"Hank contacted me by phone eight months ago, saying he was a doctor atMountain Point Hospital. He said he was concerned about a patient ofhis, and I had no reason to believe he wa sly-ing. He checked outcompletely."

His grip tightened on her hand.

"That's why I was on your mountain--looking for you. Maybe it was luck... maybe instinct, but no matter which, once I pinpointed yourlocation, I decided I needed to talk to you before I reported back tohim. Ellen, I" -- He dw a ragged breath that disintegrated into a wheezygasp for air. His grip loosened and his eyes drifted shut.

"Jack? Jack!"

He forced his eyes open again.

"When I woke up by your fireplace, I didn't remember how I got there. Ididn't remember anything about him or you. Or even myself. F-forgive me,Ellen."

She placed a gentle finger across his bruised lips.

"How can I not forgive you, Jack? After all you've done ..."

To her relief he rallied enough energy to smile at her. "Thank you," hewhispered, George walked back into the room, carrying a large tackle box marked First Aid. He placed it on the floor beside the bed.

"Chopper'il be here in a half hour. Can you hold out till then?"

Jack managed a small nod.

"I'll have to."

"Meanwhile I'll see what I can do." George began to paw through the

medical supplies.

"El ... that night--how d/d that fire start?"

She sagged against the mattress, resting her head on the scratchy army

blanket covering Jack.

"I'd-just fallen asleep when I smelled smoke. The fire started in the pantry, then suddenly filled every door and window."

George nodded.

"As if someone had planned to r thodically cut off all the escape

routes."

Tears began to form in her eyes.

"I thought Hermitt ! gotten trapped in the cabin. I never dreamed ..."

reached down and rested her hand on the dog's sleek ba "I'm so glad you're back," she whispered to him.

George pulled a knife from his pocket and split the to sleeve of Jack's

jacket.

"Have you figured out how Ha found you?"

She shared a hooded glance with Jack before tumi toward George. She drew

a deep breath.

"Jack's an vesfigator. Hank h/red him to locate me."

George's careful ministrations came to an abrupt ha "You Wld him where she was?"

Jack stiffened.

"In a way ... I did. Right after he hi me, I started to have second

thoughts, Something abo him just wasn't right. So, I came here to k to f before I gave away her location. Even afteri ..." escape/ I didn't remember anything about having him as ache until long after the fire.

However HAM found out whe she was, it wasn't because I told him. But ifs not that to figure." Jack closed his eyes as if conjuring up a metal picture.

"I met him in this room on the day I--I away from your cabin. Ellen, you saw the insignia he w wearing today, didn't you?"

6eorge stiffened.

"Met him here? What the hell are y talking about?"

Jack splayed a hand across his lower chest as he stru! gled to' inhale "When I met him the first time, either didn't tell me his name, or I

forgot it. But today at't cabin, he introduced himself as Hadin Bank.."

246 A Killer Smile The red flush drained from George's face.

"Good ... Harlin? My partner? He's ..." George stopped and looled at

Ellen.

She felt her throat close. Hadin Banks. Though she'd never met the man, she'd heard George talk about his partner, Harlin.

George continued to stare in shock.

"He's dead?" ' She couldn't speak, answering him with a nod instead. She

found solace in the s'dent grip she shared with Jack.

The awful truth washed all the strength fwm the ranger's body. They

watched him age ten years in mere seconds. after a few moments he looked up at Ellen with anger and confusion.

"If he was here all the while why did he hire an investigator to find

you?

It doesn't make sense."

She glanced at Jack.

"It makes perfect sense ... in the warped way Hank's mind worked. He'd

been looking for me for four years but couldn't find me. He finally brokdown and hffed a professional. Yet he still couldn't stop from lookingfor me himself. He must have figured out from one of Dad's paintingsthat my family had a cabin in this area. Maybe he even knew you wereafriend of Dad's. It made sense for him to station him elf in this area and watch and wait."

"Dead ..." George rose to his feet, "I've got to see it for myself, Ellen." He reached over and grabbed hisshotgun, his face grayed with anger. As the man thundered out the door, Ellen covered her face. It wasn't fair.

Even after death, Hank could still cause pain to the innocent.

"Ellen?"

She felt Jack's hand flutter against her arm. Wiping away her tears, she

turned to him, taken aback by the startling lack of energy in him eyes.

She brushed her lips A Killer Smile 2z across his forehead.

"Hank has hurt so many people. Yo George ..."

"Don't forget you. What he. did to you was ..." J coughed, unable to finish.

She dragged the medical box closer to the bed and pawc through it.

"Right now I'm more concerned about yot Your injuries."

He shrugged.

"TII heal." He faltered several times h fore finally raising an unsteady

hand to caress her cheel "Ellen, it's over.

You're free now."

"F-free?" Ellen straightened, riveted' by his word She'd been so busy

dealing with the past and the pre sen she hadn't had time to examine her future. With Ha dead. "You can go anywhere. Do anything."

She ganced up at him, trying to xead her future in hj hazel ees.

The flicker of energy she saw there kindled new flame in her. ',I want to"-- " No. Stop." He reached for her hand.

"Before you sa anhing, I need to you what I feel. Ellen ... I love ym I'll take you anywhere you want to go. I'll help you n build the cab'm or trmd you another one.