Chapter 4

The skier moved from side to side down the small training course, going this way and that, using the techniques she had been taught. Soon, she was at the bottom.

Eric clapped his hands. "I think you're getting the hang of it."

Cara pulled off her helmet. "Yeah, after falling on my ass half a dozen times." Her rear end was still hurting from the last fall. "I think that's enough for one day." They returned their gear to the rental counter and started to make their way back to the guest quarters.

"You know," said Eric, "those were some moves you did out there today."

"I'm just a beginner."

"No, I mean when you saved Sheila today."

"Oh."

"Where'd you learn to do that?"

"Uh, from someone. A long time ago." Cara said, nervously.

"Griffin and I were really impressed."

"Griffin?" she asked. "Was that the man you were with when we got here?"

"Yeah."

"How long has he been working here?"

"About ten years now. He's Pete's right hand man. Wait…you don't think Griffin's been behind all this, do you?"

"I've seen him lurking around after our cabin was vandalized, and when the ski lift was damaged."

"Griffin Thompson wouldn't do anything to sabotage the resort. He's like an uncle to me. He loves this place as much my grandpa did."

She saw that Eric was beginning to get upset. He wouldn't be much help on getting any information about Griffin if he was angry. "Okay. I was just wondering. Maybe it was just a coincidence."

Eric smiled. "It's okay. Hey, I know how you can make it up to me."

"How?"

"Let me take you out to dinner. I'd like to get to know you better."

"Oh, I…um…"

Eric stopped walking. "What?"

Cara gulped. "Eric, you're a really nice guy but…"

"I'm not your type?"

"No. It's just…." She sighed. "I just got out of a really bad relationship."

"How bad?"

"Really bad." Cara looked away from him. Alex Harrison still haunted her nightmares.

"Is he the one who gave you that?" Eric reached out and took the quarter-sized star pendant into his hand. Cara nodded. "It's pretty. So are you." He reached up to touch her cheek. She almost flinched, remembering the hard slap Alex had given her. Eric shook his head.

"The guy must have been a real jerk. I'm sorry. You don't deserve a guy like that. Take all the time you need."

"Thanks." she said, relieved to be going back.

Michael had just finished putting wood into the cabin's fireplace, when there was a knock. He got up and went to the door. "Amy."

"Hello, Michael." She was carrying a tray. "I thought I'd come over and drop these brownies off. My way of thanking Cara for saving the Hamlin's daughter this afternoon."

"Oh, here. Come on in." He closed the door behind her. "Cara's still out with Eric, but they should be back soon."

"Is it okay if I wait?"

"Sure." Michael snatched a brownie off the tray. "These are good. Can I get you anything?"

Amy shook her head, and put some more wood into the fire as Michael got a glass of water. "I should thank you too, Michael. For the way you stood up to Jerry yesterday."

"No need to."

"Jerry's never been one to take no for an answer."

"How long has he been on your case to give up the resort?" He brought over a glass for her.

"Ever since Dad died. Thanks." she said, taking it from him. "It's funny."

"What?"

"My brother's never shown an interest inthis place until my father's death. He couldn't have cared less about him or this land, and now he's interested."

"You're right. You know, Pete was with Jerry yesterday. What trail was he going to show him?"

"Oh, that? He meant the trail he and my father used to take up Dusty's Peak. Pete still has some of his camping equipment up there."

"And Jerry didn't know about it?"

"Not very many people do. Why?"

"If it's okay with you," said Michael, "I'd like to follow him up there. Just to make sure Pete doesn't cause any more problems before he leaves.

"Alright." Amy looked at him. "You know, Michael, this is the first time I've felt safe since my father passed away. Promise you'll be careful."

"I promise." He reached over and took her hand. They put their arms around each other and began to kiss.

Cara and Eric opened the door and walked in. "Dad?"

"Aunt Amy?"

Michael and Amy looked over and stood up, straightening their clothes. "Ah, what are you two doing back already?"

"It was getting late." said Cara. "So we…decided to head back."

Eric smirked at his aunt. "And you tell me not to come on to the guests."

"Ahem. Well, I suppose it's time we started to head back, too. Cara, I've made you some brownies. I left them over there. Thanks again for saving Sheila today."

"You're welcome, Miss O'Rourke."

"So." She turned to Michael and shook his hand. "Goodnight?"

"Goodnight." Eric and Cara said good-bye as well, and Michael shut the door. "Cara, I can explain."

"You don't have to, Dad. It's alright."

"It doesn't change how I felt about your mother, or how I feel about you."

"I know. My mother would have wanted you to move on, Michael. She wouldn't want you to mourn her forever."

Michael glanced down. "Truth is, I still do. Everyday. Even when I was with Stevie…I still miss her." He looked up at her. "But Diane gave me one hell of a gift to remember her by." He walked over and put a hand on her shoulder. "I was really proud of the way you handled yourself today."

"Thanks. But proud enough to give me harder cases?"

"Don't push it." Michael placed a kiss on her forehead and ruffled her hair. "I'm going to bed."

"Okay. I'm just going to stay up and read for a while."

"Not too long, alright?"

"Alright. Night, Dad."

"Night, sweetheart." He hugged her and headed off to his bedroom.

Cara looked around the living room and realized she had left her book on Star's passenger seat. She put her jacket on and headed outside.

As she shut the door, she noticed Griffin nearby. He was loading something into his truck and making sure no one was around. Cara pretended not to be interested as he got in. She walked over to Star and opened the driver's side.

"And where do you think you're going at this late hour?" asked the black car next to her.

