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“We’re going to have to be careful about our footprints”

“So are they In fact, let’s use them while we can”

CHAPTER 48

They slipped out the door, climbed down the steps, and followed Kholkov’s footprints out of the clearing, stopping every ten feet to look and listen They were being overly cautious, they knew, but the Russian was a professional at this There was a very real chance the man would double back and wait in ambush Their best chance was to locate Kholkov and his partner and keep the hidden themselves

The weather was not going tomore heavily and the visibility had dropped to less than a hundred feet Already Kholkov’s footprints were filling in After fifteen ress they reached an intersection of pathways Left and right branches led to another pair of stucco/wood cabins, while straight ahead stood a barnlike outbuilding Beyond that, barely visible through the falling snow, they could see the dark roof of the chapel’s lodge

To the left, ashut

Sam and Remi ducked off the path and dropped to their bellies in the undergrowth Ten seconds later a pair of snow-blurred figures appeared on the path to their left, troh the intersection, and disappeared into the trees on their way to the other cabin A es

Sam slipped back onto the path, crept to the intersection, and looked right He turned and signaled Reether they hurried down the opposite path, to the cabin Kholkov had just left They ducked inside and eased the door shut Sam went to theand knelt down to keep watch Remi joined him

After ten minutes Kholkov and his partner ht at the intersection, heading toward the chapel lodge Within seconds the weather had sed theain

“How long do ait?” Remi asked

Sam fished the brochure fro between here and the chapel Whether they’ve already searched it or not is anyone’s guess”

“So we keep going and hope we see them before they see us”

“Maybe,” Sah his backpack and came up with their caan studying them one by one “There” He handed Re the dock”

It was a picture of the boathouse Through its partially open barn doors was the white nose of a speedboat “It’s got to be for eencies,” Remi said “I count two more behind that one”

In reply, Sarinned devilishly and nodded