“Would you like something to drink?” Seri says suddenly.
Yeah, I guess those words work well.
“Yes, please.”
“Well,” Seri says with a sheepish smile, “there’s water, whiskey, and maybe some electrolyte fluids.” She laughs loudly. “Is it too early for the whiskey?”
“Water would be great,” Margot says. She takes off her parka and hangs it on one of the hooks by the door.
“I’m the one who needs the whiskey,” I mutter.
“What was that?” Seri asks.
“Nothing.”
Margot removes her parka while Seri pours water.
“A Christmas tree?” Margot raises an eyebrow at me. “Since when do you celebrate a holiday?”
“Her idea.” I point my thumb at Seri. “I have nothing to do with this.”
“I didn’t even realize it was Christmas already,” Seri says with a bright smile. She hands Margot the glass. “It’s rather easy to lose track of time up here, and Bishop is allergic to clocks and calendars.”
Margot laughs.
“I am not.” I scowl at her. “I just don’t see the point. I know it’s spring when it gets warmer.”
“You know the hunting season dates,” Margot says.
“Yeah, and once the weather warms up, I’ll bother looking up the date.”
“So what brings you out here, Margot?” Seri asks.
“Well,” Margot says as she runs a finger around the rim of her glass, “it’s about that man who is looking for you.”
“Oh.” Seri goes quiet as she drops her gaze to the floor.
“He left the B and B shortly after I spoke with you,” Margot says, “and I thought that might be the end of it. But he’s back here now. I’m not sure why. I just know he’s started putting up flyers.”
“Flyers of me?” Seri’s hands start to shake, and she sits down on the chair with a thud. “I don’t understand. How does he know I’m in the area?”
“He doesn’t.” I walk over and place my hand on her shoulder. “He just doesn’t know where else to look.”
“He’s changed the story as well,” Margot says. “When he came to the clinic, he said she was wanted in the States—drug trafficking. Amanda asked him if he had filed a report with the Mounties, and he dodged the question.”
“He isn’t going to want the police involved,” I say. “They wouldn’t just look into her past; they would also look into his.”
“I think you’re right,” Margot says. “It seems he’s made a few people nervous. Everyone around Whatì is talking about him.”
“They love stranger-gossip,” I say. “They talked about me for months, and I lived with you.”
“Everyone knows everyone’s business around here.” Margot shrugs. “Something different is something to talk about. You know how it is. The point is, if anyone sees her, they’re going to recognize her now.”
“I told you he’d fucking find us.”
I take a deep breath before I glance down to Iris’s blazing eyes staring back up at me. She stands and places her hands on her hips.
“How the fuck does he know, huh? We aren’t safe here, are we?”