“What time is it?” I ask.
“Not late,” Nate says. “The wind has calmed down outside, and I think the snow has stopped. We should try to get back to the house.”
“What if they’re there?”
“I’ll deal with them if they are. They can’t surprise me again.”
The snow has partially blocked the door to the outhouse, and Nate pushes against it with both feet until it finally gives way. Though the sun has nearly set, the bright white snow outside the darkened building is enough to blind me for a moment, and I rub at my eyes to clear them.
“Looks clear,” Nate says as he peers out. “I don’t see anyone around, and the storm has passed.”
“Do you think we should go back to my house, or should we call the police?”
“The police?” Nate glances at me out of the corner of his eye. “Are you serious?”
“Well, someone was shooting at us,” I say. “I mean, I guess…I don’t know what the proper procedure is for gangsters. I know Pablo would have called them, though.”
“Gangsters!” Nate shakes his head and grins at me. “You need a better word. Besides, how many cops are there in Accident?”
“Like, in Accident? None. The county sheriff has to come up from down south.”
“How about you just let me handle it, then?”
“What does that mean?”
“It means getting to your car and getting my gun, for starters.”
“Oh.”
Nate takes my hand, and we make our way through the snow toward my house. Nate moves his head from side to side, looking for anyone who might be after us, but there isn’t a soul to be found in the area. Between the Drane House and my Accident residence, there are only fields, a pond, and the doctor’s office where I received my as yet unshared news. I don’t even see any signs of another person until we get closer to my house, and a car moves slowly down the slick street.
“Is that them?” I ask, grabbing Nate’s arm.
“No. The car I saw before was black. I think they’ve been here and gone.”
“They’ve been here? To my house?”
“In your house.” Nate points to the back door, which is slightly open, and I can see footprints leading from the front of the house to the back door. He quickly fishes through his overnight bag and grabs a sleek, black handgun. “I know we didn’t leave the door that way. Stay here.”
I’m not about to stay by myself, so I keep behind Nate as he walks cautiously up to the house and peers inside the door. I look down at the partially covered prints in the snow. I can see prints both coming and going, but I’m not sure how many.
Nate looks through the house, gun drawn, but he finds no one inside.
“They were obviously here at some point,” he says, “but they’ve left. Is there anything missing?”
“Not that I can see from here.” I look around, wondering what they might have taken.
“I’m surprised the place isn’t turned upside down,” Nate says.
“Should we even be in here?” I ask. “I mean, isn’t this the first place they’re going to look for us?”
“Assuming they are still in town, yes,” Nate says. “They were betting on a surprise attack, and that didn’t work out so well for them, so they may have backed off.”
“What will they do next?”
“Plan again?” Nate shrugs. “I don’t know for sure, but it is best we finish up here and get back home where we have more support. I hope we aren’t in for a dozen more clues to the treasure. I’ve had about enough of this mystery game.”
“Well, let’s check the bookcase, then.”