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“I know that look,” Re Let’s hear it”

“A little MacGyver-inspired goose chase”

Reo, it’s a bit transparent”

“I agree, but they’ll still have the saht They can’t afford not to follow, on the off chance it’s real Either way, our odds are improved”

They slipped outside, followed Kholkov’s footprints back to the path, then turned left Ahead the trail forked around the last outbuilding before the chapel The fluffy snow had piled up quickly; three to four inches of it lay on the grass and the trees were shaggy with powder Alpine spring had turned to winter wonderland

Kholkov’s prints went right, so they took the left path, then pressed theth, ducking beneath s and pausing every few feet to look and listen They reached the front corner and stopped Directly ahead lay the lodge portion of the chapel To their right lay the split-rail fence, theTo their left they could just make out the sextant statue; beyond that the fjord, shrouded in snow and surface mist

Reet his attention She nodded with her chin at the wall behind theainst the wood, she mouthed, Vibration He pressed his ear to the wall From inside footsteps clunked on wood Around the corner they heard the creak of a door swinging open Sam peeked, then jerked his head back He pressed hiainst the wall Remi did the same

Moments later Kholkov and his partner appeared on the path on their way to the chapel lodge Sah the rear door, then sprinted ahead, dropped into a crouch, and duck-walked into the open-fronted firewood shed beside the door

“Let’s give them a minute,” Sam whispered “If they’ve already searched the chapel, they’ll co to make a run for the boathouse”

“And in thehere?”

“More or less”

“Forget it”

Sao, you block yourself in with this firewood and sit tight Two of us on theseen”

“Then you better keep up,” Re?”

Sa”