Chapter 75
Maggie faced Vilhelm. The cabin was dim and airless. The faint scent of ash lingered, along with the smell of something animal brought in on his clothes.
Vilhelm was sitting with his arms folded across his chest, plaid shirt buttoned to his neck. He watched her with interest, the faintest smile on thin lips.
Maggie could feel the tick of her pulse in her throat. Even before he spoke, she understood. She could see his backpack at his feet—knew that it was bags of cocaine that caused it to strain at the buckles.
He unfolded his arms, setting his wide, filthy hands on his thighs. The wooden chair complained as he leaned forward. “I told you to turn back,” Vilhelm said, tone disappointed. “But you didn’t listen.”
Her muscles stiffened.
“I even warned you about Blafjell.”
“Thin places . . . elementals . . . ,” she whispered. “A lie.”
A cold smile. “Maybe. Maybe not. Doesn’t hurt for people to be unsure about what they see up here.”
All the time he had been playing them . . .
“But you ignored my warnings. You got involved in something you shouldn’t.” He shook his head, sighing a cold tsk. He pushed to his feet, unfolding the full height of him. “Just like Karin did.”
Her blood ran cool.
“Now you and your friends have left a mess for me to clean up.”
Her scalp prickled. “I don’t have the cocaine. It’s gone.”
He adjusted the peak of his cap. “Now, that is a problem.”