, because as nice as it'd be to live out of contact sometimes, we really can't

I retrieved the cell phone fro for hed Scout is ht her forhim Rex, a black-and-tan shepherd, for Christuy hen given the full array of cool hituerre, ith Jack He didn't even need to think it up--it's what his family used to call him as a diminutive for John

Phone in hand, I clie, iven how da site He'd actually hauled out a ladder to find the best balcony viewpoint Hitht--thein the breeze, not a single structure to mar the illusion that you were in the middle of endless forest I uncapped my thermos, poured s snuffled through the forest underfeet A rowl and Rex echoed it I followed their gazes to see a figure coh the trees I checked my watch Three minutes until Jack's call at nine

Shit

I rose in a crouch, ready to scuttle back inside the chalet Not very dignified Or very polite But I only got these few minutes each day to touch base with Jack and reht be, it was, at thisI wanted it to be

I was halfway through the doorhen a man's voice called, "Nadia?"

I left the doorway "Hey, didn't see you Let me come--"

I stopped Even in the forest shadows, I could tell the guy wasn't a guest Not when he was dressed in a three-piece suit

"Let me come down," I said

As I did, I took my time and turned up the volume on my phone It was nine o'clock on the dot If I stalled for a fewand I could excuse myself to answer

I picked h the piles of wood and supplies inside the building

9:01

I frowned Yes, that's not exactly late, but Jack is precise Like let's-sync-our-watches precise

"Big dogs," the man called up