Ice didn’t lower his weapon and he didn’t have the energy to dive for cover. “Where did you come from? What are you doing here?”

“I was doing a little hunting. I heard gunfire, wondered if someone else got something. Heard you crashing through the forest. You’re lucky you didn’t get mistaken for a bear.” He held his weapon out in a nonthreatening way. “I’ll put this down. Show me a little good faith and put yours down.”

“Why should I trust you?”

“I’ve got something in my pack you can use, but only if you put that gun away. You have other options?”

Ice considered the question for a moment. Of course he had no other options. He holstered his gun. “Why do you want to help me?”

The guy shrugged and tilted his head toward the shelter. “Me and the shelter have a history. What just happened? Were you trying to break your lady out?”

“Something like that,” Ice said, breathing now calmed to normal, trying to figure this guy out, wondering how he could use his help, then get rid of him.

“Then I’d like to help. I think you’re in trouble, and I kind of like trouble myself. Women are the root of all that troubles a man.” He set the rifle down and took off a backpack. From the pack he pulled out a small pair of wire clippers. In a quick minute, he’d cut a hole in the fence big enough for Ice to get through.

Ice squeezed through, grimacing at the pain in his chest but working to ignore it. “Thanks, man.”

“Sure. We better move.” He took a bottle out, opened it, and spread a foul-smelling liquid everywhere.

Ice stepped back, nose scrunched. “Whoa, what is that?”

“Something to throw the dogs off if they bring them out.” He finished, secured the bottle, put it back in his pack. “You’re free, on your own,” he said and turned to leave.

“Wait, I need to get out of here, to the airport.”

Camo Man looked at him. “Let’s walk, get away from the property line.”

He started walking and Ice followed. He said nothing, explained nothing, but Ice recognized he was out of his comfort zone and needed to trust someone, even briefly. And Camo Man was obviously in his element. First there was a thin trail; then there wasn’t, but he seemed to know where he was going. Then a trail reappeared, and they could walk side by side.

Finally Camo Dude spoke again. “The airport? That’ll be tricky.”

“I’ll pay you.”

“How much?”

“Five grand to get me out of here and to the airport.”

He stopped and stared at Ice. “You have it on you?”

“Not all of it.”

“How much you got on you?”