“Kat, would you mind taking another look at the map?” said Dr. Wolfe. “If I’d known the phone signal in these parts was so nonexistent, I’d have brought the GPS from my own car. It would have been comforting to have it, especially with night closing in.”
Harper fervently agreed. The sky had turned the color of a bruised plum. The clouds were swollen with dark intent. Crosswinds played tug-of-war with the car. The chef at the Full-Belly Deli had been right. A nor’easter was moving in.
Kat wrestled once more with a map that took up the whole of the back seat. “Got it! We’re on Mohawk Road heading west.”
Harper twisted around. “That can’t be right or we’d be halfway up a mountain. Also, we’re heading north. Let me have a go at finding it.”
“I’ll pull over,” said Dr. Wolfe, trying to ignore the orange warning light that kept flickering on the dashboard. “We’ll search for it together.”’
She parked on the shoulder and switched off the engine. “Harper, pass me Ross Ryan’s directions to the cabin. Hmm, they seem straightforward enough: ‘Take the second left after mile marker twelve on the A road to Blue Mountain Lake. Proceed slowly along Otter Creek Road to Mirror Lake. After you cross Deadwood Bridge, the road forks. You can’t miss the sign for Nightingale Lodge. There are no near neighbors. True isolation! Happy holidays!’”
Kat’s phone suddenly blinked into life. So, for a minute, did Google Maps. “Good news! We’re on the A road to Blue Mountain Lake.”
“And there’s mile marker nine right there.” Harper lowered the window to point. Icy air gusted in with enough force to shake the car. Hastily, she shut it out. “Only five miles to our cabin.”
Dr. Wolfe laughed with relief. “Oh, thank goodness. For a moment, I was a little worried.”
She turned the key in the ignition. Nothing happened.
She tried again.
And again.
“Why won’t it start?” Harper asked anxiously.
Dr. Wolfe dug out the manual for the Chevrolet and started paging through it. “Could be the alternator … or the battery … or the starter. Whichever, we need a mechanic. Unhelpfully, my phone hasn’t worked since I dropped it at the hotel this morning. Kat, do you still have a signal?”
Kat did. What she couldn’t do was reach the operator at All-Star Roadside Assistance, the company used by Ross Ryan.
“You are … eleventh … in line,” said the recorded message. “Due to a high volume of callouts, our valued customers may have to wait longer for help. Thank you for your patience and understanding … You are … eleventh … in line … Due to a high volume…”
While Kat held on for a human, her mum used Harper’s phone to dial the caretaker at Nightingale Lodge.
Annette Brody answered on the first ring. The signal was weak and intermittent. Dr. Wolfe put the call on speakerphone as they all strained to hear.
“You poor, poor things,” said Mrs. Brody when she learned they might be hours late. “What a welcome to the Adirondacks, and what a shame to arrive just as we belatedly learn that a winter storm is on the way … Tell you what, why don’t you send … food … warmth … fire…”
“Excuse me?” puzzled Dr. Wolfe.
“My … jet will be coming your way … thirty minutes … toddler twins…”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that. Did you say your jet is on its way?”
Gales of distorted laughter issued from the speaker. “If only! I said my nephew Jet will be driving your way in about thirty minutes … Twin girls … Truck with a tow bar. Give you a ride to the local gas station … Wait for help in safety and warmth.”
“Bless you,” said Dr. Wolfe. “However, I’m not sure what time the roadside assistance people will show up…”
“That’s why I’m suggesting you send the girls on ahead to Nightingale Lodge. Jet can drop them off. Give him the directions … Never been here … I’ll be at the cabin till…”
The connection went down, redialing several times.
When it reconnected, Mrs. Brody was in full flow. “Refrigerator full of food, a crackling fire, books, and games … join them as soon as your vehicle’s fixed.”
“You’re too kind,” said Dr. Wolfe. “If you’re sure we won’t be imposing on Jet, that would be tremendous, especially if nasty weather is moving in. Knowing that the girls are safely in the cabin while I deal with the car would be a huge weight off my mind.”