Chapter 5

Boone stepped into the shed. The plow's headlights threw his shadow long across the floor. He had the tire iron. He walked past the workbench, past the coil of chain, past the tarp where I'd hidden the mirror.

"I know you're in here," he said. "You're barefoot. You're pregnant. You're not going anywhere."

I was behind the bulldozer. My hand was over the handheld. I pressed the transmit button twice. Marnie's voice came back, low. "I'm here."

"He's in the shed," I breathed.

"Don't let him take the handheld."

Boone turned. "Who you talking to?"

I didn't answer. I crawled under the bulldozer. The cold metal bit my back. Boone's boots stopped a yard away.

"You think Marnie's going to save you?" he said. "Marnie's the one who told me to take Notch Road. She's in it as deep as I am."

My blood went cold. I keyed the handheld. "Marnie, is that true?"

Silence. Then: "He's lying."

"Then tell me what you told him that night."

"I told him to take the main road. I told him to be careful. I told him you were home."

"You just said you told him to take Notch Road."

The silence stretched. Boone laughed. "You hear that, Marnie? She's putting it together."

"Shut up," I whispered.

"Company rules," Boone said. "That's what Marnie always says. Company rules. Company paid the family. Company fixed the log. Company's going to fix you too."

I rolled out from under the bulldozer. I had the pry bar in my hand. Boone turned. I swung it at his knee. He grunted and staggered. I ran for the door.

He caught my coat. I twisted out of it. The handheld fell. I grabbed it. He grabbed my ankle. I kicked him in the face. My sock came off in his hand. I scrambled out into the snow.

The plow was right there. The door was open. The keys were in the ignition. I could have taken it. But Boone was already up. He was coming. I ran for the tree line instead.

"Marnie," I gasped. "You told him to take Notch Road. You logged it as routine. You knew."

"I didn't know he'd hit the bus."

"You knew after."

"I was scared."

"You're still scared."

"Yes."

"Then choose," I said. "Choose now."

Marnie's voice cracked. "Don't make me choose."

The plow engine roared. Boone was behind the wheel. Headlights swung across the snow. I ran.