Dan paused on his way down the stairs to process what he'd just done. After the fortieth stitch he stopped counting and switched to praying he hadn't been wrong and he really did have enough thread to make a bedspread or sew his son back together. Muriel had given Laurel a sleeping pill and was watching over her while Hugh watched over Jackson. He needed a little time to clear his head. Jackson was alive and with them; that's all that mattered.

From the stairs he could see out over the great room. It was cozy and warm with its twelve foot Christmas tree and the old fashioned, traditional decorations around the windows and fireplace mantel. It was a lovely scene straight out of an old movie. Yes, a cozy room that turned frigid once Mara made her announcements and threw everything into turmoil.

Mara. He exhaled slowly, he hadn't thought about her, he hadn't even worried about her. What was worse – he felt no remorse about it. Still, how could they tell her parents? What would they tell her parents? Maybe Westerby had found her alive and they were in the kitchen now. He took what he hoped was his last look at the great room until they left tomorrow and headed for the kitchen.

When Dan entered the room he found Molly and Todd at the counter, steaming cups of tea in their hands. Whatever had been previously cooking for dinner was set aside, untouched, in serving bowls for anyone who felt like eating.

Westerby was at the kitchen table, wet, scowling and taking a long drag on a joint. Dan's glance slid over the young people and settled on Westerby as he spoke.

"Jackson's okay for now but we need to get him to the hospital tomorrow."

Molly turned to bury her face in Todd's embrace, her soft sobs made Westerby nod in approval. "At least some good news," he said.

Dan looked at him. The man looked all in but there was a spark. "You found Mara?" He asked.

Westerby took another drag, looked at the joint in his hand and waved it at Dan. "What do you think?"

Dan sighed. He didn't want to hear the particulars, he was sure he already knew them. "I don't know what to think anymore."

"That makes two of us." Westerby rubbed at his face, then snubbed the joint out in an old, empty tuna can.

Dan slowly sat down across from him. "Where is she?"

"You're a doctor, right?"

"Veterinarian."

"You'll do." Westerby pointed at Molly and Todd. "You two stay here. Eat something, and take food to the others. If you're going to be watching over your friend you need to keep your strength up. You? You come with me, Doc."

Dan followed him outside and around the lodge to the back entrance of an attached café's kitchen. The temperature had dropped considerably and there was a smell of snow in the air. He hoped it wouldn't fall until they were finally off the mountain. Driving down the road was scary enough without the added stress of his injured son in the back.

Once inside the café kitchen Westerby lead him to a large stainless steel door against the wall. From the looks of it it could only be a walk in refrigerator or freezer.

Dan hesitated. "You brought her back?"

"That medical kit I gave you had a couple body bags in it, too. At least I was dragging her downhill, it was hell but I wasn't going to leave her to the animals. Have you ever seen a dead body before, and I'm not talking about your grandma at her funeral?"

The older man nodded.

"Well, hmm, well, I'm sorry to ask you to look but, you're a doctor…"

"Veterinarian," Dan corrected him.

"My point is, you've got medical knowledge none of the others have and right now, I need it."

"Why?"

"Because her injuries look deliberate."

Dan stared at him, rapid fire thoughts colliding against others, confusion doubled back on itself and gave him a sharp pain behind his left eye. Unconsciously he touched his left temple.

"Jackson would never…"

Westerby stopped him. "I'm not saying he did, so hold on there. I'm saying something's wrong and I need a second opinion. I was an MP in the army for ten years and what we've got in this freezer isn't right. Okay?"

Dan took a deep breath and let it out slowly to center himself. "Well, someone has to identify her. I guess it may as well be me. Open the door."

Westerby did so and for the next hour the two men examined Mara, trying not to compromise anything for the police and medical examiners who would conduct a proper exam once her body was taken off the mountain.