Page 71 of K-9 Prime Target

“The man fitting Nicholson’s description rented the snowmobile at six.”

“Who rents a snowmobile at night?” Brian asked.

“Some people rent them at night to do some night riding on the lighted course the rental place has behind their store, or they want to get an early start in the morning,” the sheriff said.

“What if Nicholson rented it intending to follow Nina and Liam to the hut where they were staying?” Renee asked.

“How would he even know how to find the hut?” the sheriff asked.

“There’s a map on the website,” Connor said.

The sheriff frowned. “I’ll see about sending a deputy up there to check, but I don’t think you have anything to worry about. I’ll leave you to get back to your work.” He nodded, then left.

No one said much for a long moment, then Connor looked at Raz. “I don’t like the sound of that,” he said.

“He’s not going to look for Nicholson at the ski huts,” Raz said. “At least not right now. He thinks Nicholson is at Rabbit Basin.”

“This guy stabbed Nina at the Mardi Gras parade,” Renee said.

“And he tried to kill her when he kidnapped her before,” Brian said.

“The sheriff may not be worried, but I am,” Raz said.

“What can any of us do about it?” Lily asked.

“We could go up to the huts and warn Nina and Liam,” Raz said.

“We have a resort full of skiers to look after,” Lily said.

Raz collapsed back in her chair and looked at Connor. “We have to do something,” she pleaded.

Connor glanced around the room. “I can’t leave, and we’re stretched thin on patrol as it is.”

“What if I called in sick?” Raz asked. “You’d have to call Trey or Carson to fill in for me.” Trey and Carson were part-time patrollers who weren’t scheduled to work today.

“And if I called in sick and Brian called in sick, everybody would shuffle around and make do,” Renee said.

“I can’t spare three of you,” Connor said.

“I feel a really bad case of the flu coming on,” Raz said. “I’m probably contagious.” She turned toward Brian. “And Brian is looking really feverish to me.”

Brian sat up straight. “Yeah. I don’t see how I can work today.”

Connor clenched his jaw and stared at Raz. She held her breath. She didn’t want to argue with her captain—and the resort did need patrol people to keep everyone safe. But she couldn’t bear the thought of Nina and Liam being in trouble that she might be able to prevent.

“Go,” Connor said. “You and Brian. I’ll call in Trey and Carson. But be careful.”

“We will. I promise.”

“What about me?” Renee said. “I want to go.”

“I need you here,” Connor said.

Raz grabbed Renee’s hand. “I’ll feel a lot better if you’re here, keeping yourself and everyone else safe.”

Renee gripped her hands. “You just said this guy is really dangerous. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

The fear in Renee’s eyes—worry over her—made Raz all wobbly. “I’ll be okay,” she said.