“So,” Laurel said. “What’s the plan?”

Roth ran his tongue over his teeth. “I need to go back to the room and floss before we go.”

“Go where?”

“To visit Lance.”

She waited in the lobby for him and they walked out to the car together. They drove out of town into the mountains and when they got to Lance’s place Laurel’s eyes widened.

“Not what you expected?” Roth said.

She shook her head.

The cabin was stunning, perched on an outcrop of rock high above a steep, forested valley. It was built from hand-hewn logs and she could tell a lot of labor had gone into it.

“It’s beautiful,” she said.

“Built it himself,” Roth said, and she was surprised to hear a trace of pride in his voice.

The second level opened onto a balcony and she could only imagine the view from up there.

“His truck’s here,” she said. “Want me to go knock?”

“No need,” Roth said, nodding toward the balcony.

There was a man stepping onto it from inside the house, looking very comfortable in a plush bathrobe and matching white slippers. He had a lit cigar in one hand and a shotgun in the other.

“Levi Roth,” he called out. “You better get off my property before I shoot you off.”

Roth looked at Laurel. “Don’t worry,” he said, “I’ve got this under control.”

“I can see that,” she said.

Roth looked up at Lance. “We’re just here to talk.”

Lance pumped the shotgun and aimed it at Roth. “Nothing would give me more pleasure than filling your ass with lead, Levi.”

“There’s no need for that, Lance.”

“I’ll tell you what there’s a need for.”

“Maybe if you invited us in to talk, rather than standing out here looking like Hugh Hefner.”

Lance aimed above them and fired into the sky.

“What the hell,” Roth said.

Laurel stepped forward. “Maybe you should let me try,” she said.

“Be my guest.”

“Lance,” she said, “we’re just here to talk.”

“I don’t give a rat’s ass why you’re here.”

She looked at Roth uncertainly.

“Fucking guy,” Roth muttered.

“What happened between you?”

“Long story,” Roth said.

She looked up at Lance. “Hey,” she said, “I don’t know what the history is here.”

“That’s right,” Lance called down. “You don’t.”

“We just want to talk, Lance. We’ve come a long way.”

Lance looked at her for a minute.

“Please, Lance,” she added.

He sighed and lowered the gun.

“He’s lucky he brought you.”

“I know he is,” she said.

Laurel looked at Roth, then back at Lance.

“So we can come in?”

Lance didn’t answer. He went back into the house. Roth shrugged.

“I’m going in,” she said. “You can wait out here if you like.”