“It’s Christmas. There’s a foot of snow out there. We all have cabin fever, and Pappy knows it. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, Sam. We’ve worked like Trojans the past five months. We haven’t failed anything yet. We deserve this outing and the party. Try to be happy and stop being such a worrywart,” Slick said.

Sam shrugged as she pulled on her jacket. “Is there anything any of you want in case I have to negotiate? Speak up now. I do know how to drive a hard bargain.”

“Just get us everything you can. Lots of money, five-star hotel, five-star dinner reservations, silk sheets. Six-hundred-thread-count will do nicely. Make sure the hotels have a spa, so we can get massages, facials, manicures, and pedicures. I think that should do it,” Slick said happily.

“Got it.” Sam let herself out the door. It was snowing again, but lightly. She shivered inside her down jacket.

She heard Alpha bark long before she got to Pappy’s quarters. She was starting to love the big wolf-dog. Every chance he got he would appear at her side, nuzzle her leg, and bark happily. Once, he’d even tussled with her out in the snow as they played with one of her gloves. Alpha would leap up, catch it daintily, and bring it back. She hugged him, and he allowed it. From time to time she’d slip a goodie from the dinner table into her pocket to give him at some point. He loved the gingerbread cookies that were full of raisins.

Sam knocked on the door of Pappy’s quarters. She could hear Alpha whining on the other side. She expected to see Pappy open the door, but it was Lukash, Team Five’s leader. He nodded curtly to Sam and left, a manila folder in his hands. Sam stepped into the room. She didn’t know what she expected to see, but this wasn’t it. She thought of these off-limits quarters as Pappy’s Lair. She took a minute to drop to her knees and play with Alpha. She slipped him one of the gingerbread cookies, trying to hide the act. Pappy pretended not to see what she was doing.