Chapter Five #2
She stopped at patrol headquarters to kennel Sky, while Angel took up her post in Liam’s backpack. “Marlena mentioned she’d like some shots of you interacting with the ski school kids,” he said as they rode up the lift. “She said she’d make sure all the parents signed photo releases.”
“Good idea.” She scanned the runs below, then pointed. “There’s a group over there.”
They exited the lift at the top and headed toward the group of children in bright parkas and helmets who trailed behind a lanky instructor. “Hey, Nina,” the young man said when she and Liam joined the group.
“Hello, Arlen. Can we take some photos with the kids?”
Arlen—a tall, thin man in his early twenties with a long face and prominent nose—surveyed the group of eight-to ten-year-old boys and girls. “What do you think, kids? Want to take a break and hang out with Miss Nina and her friend? Get your picture taken?”
“Yeah!” a little girl shouted. The others joined in.
Liam moved closer to the instructor. “Do they all have signed photo releases?”
Arlen nodded. “Marlena made sure we got all that taken care of last week. Most of the parents were thrilled with the idea that their kids might be in an ad for the resort.”
By the time Liam had his camera ready, the children had gathered around Nina, who was leading them in a game of Simon Says. “Simon says touch your nose. Simon says stand on one ski and touch your nose. Now stick out your tongue. Oh, no—I didn’t say Simon says!”
The children giggled and shouted and gestured. Then they crowded around Nina as she handed out trading cards that featured a photo of Sky. Liam circled her, the camera shutter clicking. Some of the tension went out of her as she laughed with the children.
Then she became aware of other skiers stopping and moving in to watch. She glanced past the children, studying the figures in helmets, parkas and goggles. Was Nicholson one of them? How could she tell?
One man in particular moved closer, until he was standing almost beside her. Heart racing, Nina edged away. Then Liam stepped forward. “You need to stand back,” he told the man.
“I just want to make sure my little girl is in the shot.” The man gestured to a freckled little girl.
“Dad!” The girl shrank back.
“Don’t be shy,” the man urged. “Get up here next to Nina. You could be famous.”
Liam lowered the camera and scowled at the man. “We’re done here,” he said.
“No, you can take a few more shots,” the man said. “Come on, Madison. Stand next to Nina.”
Nina forced herself to relax. She gestured to the little girl. “It’s okay,” she said. “Come stand beside me. Just one photo.” She sent Liam a pleading look.
He took the photo, and other children surged forward, all wanting photos with Nina.
She ended up posing with each of the children in turn.
Liam took the pictures, though he clearly wasn’t happy about it.
“I’m not a resort photographer selling souvenir photos,” he muttered after the children had lined up once more behind Arlen and skied away.
“Did you see anyone else suspicious?” she asked.
“No. Did you?”
She shook her head. “I didn’t feel anything, either. But he left those notes, so that means he’s still here. He’s just waiting for the right time.”
“To do what?” Liam asked. “He couldn’t grab you here on the ski slopes. There are too many people around.”
“He would probably come up and start talking to me like any other fan—getting off on the fact that I was freaking out.”
“If he did that, you could call the sheriff,” Liam said. “I did some research last night. One of the terms of Nicholson’s parole is that he has to stay at least a hundred yards away from you.”
“I doubt he cares about that.” She shook off the dread that clutched at her chest and planted her poles. “Come on. I need some exercise.”
They skied to the bottom of the run and rode the lift back up. Liam took more pictures, both video and still shots. The crowds were thinning out, and she began to relax more. Liam was right—Nicholson might try to frighten her out here, but he couldn’t do anything in such a public space.
They moved to another lift, and she set out to ski a favorite blue run, one that featured a roller coaster set of hills.
She gained speed as she descended each slope, then slowed as she climbed the next hill.
With so many guests on the slopes she couldn’t go as fast as she might like, but she enjoyed the rising and falling sensation and relaxed into a gentle rhythm.
She crested the next-to-last hill on the run, then braked hard as a figure on a snowboard shot across the slope and collided with a skier farther down.
The skier, in a pink ski suit and helmet, flew into the air and landed hard on their back, then lay still.
The snowboarder skidded to a stop, stared, then took off.
“Hey! Stop!” Nina shouted. She sped up. “Ski Patrol!”
But the boarder paid no attention. Nina plowed to a stop next to the skier, who writhed on the snow, moaning. Liam was right behind her. “I saw the whole thing,” he said. “That boarder just left.”
“I need to take care of her.” Nina knelt beside the skier, a teen girl, who stared up at her with frightened eyes. “I don’t have a radio,” Nina said. “You’ll need to flag down help.”
Liam took off. “I’m a ski patroller,” Nina said to the girl. “Tell me what hurts.”
“My shoulder.” The girl grimaced and moved as if to sit up.
“Lie still.” Nina gently urged her to lie back down. “Does your neck hurt? Or your head?”
“My head.” The girl closed her eyes.
Two men stopped. “I’ve got her skis,” one said, and held up the pair of skis.
“Set them up the hill a ways, crossed and standing upright,” Nina instructed. “And pile any other belongings next to her.” She surveyed the few bystanders who had stopped. “Are any of you with her?”
A man skied up, snow flying as he plowed to a stop. “I’m her brother,” he said. “Layla, what happened?”
“Somebody hit me,” the girl said, her eyes still closed.
“Ski Patrol. Let us through, please.” Brian and Raz arrived, Brian towing a toboggan.
“That was fast,” Nina said. “Liam must have found you right away.”