When they got back, their first thought was to find Balto. They tried his boat, but a search turned up next to nothing. Toby sniffed out Steele's footprints and those of his helpers leading to and from the boat, but there were no signs of violence except a torn blanket and an impression in the snow next to the boat as if someone had been thrown from the deck. Ordinarily that would have convinced them they were too late, but Copper pointed out there was no scent of blood. Then they tried Jenna's house, but nobody was there either.

They were heading back to the boat to see if they'd missed anything when they ran into Kodi. "Are you okay?" he asked, noting the ruffled appearances of those before him. "You look a little haggard."

"We've had a rough day," said Copper. "Listen, have you seen Dad?"

"Yeah, he's at the vet."

"The vet?" asked Toby, instantly alarmed. "Why's he there? What happened?"

"He fell off the boat early this morning," said Kodi. "Nothing serious, just a small fracture. The vet said he'll have to stay off it for a couple weeks, but that's all."

"Talk about a lucky break," said Luna.

Kodi tilted his head in confusion. "What do you mean?" Copper, Toby and Luna all looked at Taya, who recounted the day's events. Kodi was more than surprised. "Steele's back again?" He shook his head. "He's got more lives than a cat!"

"Not only is he back," added Toby, "but the tracks say he paid a visit to Balto's boat today."

Taya nodded. "If Balto hadn't broken his leg…"

"Okay, enough talk," frowned Copper. "Let's go see Dad."

Balto was lying in the waiting room with his leg in a cast. Jenna and Rosie were there, talking to him. He was looking a little bit smothered, but he smiled when he saw them coming in. "Well, Copper," he said in greeting. "Now just about everybody has officially paid me a visit."

"Hi, Dad," said Copper with a smile. "Good to see you're okay."

"Ah, it was just a fall," said Balto, shifting his leg. "I don't know why―aye-aye-aye!" He winced as Jenna put a paw on his cast to keep him from moving it.

"Balto," scolded Rosie. "You know you're not supposed to move your leg until it's all better."

"Rosie, Jenna!" called Rosie's mom from outside. "It's time to go home!"

"Gotta go, Balto!" said Rosie as she got up and left. Jenna planted a quick kiss on Balto's cheek and followed.

"Shouldn't you be in the recovery room?" asked Luna.

Balto laughed. "Yeah, but the doctor said an outdoor dog like me shouldn't spend too much time stuck in a cage. Anyway, it makes it a lot easier for people to visit."

"How'd you break your leg just jumping off your boat?" asked Toby.

Balto shrugged. "Ah, the doctor said I'm getting old and not getting the right kind of nutrition."

"You? Old?" asked Luna. It was hard to tell if she was laughing at the idea, or just laughing at Balto.

Balto laughed. "It happens to the best of us. They've been saying I should be given a home." He chuckled and looked at Copper. "On a related note, I have an invitation to move in with your mother."

"So how'd you get here?" asked Copper. "I'd think it'd be a tad more difficult with a fractured leg."

"Your mother," Balto answered. "She'd been coming out to visit when she found me, then went back home and brought Rosie with her. I don't know how she communicated with her, though."

"So," asked Luna, getting a sly look. "You planning on going?"

He smiled. "Not necessarily, but I guess this is as good an excuse as any."

Copper cleared his throat. "Um, Dad?" he said. "There's a little problem."

"Like what?"

"Steele's back in town, and he's planning to get his revenge."

Balto's ears shot up in alarm. "What? Are you sure?"

Taya nodded. "He chased me out of town this morning."

"You? But why? You're…" Balto stopped when they shook their heads, gesturing frantically at the other patients with their eyes. Realizing what he'd almost done, the wolfdog rebuked himself. "But why would he chase you away?" Taya gestured at Copper and Luna, and Balto seemed to get the idea.

"He visited your boat this morning, but since you broke your leg, he didn't find you," said Toby.

Balto=s eyes widened. "Whoa," he murmured. "Talk about a blessing in disguise."

"So what do we do now?" asked Luna. "If Steele finds out you're here, nothing will stop him from coming to get you."

"I don't know," said Balto. With a contemptuous glare at his cast, he added, "I'd help, but I guess this puts me out of the fight."

"I know how you feel, Grandpa," said Luna. "I was also in a cast once. Two of them."

Toby's ears sank, but then what Luna said gave him an idea. "I know what we can do!" he burst out. "We'll lure him to the harbor yard, get some crates to fall on him, and bingo!"

Balto considered. "That might just work," he said with a nod. "How'd you come up with an idea like that?"

