Jeb, who had stayed in the park after signing a contract to leave. Jeb, who had died hours ago outside the yurt before the training even began. Who had Jeb told in those first precious days after receiving the public notice?

Xavier hoped to find answers inside this cabin.

He paused just inside the window, listening for movement in the house. He didn’t want to leave Audrey outside, but having her enter before he searched the place went against his nature. She followed her own nature, however, and was shoving both their packs through the opening and then climbing through herself before he could object.

They searched the small two-bedroom log cabin together, finding no one, and no obvious clue as to why Jeb had been at the yurt last evening.

Initial sweep done, Audrey made a beeline for the phone. Xavier spotted an old rotary-dial, wall-mounted phone next to the kitchen, but on the counter next to it sat a modern cordless phone.

“That won’t work without electricity.”

“Thank goodness for antiques,” Audrey said as she pulled the plug from the cordless phone base. She then inserted the male plug into the bottom of the wall-mounted relic that dated to around the time the yurt had been built.

She placed a palm on the handset, then closed her eyes and took a deep, slow breath. If a wish could give a phone life, then certainly the intensity of her silent plea would open the line.

She lifted the handset from the hook and placed it next to her ear. She closed her eyes and gave a sharp shake of her head.

Damn.

He hadn’t dared to hope. At least he thought he hadn’t. Not until he’d watched her failed ritual and found himself hoping for her sake.

He didn’t want to see the devastation she was feeling. Didn’t want her to feel it.

She returned the handset to the hook and pressed her forehead to the wall. He suspected she was holding back tears. “I knew I shouldn’t get my hopes up. But I couldn’t help it.”

He stepped up behind her and hesitated a moment, then wrapped his arms around her. She leaned into him, accepting his embrace. He had no clue what to say, so he just held her.

“I’m scared, Xavier. I’ve never been so scared.”

“It’s okay to be scared. Fear will keep you alive.”

“But what if it paralyzes me? Like it did on the cliff ledge. I saw that guy coming for me and I froze. Deer in the headlights.”

“You also screamed and got my attention. And then you threw a rock that saved my life—and yours. Fear didn’t stop you.”

She turned in his arms. They both wore thick, wool-lined rain gear, and he had his tactical vest loaded with tools between them, but still, she burrowed against him, undeterred by the stiff layers that separated them.