"Just for a drive."

"At this time of night with a maniac on the loose? I think not."

"Please, Kitt? Just for an hour?"

He considered it. "All right. Half an hour. And I'm coming to look for you if you've not returned by then."

"Half and hour. Got it. Thanks, Kitt." She hopped inside of Star and followed Griffin's truck out of the parking lot, putting some distance between them.

They followed Griffin in silent mode. "Why are we following this man?" asked Star.

"I think he knows something about the incidents back at the resort. Let's see if he's up to anything."

Griffin pulled onto an off road campsite near the trail. Cara pulled up quietly, out of sight. They watched as he got out and waited. Then, a small blue car pulled up and a young man got out.

"That's Eric."

"Star, can you use your audio recorder?"

"At this distance?"

"Just try it. I want to know what they're saying." Star rolled closer and transmitted the conversation.

"Were you followed?" asked Griffin.

"No. You?"

"Huh-uh. That damn girl got in the way. Would have had the other family runnin' scared it weren't for her."

"So what do we do now?" asked Eric.

"Don't worry. We've got something really big planned for tomorrow. Amy won't have a choice but to sell. Just make sure you're here at sun up, got it?"

"Got it." Both men got into their vehicles and drove away in different directions.

"Did you get all that, Star?"

"Yes, I did. What do you think they've got planned?"

"I don't know," said Cara, "but it can't be good. Star, I want you to do background checks on Eric O'Rourke and a Mr. Griffin Thompson. See if that will give us any clues as to what they're up to."

"It could take a while. Shouldn't we tell Michael?"

She thought about it. "No. He's fast asleep by now. We'll tell him first thing in the morning. Just check to see if you can find anything."

"Yes, Cara."

They pulled up in front of the cabin and Cara got out. "Kitt?"

"Aww. He's powered down."

"Shh. Don't wake him." Cara walked over and cleared some of the snow from him, then patted his hood. "Night, Kitt." He awoke for a brief moment to see her make it inside, then powered back down.

Cara sat in front of the fireplace. She would tell Michael all she had learned when she first say him. She yawned. 'Well, maybe a quick nap wouldn't hurt.' She sat down on the couch and closed her eyes.

Early the next day, Eric met Griffin and another man at the campsite. "Well all ready?"

"Ready." said Griffin. "Now we just gotta make it up the trail near the top."

"You still haven't told me what we're going to do."

"Don't worry. You'll know soon. So will everyone else back there." Griffin turned and pulled the cover off the box in his truck. The letters on the box read T N T.

Michael got dressed and made his way into the small kitchen of the cabin. He poured himself a cup of coffee and noticed his daughter sleeping on the couch. He walked over.

"Cara?" She was fast asleep. Michael had her lay back against a pillow and covered her with a blanket. He kissed the top of her head. "See you when I get back, sweetheart." He exited the cabin quietly.

Once outside, he noticed Pete Higley getting in his car. Michael got inside of Kitt. "Okay, pal. Let's follow him."

She was standing at the bottom of a mountain. A large roar was heard. She turned and saw her father duck as a large wave of white came towards them.

"Dad!" she screamed as they were covered.

Cara instantly sat up. What a nightmare. Thank goodness she and her father were…. "Dad?"

There was no answer. She looked around the cabin. "Dad?" She even checked his bedroom. "Michael?" She saw that his jacket was gone. She grabbed her own and ran outside.

Cara noticed Kitt was gone as well. "Star, do you know which way Michael and Kitt went?"

She used her long range tracking scope. "It looks as though they're headed for Dusty's Peak."

"Oh no." Cara jumped in. "We've got to stop them." They took off for the mountain.

Michael pulled up near the campsite, where there were other vehicles besides Pete's.

"It looks like we're not the only ones here." said Kitt.

"Yeah, but Amy said not many people knew about this trail. Okay. I'm going to check it out. Keep your scanners peeled, will ya?"

"Of course, Michael."

Michael slowly made his way onto the trail and started to make his way up to the small plateau of the mountainside.

Cara pulled up shortly after and got out. "Kitt, where's Michael?"

"Cara, what are you doing here?"

"Never mind. Where is he?"

"He's already on the trail." He watched as she started to hike up. "Where are you going?"

"To find Michael."

"I'm coming with you." Kitt followed behind her.

Griffin was unloading the explosives when he saw someone coming from down below. "Boss, we got company."

"Who?" Jerry looked down and saw Michael. "Him again? Get rid of him."

"Right."

"Dad, do we really have to do it this way?" asked Eric. "It just doesn't seem right."

"Look, Eric. Once we get our hands on this mountain, we'll be set for life. You want that new car don't ya?"

"Well…yeah, but…"

"Don't ya?"

"Yeah, Pop."

"Good. Now go help Griffin set off the explosives." Both men hurried and soon they were detonated.

Kitt's surveillance system suddenly took notice. "Cara, there's some sort of disturbance a few miles ahead."

"What is it?"

His monitors showed snow coming from the top of the mountain. "It's an avalanche."

"What?" Cara called up to her father. "Michael! Look out!"

He turned around. "Cara? What the…?"

"Avalanche!"

Michael looked up and saw it coming towards him. He was able to make it out of the way and near some trees.

"Can we outrun it?" Cara asked Kitt.

"We don't have time." He surveyed the area. "Cara, that opening over there. Hurry!" They went as fast as they could, and made it under a small ledge as the avalanche came towards them.

"Cara! Kitt!" Michael clung to the tree, watching helplessly as they were buried alive…