Her head turns. She lost her goggles and hat in the tussle and her hair is coated with snow. Before I can react, she staggers empty-handed into the whiteout, back along the cliff top toward the Panorama building. I can’t search for Curtis while she’s on the loose. She must have other weapons stashed there—the missing kitchen knives at the very least, and quite possibly more rifles—so I chase after her.

The blood-streaked snow makes it easy enough to follow her trail. She’s losing so much blood I’m amazed she can run, but Olympic hopefuls don’t give up easily. The pain in my knee has reached a whole new level. Still, I was once an Olympic hopeful too, so I push it from my mind and limp faster.

The shape of the building looms. Odette’s nearly at the door already. She’ll run in for weapons and be out here in seconds hunting me again.

“Stop or I’ll shoot!” I shout.

Given my complete lack of experience, my chances of hitting her at this range are minimal. And clearly she thinks so too, because she keeps running.

What can I possibly say to stop her?

Desperate, I shout: “She never loved you!” It’s a dangerous tactic; it risks making her even angrier.

Odette stops in her tracks.

“She cheated on you.”

She turns to face me. “You must have started it,” she says coldly.

“I was taken in by her just like you were.”

Odette doesn’t answer but she comes slowly toward me.

“Know what she told me after our night together? That it was just a strategic move to upset you before the Brits.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“It was her only chance of beating you.”

“You’re lying.”

I pull off my glove. “She gave me this after our night together.” I slide the silver-and-blue chain from my jacket pocket.

There’s a flash of recognition in her eyes. Odette steps closer.

I back away, mindful of the cliff edge somewhere to my left. “Put your hands up!”

Slowly her hands raise. I keep the rifle trained on her as she approaches.

From five meters away, she stares at the bracelet. “She wouldn’t do that. She loved me.” But her voice shakes as though she already senses truth in my words.

“You loved her, and you still do. I can see that. But she was just using you like she used everyone else.”

“No.” The word lacks conviction.

“You did all this for her but she didn’t deserve your loyalty.”

“Shut up.” She steps nearer still.

I don’t trust her. I back up, straining into the whiteout for the red of the rope that marks the cliffs. “It’s too late for the others. But at least let me try to save Curtis.”