I turned on my brights, a poor idea. Bright lights churned the fog, an eerie swirl that reminded me of blood clogging the drain. Road ice was gray, the color of scaled fish, and so slick the bite of chains did not prevent sudden slips. I found myself praying for road markers, praying my way through fishtails, praying for prudence. The night would bring accidents, I knew that much. Finding Louise was a bright spot on my long-night agenda. As soon as I found Louise, I assured myself, the night would go easy no matter what else happened.

My mind raced with stories I thought I had left behind. As I drove into Dixon I remembered the ghost story of the young girl who froze in fear when the Dixon ghost followed her. The story goes that a girl was traveling in the back of her grandparents’ wagon, and as they passed over the Jocko Bridge the old white man ghost came up from the river and followed the travelers. I was like a kid, frightened to glance at my side windows, afraid the white man ghost was seeking my attention, a ghost tapping my frosted windows, calling me. I remembered the story of the Mission ghost who was said to haunt the church, a woman who appeared to people praying in the early-morning hours, the ghost dressed in black who liked to light the church stove for the prayerful, a fire that never gave warmth. It just popped and hissed and scared everyone. I remembered the crying grave that I had been called to many times, hearing for myself the high whining cry of a child. And I had to tell these people they were hearing a distant voice carried to the graveyard on wind when I didn’t believe my own explanation. The thought prickled my neck. I was scaring myself and I knew I had to settle down.

I was relieved when I heard the crackle of static on the radio, a connection with firm reality, even a grim reality. Railer’s voice was high etched, a choirboy pitch. There had been an accident, a bad accident involving Harvey Stoner outside Perma, and I’d have to turn back around. It occurred to me that what goes around does come back around but I found no good feelings in Stoner’s misfortune. I was only annoyed I was called to his rescue when I should have been looking for Louise. I didn’t want to go but I had informed Railer of my location. He had me. Railer was just outside of Polson and in this weather he wouldn’t be on the scene any time soon. I was the man. I bit the inside of my cheek. I didn’t want to see Stoner under any condition but this was the worst of circumstances.