He waited for her to continue.

“The past few days, in the recordings from my dad’s office … it sounds like there’s something going on. Something bad, I mean. Some kind of problem here in Ashland, happening right now.”

“Like what?” Sam asked.

Dani shook her head. “I don’t know. I only get to hear bits and pieces, but … it scares them, whatever it is. My dad sounds scared. So do the people he talks to. It’s like there’s something going wrong. And I think it’s something big.”

She was quiet a moment, then added, “It wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t tell you about that, before you make up your mind. And I meant what I said before: I won’t blame you, if you want to stay the hell away from this stuff. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She turned to go, even as she finished speaking.

“Hey,” Sam said.

She stopped. Turned back to him.

“I’m with you,” he said. “On all of this. Anything you do, I want to be part of it.”

It was hard to see her face in this light—there was only the sodium-orange glow of the streetlamps downtown, half a mile away—but he could see her blinking fast. Then she took a deep breath and stepped forward and hugged him—tight. She held on, saying nothing. He could feel her shaking a little. Not quite crying, but just holding it back. He could hear it in her breathing, too. He held on to her, and they just stood there, and if there had ever been a better moment in his life, he couldn’t think of it now.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“You’re welcome,” he said. It didn’t come out sounding as tough as he wanted. He forced a laugh and said, “Hey, it’s only treason, right?”

Dani laughed, too. She sniffled and finally let go. She drew back only a foot, and met his eyes. She managed her own forced-tough look.

“We’re twelve,” she said. “What can they do to us?”

PART THREE

THE MAN IN SHIPROCK FOREST

SEPTEMBER 2018

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

There were three college kids and a dog playing in the surf at Point Rojo. Dryden had the Explorer parked in a public lot overlooking the beach. There were a few restaurants clustered at the ends of the lot, to the left and right. It was mid-afternoon, and beneath the overcast sky the ocean was slate grey. There was nobody around but the kids and the dog—a big black Lab.

Dryden sat at the wheel. Danica was in the passenger seat. They had the windows down and the cool wind rushing through. They could hear the surf crashing, and the dog barking, jumping up after a Frisbee the kids were throwing back and forth.

Dryden shut his eyes and leaned back into the headrest.