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Prologue

THE BLACK BEAR WAS RUNNING AWAY A HELL OF A LOT FASTER than Owen Nottinghaht capable Their hunting guide, Trevor Hodges, yelled at the, Owen and David would never last Already Owen had shin splints, and his side was aching soood shape

They couldn't use dogs on the bear this late in the year in Maine, but the owner of Back Country Tours, Kintail Silver his pet wolves on the hunt The sleek white-furred creaturesfor survival, diving around snow-laden firs, blending in, exhilarated, hunting together as a cooperative team The experience would have been more pleasurable if his other partners ith the other than criminals, and Gavin Summerfield, who'd rather stay in Seattle and work than fly anywhere But the four of theether as a collective unit and socializing as the best of friends throughout the good times and bad

So Oished they could share hunting excursions together, too

He noticed then that there were only snooods in front of them The wolves and the bear were lost in the forest ahead as the chilly wind howled through the trees Trevor was still keeping a good pace in the distance For a white-haired old guy, he was lean and in incredibly great shape

David had dropped way behind, but Oas too busy trying to keep up the chase to wait for him to catch up One last day before their hunt ended And, hell, they'd tried to bag a bear for the last four years without any luck The way the bear was outdistancing the to lose hope they'd make it this time either But it was the closest they'd come

When Owen didn't hear David's heavy breathing behind hih the deep snow, he turned and looked to see how far behind he was David was holding his thighs, leaning over, gasping for breath

"David, you all right?" Owen asked, knowing it was a du to catch his second wind and couldn't answer anyway

David , his face red and pinched with pain "Get the bear! I'm fine Go I'll catch up"

But it wasn't like David not to keep up on a hunt and Owen ran back to check on hi his arm to steady him

"Go You'll… never… forgive… me… if… we…" David clutched his chest

The wolves and Trevor circled back and joined them The old man shook his head "Chest pains?"

Through clenched teeth, David growled, "Fro… damn it"

David was the oldest of the four partners in their private investigator practice, but at thirty-five, David couldn't be having a heart attack

With millions of acres of forest land all around theet help Cell phones wouldn't work out here Owen knew CPR, but…

He helped David to sit "What are you feeling?" he asked, trying to disguise the anxiety in his voice, although he couldn't hide a deepening frown, and David noticed

"Don't be a… worry…" David clutched his chest even harder, his face sweating in the frigid air

"We can't get any help to hi a heart attack, it's not a bad way to go Quick, no lingering illness"

"No!" Owen snapped "Do you have any aspirin?" How could he let his friend from childhood and one of the best partners he'd had in law enforcement before they'd left the force die on him? He couldn't "I know CPR"

"It won't be enough" Trevor sounded like the voice of reason, but Owen didn't want to hear it

The i a bullet in the shoulder two years ago, flashed across Owen's o He couldn't

The wolves watched silently, almost sympathetically as if one of their pack ing out, panting after the long run

His hand clutching David's shoulder, Owen clenched his teeth to bite back the overwhel? Anything?"

"Possibly," Trevor said, "but it will change his life and yours, forever"

"I'd do anything to savein terh money, they could air-evac hiers had been

Trevor put a hand on Owen's shoulder "You sure?"