Still, since I’d had the thought, I wanted to see more. I began to ski toward the helipad.

The AW109 settled neatly down to the ground and shut its engines off. Four men got out. I was much too far away to make out faces or real details. But certain things were clear. They weren’t skiers. They wore winter clothes, but for warmth, not for sport. They didn’t have skis. No luggage at all. Two of them were…businessmen? Officials? There for business, not fun. The other two—if I were to guess—were their security. Younger, leaner. Alert guard dogs, ears and noses twitching, scan 360 degrees, then their heads swivel, swivel, swivel, as they proceeded toward two Mercedes SUVs. The drivers popped out. Each held open a rear door for their clients, chauffeur style. The two business types got into one back seat, and one of the security guys got into the front, beside the driver. The other security guy got in the car that was in front, which then led the way, as if it were scouting for IEDs.

Did this have anything to do with me? I didn’t know. I didn’t think so. I was on a mission with no solution that I was a fool for doing, except, of course, that it was an all-expenses paid luxury ski vacation. Good gosh, I was lucky. I returned to riding up and sliding down and called it meditation.

Whomp, whomp, whomp…two hours later. The same chopper flying away.

—

That evening, walking through town, we saw Kaylee and Leo with Boris Two and the Borisova. This time, Kaylee looked to Allison and gave her a slight smile.

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

YOU CALL THAT A PLAN?

“…but Tuesday’s just as bad.”

AARON “T-BONE” WALKER

KAYLEE HAD INVITED ALLISON TO ski with her. Two American girls in a foreign land. Every time they got on a chairlift, they were chattering away, especially if it was a two-seater and it was just them. By the time the day was done, Allison was Kaylee’s new best friend. Possibly, so it seemed, her only friend.

“This is a big deal, isn’t it?” Allison said to me.

“By big, you mean?”

“A lot of money. This is worth a lot of money, if we pull this off.”

“It probably is. Sure,” I said.

“I want to talk money. I am helping you,” she said.

“I brought you to keep you safe, you know,” I said. “And you’re getting a four-star vacation. Free and clear.”

“True,” she said. “With no sugar baby or hooking stuff. You’re being very good to me, Uncle Tony. Uncle Victor. Uncle Rick. But it’s different now. I’m part of it. And I’m your way in.”

“Part way, anyway. It’s a start.” And it was.