The relief he’d have felt at her words three minutes ago didn’t come. “Hi. Listen, I’m wondering if you could do something for me...” He didn’t wait for an answer. “Cassie leaves a spare office key for Snow Trek Tours on the hook near the door. The keyring is a picture of Diva in a...in a tutu.” His sister was insane...but right now she was in trouble and his mind and pulse were frantic.

“I found them,” Erika said. “What’s wrong?”

“We just got a call that her camping crew needs assistance. They’re caught in this weather. We have no details, so I need your help. Can you go to the office and look through her files for info about this trip? Anything you can find about number of campers and their hiking plans...anything.” His usually clear head was fuzzy and his hand shook slightly. He forced a breath. If he ever needed to remain calm and in control, it was now. “There should be a file labeled with the name of the company and this week’s date.”

“Yes, of course,” she said and he could already hear the wind howling through the phone. “I’ll find it.”

“I’ll be there to meet you right away. Start searching for whatever you can find.”

“Okay...and you know I’m coming with you.”

He didn’t have time to argue and it would be futile anyway. His own worry echoed in Erika’s voice. “I’ll be there soon.”

* * *

CASSIE’S ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS hadn’t improved much over the years. As Erika sorted through the files on her messy desk, she mentally lectured her friend. Employee time sheets...new survival skills training brochures...a file labeled Frankie’s Construction Weeklong. All she could find on the desk were folders from trips several weeks before.

File shit away when you’re done with it, Cass!

Pile after pile of paper, there was nothing.

She grabbed the inbox and started riffling through the papers there. Expansion details to acquire the space next door, several résumés...a bunch of invoices and statements...

She paused at one. A payment sent to the Anchorage Addictions Treatment Center? She scanned it quickly, suppressing a feeling of guilt. She shouldn’t be snooping but she couldn’t help herself. Cass wasn’t struggling with addictions...her mother?

Intake and Thirty-Day Treatment for George Reynolds.

Her father? Cassie knew the man was alive and she was paying for his addiction treatment? Erika hadn’t thought it possible for her heart rate to increase even more. She was wrong.

Did Reed know about this? He couldn’t, if he was still searching for his dad. Cassie was keeping knowledge about her father’s whereabouts—the truth—from her brother. Erika’s gut twisted and her palms sweat. This was not good, and it was knowledge she wished she didn’t have.