Chapter 10: Closed for the Season

Pinewater Lodge stood alone at the end of a two-mile dirt road in northern Wisconsin, and in October it was closed for the season.

Ray had been there once, three years ago.

A retired judge who hated airports had paid him in cash to guard a quiet fishing weekend, outside the agency, on a day off.

Nothing about the trip was in any Cushing Shield file.

The judge had given him a spare key and said, "In case you ever need a place nobody knows."

Ray had laughed.

It was after two in the morning when the headlights found the porch.

The first snow of the year was coming down in big, slow flakes, and the pines were black against the sky.

Ray checked the cabin room by room with the flashlight.

The power was off at the main switch, and the air smelled of cedar and cold ash.

He lit the woodstove in the main room and found blankets in a cedar chest.

When he turned around, Nico was standing in the doorway with his arms wrapped around himself.

"I called Joan from the gas station," Nico said. "On that pay phone."

"I know. I watched you."

"She said the building manager confirmed the alarm was pulled from a stairwell panel. By someone with a staff key."

"Staff key."

"She said she'd handle the rest and told us to lie low."

Nico's voice was small.

"She said her own phone has been swept three times, and it's clean."

Ray nodded.

He sat down heavily in the big leather armchair in front of the stove.

For the first time in two days there was nothing to do.

Nico crossed the room and stood in front of him, in the light of the fire.

"Come here," Ray said roughly.

"No. Stay there." Nico's eyes glittered. "I need something and I'm not sure I'm brave enough to ask."

"Ask."

"I want to ride you."

Ray's pulse jumped.

"And I want you to keep your hands behind you while I do it."

"Nico."

"I don't want to be protected tonight. I want to be taken care of. It's not the same."

Nico went on, steadier now.

"I want you to sit there and let me use you until I'm done."

Ray looked up at him for a long second.

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