Toby fidgeted. "Well, it was what Luna said. I remembered the time that she broke her legs, and that gave me the idea."

"Okay," said Taya, "so how do we lure him into the trap?"

"That's easy," said Toby. "I'll track him down and tell him to look for Balto there!"

And it won't be a lie, because we'll be there, thought Taya. But she shook her head. "Won't he recognize you from last time?"

"Not if I roll in soot or something to disguise myself," Toby answered.

Copper nodded. "It's too late to do it now," he said. "But we'll do it tomorrow."

The plan was agreed upon, but fell out of place as soon as they stepped out the door. "Toby!" yelled Terry, coming up the street. She ran up and sniffed him to make sure he was all right. "Where have you been? Your father and I have been looking everywhere for you!"

"I told you, Mom," said Toby. "I was helping find Luna's mom. See?" he pointed to Taya.

"Uh-huh. And when did you forget to mention that you'd be leaving town?"

Toby hung his head. "Sorry. I know I should've told you, but this was really important. See, Steele was really mad at Taya, so he chased her out of Nome, and then he and his creeps tried to kill her. And then this maniac at the fighting ring caught her, and Copper needed my nose to…"

"Hold it, hold it," said Terry. "First of all, why would Steele be mad at Taya?"

Toby looked at the others, then hung his head. "I can't tell you," he said.

"Toby…"

"Honest, Mom. I'd tell you if I could. Really."

"You can't, but I can," said Taya. She hated to admit her secret, but Toby had saved all their lives, so helping him out was the least she could do. Lowering her voice to a whisper, she said, "Steele's my dad. He called me a traitor because of Copper, so he wants to get rid of me."

Terry's eyes widened. "So you're Steele's daughter?" she asked.

Taya nodded. "I am," she said. "But I'm not proud of it."

"But she's nothing like him," said Toby. "She saved us when Carson caught us."

Terry nodded. "Don't worry," she said to Taya. "I won't tell anyone. I don't judge others by who their parents are." With a pointed look at Toby, she added, "However, I do judge them for what they've done. And you, mister, are grounded for a week."

"What?" asked Toby. "But they need me to help them catch Steele! I'm supposed to…"

"Grounded is grounded. Your father is out here right now looking for you, and it's getting dark!"

"I'll go find him," volunteered Copper. "Let him know Toby's all right."

Terry shook her head. "No, it sounds like you all have been through enough today. I'm sure he'll be fine."

As if in answer, snow began to fall. Copper looked up at it, then at Terry. "Your son helped me save Taya. It's the least I can do."

Taya lifted an eyebrow. "Au contraire, my good sir."

Copper shrugged. "Okay, so he helped me find you. It's still the least I can do."

"But you'll never be able to track him through the snow," insisted Terry. "You could freeze out here."

"He's in more trouble than I am," said Copper. "And my dad tracked down a dogsled team in a blizzard. I'm sure I can handle one dog. The rest of you go home." And so saying, he headed out into the snow.

Taya looked Terry in the eye. "I didn't realize Toby had misled you, but I think it would be best if he were allowed to help us."

They talked for a long time, and eventually someone suggested that Toby could help with the plan on the condition that he not leave Terry's sight for the next three weeks and that for the same period of time he would leave any dangerous spot the first time he was told to. Terry seemed to like the idea, but her experience told her to check the details. "What exactly do you want him for?" she asked.

"We need him to flush out Steele."

Terry's ears shot up. "Excuse me?" she asked. "You expect me to let my son go up against Steele after he almost killed you? What are you thinking?"

Toby smiled. "Don't worry, mom. I've done it before and came out of it just fine. Besides, I already took on a guy with a gun today, and Steele won't even…"

"Whoa, wait. Stop right there," Terry cut him off. "What's this about a gun?"

Toby's ears went down and he smiled sheepishly. "Oops. Guess I forgot to mention that, huh?"

Terry shook her head. "Your father is level-headed. I'm level-headed, or I was until you came along. What in the world happened to you anyway?" She listened patiently as Toby explained about Carson. "Is there anything else you don't want me to know?" she asked. "Any rabid grizzly bears, perhaps?"

Toby considered. "Nope, I don't think so." She gave him a look. "For real this time, mom. That's all that happened. And like I was saying earlier, the plan for tomorrow is perfectly safe."

Terry groaned. "With you, nothing is safe."

"Steele won't even recognize me. I'll be in disguise. Please, mom. They're counting on me."

Terry sighed in resignation. "I must be out of my mind, but okay." Before Toby could cheer, she added quickly, "But if something goes wrong, you get out of there pronto."

"Relax, Mom," said Toby. "What could go wrong?"