“Waaboo’s fine,” Annie said. “I’m with him and Jenny now. And Henry and Prophet. We’re all fine.”
“Not necessarily,” Daniel said in a tight voice. “A man named Liam Boyle wants Waaboo dead. He may try to get at him on Crow Point.”
“Liam Boyle,” Annie said. “So that was his name.”
“Was?”
“You don’t have to worry about him, Daniel. Would you like to talk to Jenny?”
“Sure.”
She handed the phone over and listened as her sister spoke.
“I’m sorry, Daniel. We had to silence our phones here for a while. We didn’t mean to scare you.” She listened. “We have a lot to tell you. Best we do that when you get here.” She listened again and nodded. “All right. I’ll see you then. But don’t worry. We’re not in danger anymore, I promise.”
She handed the cell phone back to Annie.
The distant wail of a siren crept into the cabin, and Meloux said, “I will take my rifle now, Prophet. It is best if you stay in the forest for a while.”
Prophet handed the Winchester to the old man. “What will you say, Henry?”
“That although my eyes are not as keen as they used to be, I still have a warrior’s instinct.” Meloux looked at the others and asked, “Who was it that sent the intruder on the Path of Souls?”
“You, Mishomis,” Waaboo said.
“You,” Jenny said.
Annie didn’t answer immediately, and Meloux offered, “If the truth is what you need to hold to, you can always say that your eyes were closed and you did not see who fired the bullet. That will not be a lie.”
Annie shook her head. “It’s not that. I’m just thinking that I’ve been lying to myself and others for too long. It’s time I told a few truths. This won’t be one of them, however. You fired the shot, Henry.” She turned to her sister and said, “But there’s a truth I need to tell you.”
CHAPTER 45
Daniel had called Cork and let him know that something had gone down on Crow Point but he wasn’t sure what, only that everyone was safe. Liam Boyle, apparently, was no longer a threat. Cork was already near Aurora, so he cruised on through town. Instead of heading to the double-trunk birch and walking to Crow Point, he drove to the Iron Lake Reservation and followed the rough track from Allouette directly to Meloux’s cabin, the same route the tribal police had undoubtedly followed. Sheriff Marsha Dross had insisted on staying with him. Margot Lachance was still in the backseat.
Cork parked behind the vehicle Officer LuJean Desjardins had driven. He saw Desjardins standing far out in the meadow, near the edge of the woods. Henry Meloux was with her.
Jenny came from Meloux’s cabin to greet her father and Dross, and let them know that Daniel was on his way with Monte Bonhomme and the BIA agent.
“What’s happened?” Cork asked.
“The man who tried to kill Waaboo is dead.”
“Liam Boyle?” Dross was clearly surprised.
“Officer Desjardins said that was the name on the driver’s license she found in his wallet.”
“How did he die?” Dross pressed.
“He was going to kill Annie, then Waaboo. Probably the rest of us, too. Henry shot him before that could happen.”
“Henry?” Dross seemed incredulous.
“He may be old,” Jenny said, “but he still has the instincts of a warrior.”
It was a phrase Cork would hear often thereafter.
“The body’s out there.” Jenny waved toward Meloux and Desjardins.
“I need to see about this.” Dross headed immediately in that direction.
“Waaboo?” Cork asked.
“In Henry’s cabin with Annie.”
“Prophet?”
Jenny raised her eyebrows and said, “In the woods.”
Cork nodded, catching all her hidden meaning.
“Annie told me, Dad.”
Her face melted into sadness, and Cork saw tears gathering along the rims of her eyes. He took her into his arms. “I know.” He felt her press against him as if trying to draw some of his strength into her own body. “We can’t change what will happen, Jenny, but we can surround her with our love and our comfort and our prayers. We’ll be beside her all the way in this.”
“She’s been gone so long. And now…”
“I know,” Cork said again. Because he understood exactly how Jenny felt.
