“If we hadn’t surrendered our phones in Targhee Falls, we’d just have to find a place with cell service,” Darby muttered. “I bet you wish you’d caught that helicopter ride earlier today.”

Bram froze. Helicopter. He closed his eyes. What about the copter? He pictured it landing. The blades slowing. The pilot had nodded at him and the copilot had given a salute. Bram shook his head. Focus. He had been ready to climb aboard when Darby caught his attention. He’d gone into the lodge to the art room. He’d heard the rotors ramping up and he’d run to catch his ride, arriving outside just as the copter flew away.

What was so critical? He went over the events again. The third time he tried going through the events backward. The copter flew away . . . he’d caught a glimpse of the pilot, looking the other way.

No copilot.

A jolt went through him. “Did anyone watch the second copter leave?”

“I was in the barn,” Roy said. “Then Wyatt found me and we walked to the pasture.”

“That was about the time the horses broke through the fence,” Wyatt said. “Why are you asking?”

“Because someone got off. Someone we haven’t seen since.”

Chapter 17

I found myself holding my breath and staring at Bram. “Do you think that’s who’s out there? Not the missing staffer, who suddenly went postal?”

“It could be both.” Bram rubbed his chin, now sprouting a five o’clock shadow. “I don’t know.”

“Why would someone fly out here just to murder a bunch of innocent people?” I asked.

Bram turned to Roy. “So I have to ask, do you have any enemies? Anyone that would want to hurt you or destroy the Mule Shoe?”

Roy was silent for a moment. “No. And really, it’s not about me now.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“He sold Mule Shoe.” Bram kept his eyes on the older man. “Roy, you said no one knows about the sale outside of the buyer and agent. We have to assume this is about you. So my question still stands.”

Roy shook his head. “I don’t have any enemies that I know of. I just know a crazy person is out there.” He pivoted and stalked to the lobby.

“Now what?” I asked Bram. “We need to get help.”

“Not tonight, though,” Bram said. “There are more than a million and a half acres of wilderness between us and help. We can’t afford to get lost. We’ll head out at dawn.”

Liam sauntered into the room with yet another beer. When he noticed me staring at him, he shrugged. “No way I’m going to let these beers go to waste. Gotta drink ’em when they’re cold.”

Bram moved to the middle of the lobby. “Listen, folks, we’re going to ride out to get help—”

“You’re not leaving me—”

“There’s a killer out—”