I rose and moved toward the other end of the loft. By the time I climbed down the ladder and left the barn, I’d decided that whether it was imagination or reality, I needed to photograph the twine, then bag it as evidence.

And I had a whole lot more work to do to get to the truth.

Chapter 9

Roy was outside waving to the arriving helicopter. I stayed next to the barn until the copter landed.

Bram was the first to exit the chopper. He was out of uniform but had a holstered gun and carried a leather messenger bag.

My heart thumped a bit harder. Unbidden, Cookie’s comments rose in my mind. We’ve even started a betting pool as to who will get enough nerve to ask you on a date first: Bram or Wyatt. I squeezed my hands into fists. Silly and pointless speculation in the midst of a crisis.

I stepped out of his line of sight. I needed to stay focused on the events, not complicate anything by adding a layer of . . . Go ahead, admit it. Attraction.

If I had a phone, I would call Scott Thomas, my counselor, or caraid, as we called them—Scottish Gaelic for “friend.” I’d ask him for advice. My nightmares were back. I was having panic attacks. I wasn’t sure how well my brain was working. And I wanted to run and hide.

I could talk to Cookie. She’d been through something pretty horrific if she’d ended up on the farm. Clan Firinn didn’t rehabilitate only first responders and law enforcement. They took people who’d reached rock bottom, who’d destroyed their families and careers and were on the verge of ending their lives.

The three stones in my pockets pressed against my legs. Maybe while I’m talking to her I can ask what I’m supposed to do with the rocks.

The medical group from the chopper had entered the barn, so I trotted over to the lodge, my prosthetic leg squeaking with each step.

All the guests and a few staff were seated in the main lodge. Everyone stopped speaking and stared at me as I entered.

Low profile. I did an about-face to leave when Roy came in behind me, blocking my exit. “There you are. I just went looking for you.” Roy turned to the group. “The medivac will take Riccardo and his mother, and Mr. Rinaldi has arranged for a second helicopter to pick him up and take him to the hospital in Idaho Falls. Mrs. Eason, you indicated you wanted to leave with your daughter, Lauryn, as did you, Mrs. Kendig. Mr. Rinaldi has offered seats in his helicopter to all of you. You’ll have to arrange to get your cars from Targhee Falls. Or you can go with Liam”—he pointed to the young man—“who will be taking the supply wagon back to town.”