They emerged on the other side of the ridge.
Daniel's truck was still there.
But someone had slashed the tires.
He looked at Eli.
“We're walking.”
They began moving south.
After two miles, Eli stumbled.
Daniel caught him.
“I'm sorry.”
“For what?”
“For bringing you into this.”
Daniel looked at the boy.
“You didn't bring me into anything.”
“Yes, I did.”
“No.”
Daniel knelt.
“Your mother came to me because she trusted me.”
Eli looked at him.
“Why would she trust you?”
Daniel smiled sadly.
“Because twenty years ago, I saved her life.”
Eli's eyes widened.
“You knew my mother?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
Daniel looked toward the mountains.
“She was investigating the same people then.”
“Did you help her?”
“I thought I did.”
Daniel's voice became quiet.
“But I didn't realize how much danger she was in.”
Eli looked down.
“Maybe she's dead.”
Daniel shook his head.
“Don't say that.”
“But what if she is?”
“Then we find out the truth.”
They continued walking.
Neither noticed the man watching them from the ridge.
Victor Hale lowered his binoculars.
Then he smiled.
“They're heading exactly where Anna expected.”
THE MAN WHO HAD BEEN WAITING
Daniel and Eli reached an abandoned ranger station after sunset.
The building had no electricity, but it had a wood stove.
Daniel started a fire.
Eli sat beside it wrapped in a blanket.
For the first time since they had met, the boy looked exhausted rather than terrified.
Daniel opened a can of beans.
They ate in silence.
Then Eli asked:
“Are you afraid?”
Daniel looked at him.
“Yes.”
Eli seemed surprised.
“You're an adult.”
Daniel laughed softly.
“Adults are afraid too.”
“But you don't look afraid.”
“That's because I've had practice.”
Eli smiled.
Daniel stared into the fire.
After a while, Eli fell asleep.
Daniel remained awake.
He thought about Margaret.
He remembered the last night of her life.
She had held his hand in the hospital.
“Don't become a lonely old man,” she had whispered.
He had promised.
And then she died.
Daniel had broken that promise.
For six years, he had built walls around himself.
He had convinced himself he was protecting his peace.
But now a frightened child had walked through those walls without even knocking.
Daniel looked at Eli.
The boy was sleeping with one hand closed around the metal key.
Daniel smiled.
Then he heard a branch break outside.
He reached for his flashlight.
“Who's there?”
No answer.
Daniel moved toward the door.
A voice spoke from the darkness.
“Daniel.”
He froze.
It was a woman's voice.
Daniel opened the door.
A woman stood beneath the trees.
Her hair was wet.
Her face was bruised.
She was thin and exhausted.
Daniel stared.
“Anna?”
She nodded.
Daniel couldn't speak.
Anna looked past him.
“Where is Eli?”
“Asleep.”
She closed her eyes.
For several seconds, she simply breathed.
Then she stepped inside.
Daniel locked the door.
Anna knelt beside Eli.
She touched his hair.
The boy woke.
“Mom?”
Anna pulled him into her arms.
Eli began crying.
“I thought you were dead.”
“I almost was.”
Daniel watched them.
Then Anna looked at him.
“Thank you.”
“You sent him to me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you're the only person I trusted.”
Daniel shook his head.
“Why didn't you go to the police?”
“Because the sheriff is working for Victor.”
“I saw him.”
Anna nodded.
“There are more.”
“How many?”
“Enough.”
Daniel sat down.
“Tell me everything.”
Anna looked at Eli.
Then at the blue key.
“The people Victor works for have been stealing land from families for twenty years.”
Daniel listened.
“They create fake debts. They manipulate records. They bribe officials. When people refuse to sell, they threaten them.”
“And the evidence?”
Anna looked at Eli.
“The memory card contains recordings.”
“Of whom?”
“Everyone.”
Daniel understood.
“That could destroy them.”
“Yes.”
“Then why not take it to federal authorities?”
“I tried.”
“What happened?”
“They killed the agent I contacted.”
Silence filled the room.
Daniel looked at Eli.
“What's the plan?”
Anna smiled faintly.
“There is no plan anymore.”
“What?”
“I was supposed to get Eli out of the state.”
She looked toward the window.
“They found us too quickly.”
Daniel stood.
“Then we'll make a new plan.”
Anna shook her head.
“You don't understand.”
“I understand enough.”
“They will kill you.”
Daniel looked at Eli.
Then back at Anna.
“Twenty years ago, I promised myself I'd never get involved in something like this again.”
Anna stared at him.
“But?”
Daniel smiled.
“But I seem to have developed a bad habit of opening my door.”
Anna laughed through her tears.
For the first time, Daniel saw hope return to her face.
But before they could continue, headlights appeared outside.
Several vehicles.
Anna stood.
“They found us.”
Daniel looked at the small ranger station.
There was no way out.
Then he remembered something.
An old emergency tunnel beneath the floor.
He grabbed a lantern.
“Follow me.”
They lifted the wooden boards.
A narrow passage appeared.
The three crawled inside.
Behind them, the front door exploded inward.