The flare of Lyle’s nostrils eased a bit and he gave an almost imperceptible nod.

Peter was crying, his teeth clenched, spittle webbing his parted lips. Max knelt on the ground and spoke in a calm voice. “That woman you killed… that was this man’s daughter. And the boy you kidnapped… his grandson. So you see, you’re in a bit of a predicament—but I guess you already knew that.”

Max could tell that Peter was trying to control the crying, but it wasn’t working. “Don’t leave me out here,” Peter pleaded.

Max kept his voice calm, gentle, in the hope that he might settle Peter down enough to get some answers. “That depends on you.”

“You gotta help me.”

“That’s the thing, Peter… we don’t. But if you help us—”

“I don’t want to die.”

“No one wants to die. Sandy didn’t want to die. Your mother didn’t want to die, but here we are. So where’s Reed headed?”

Something calm seemed to pass through Peter as he lay in the dirt, and for a second, Max thought that he might really be dying. But then Peter said, “You gotta save Pip.”

Max was taken aback by that. Peter had killed Sandy and kidnapped Pip, but now, facing his death, he thought of the child instead of himself. “That’s what we’re trying to do.”

“He’s taking him to Canada.”

“We know that. Where are they crossing?”

“A place called Loon Falls.”

“Why did Reed shoot you?” Max asked.

“He wants… to slow you down.”

“So he knows we’re tracking him.”

Lyle had found his feet again and was standing behind Max. “I knew it.”

“Reed left him behind,” Max said slowly. “He wanted us to find him. He knew we’d ask where they were going.” He turned back to Peter. “Did Reed mention Loon Falls after he shot you?”

“Huh?” Peter blinked and winced but didn’t answer.

“Did he say the words ‘Loon Falls’ after he shot you?”

“I think I’m dying.”

Max asked the question the third time. “Did he say it after he shot you?”

“I think so.”

Lyle said, “He left this piece of shit behind to send us the wrong way.”

Peter started to cry again. “Please don’t leave me. Please. I’m sorry for what…” He looked past Max, to Lyle. “I’m so… sorry. Please don’t leave me here.”

“Where is she?” Lyle asked. “What’d you do with her body?”

“I don’t know. That was Reed. I—”

“You’re lying,” Max said.

“No—I swear. All I did was take her to Reed.”

“Reed was at the casino,” Lyle said. “Stop lying.”

“You’re gonna leave me to die.”

Max dug the GPS communicator from the pocket of his hiking pants and showed it to Peter. “You see this?”

Peter wailed through his gritted teeth as something inside of him caused his body to go rigid.

“Stay with me, Peter,” Max said, putting a hand on the man’s shoulder. “Do you see this?” Peter blinked away tears and looked at the GPS. Max tapped the side. “I push this button here and it sends out a signal for help. They’ll be able to find you and fly you out of here. It’s the only chance you have.”