Page 67 of Off the Trail

I see Luis approach her and listen to something, then he cups his hand and calls, “Shawn. Come here.”

I can only think the worst as I bolt for the stairs and tear across the open ground to Marika. Blaze is hurt. My dad had a heart attack. Someone hit Misty with a car. My brain is spiraling out of control by the time I get to Marika’s side.

“What is it?” I demand.

“It’s not bad news,” she says right off the bat, calming me somewhat. “There’s a driver at the lodge. He wants to take you to the airport. Somebody named Jett has been trying to get in touch with you. He finally reached me and told me to tell you he needs you to get to Hartford immediately. Something about tonight’s playoff game.”

Why would Jett need me in Hartford for the playoff game? My first instinct is to brush this off and get back to work, but Jett never asks me for anything—this must be important.

When I glance at Luis, he shrugs. “It’s your call, man. We’ll survive without you. I’m a Boston fan, so I don’t really care one way or the other.”

I glance back at Leo and Rafi and Cord. They’re looking on impassively. I’d be a dick to leave them, but there are only a few more hours in the work week. And the Laurels were my team first.

“See you Monday?”

Luis shrugs again. “We’ll be here.”

“See you Monday,” I say again, with more confidence. But as I gather my gear and get into the passenger seat of the Land Rover, I can tell he doesn’t believe me.

Marika keeps her eyes on the road as we curve around the lake, past Blaze’s house all the way to the lodge. “You sure you want to do this?”

“Jett’s a good friend and he’s level-headed,” I say. “He wouldn’t send up a signal if it wasn’t urgent.”

“What about—” She cuts herself off.

“Blaze? He’ll understand,” I say. “Is he working right now?”

“He’s on the lake.”

I’m upset I won’t be able to say goodbye. But I’ll be back.

“Will you tell him why I had to go? I’ll call him later.”

She doesn’t answer right away, and I wonder if she thinks I’m an asshole. “Please, Marika.”

“Sure, Shawn.”

A town car similar to the one I arrived in idles in front of the lodge, the driver pacing in front of the vehicle. He goes on high alert when he sees us. “Shawn Camden?”

“Yep.”

He opens the rear passenger door for me. “We better hurry.”

“Don’t speed,” Marika scolds the man.

“Wait, I need to grab some stuff.” And maybe Blaze is back, and I can talk to him in person.

“No time,” the driver barks. “You got ID?”

“Yeah, but⁠—”

“That’s all you’ll need.”

I do have my phone with me, which I’ve been using at work as a calculator and a level, and my wallet, and my warm layers, so I guess I’m prepared to be whisked off to the airport. I can buy whatever else I need along the way. I get in the backseat, Marika watching us as we drive away.

When we hit Laketon and I get cell service again, I immediately call Jett. He picks up on the third ring. “Shawn, my man, you coming?”

“Apparently.” It’s all been so fast I haven’t really thought this through.