The governor's intercom buzzed again.

"The director of DOC calling back, sir."

The governor punched the line: "Tell me what happened."

"It was a traumatic medical emergency. We were bound by the regs to transfer him to Missoula."

"But you had security aboard?"

"One rookie officer. He was the lightest. It was a last-minute situation because of weight restrictions."

"But how...tell me just how the hell did this--?"

"Missoula Tower picked up a transmission from the pilot that Hood had hijacked the flight. Directing it northbound through the park--"

"But how? What was this medical injury of his? He's high profile. I should have been told. Why wasn't--?"

"One of his seizures. We think he feigned illness."

"Oh, you think that, do you?"

The governor hung up. "John, how bad are the survivors? Update me."

"A pilot, a guard and two emergency nurses. Preliminary reports indicate all are alive. In process of being transported to Mercy General. Families alerted."

"Get me on the line to them."

"U.S. Marshals, State Police FBI, Transportation are first in line."

"Relatives then," Governor Nye ran his hands over his face, thinking. "Where the hell is Hood? Have they started looking? Do they need the National Guard? We've got to pick him up before he finds Paige....Jesus, right in the same region...why was he directing them? John, turn that up again, please."

"All right," the newswoman at her desk said to the camera, "stand by. We're going live to Van Heston, our reporter covering the story in Glacier National Park...."

"...Tawni, let me preface--hold it--" Static. A man in his early thirties was talking to the camera. His voice urgent, dramatic. "OK, Tawni, let me preface by saying this is unconfirmed. I repeat unconfirmed, but what we're hearing are two astounding developments. First, the Mercy Force helicopter that crashed is, according to sources, or was, transferring a patient from Montana State Prison to a local hospital. The patient--this is unconfirmed--was Isaiah Hood, the inmate scheduled for execution at midnight tonight. Also unconfirmed is that he hijacked the flight, directed it toward Canada before it crashed within a few short miles of the Canadian border...."

The governor's stomach was lurching.

"...again, Tawni, it is all unconfirmed. There is speculation he was bound for Canada, which has no death penalty and a somewhat involved extradition process..."

"Van, you said there were two developments?"

"Yes, coming to the second. Prior to the crash, the FBI was said to be 'aggressively' questioning the parents of Paige Baker. They have fallen under suspicion because of doubts about Hood's guilt in the murder of Emily Baker's five-year-old sister, in the park twenty-two years ago. Sources tell us that the FBI was taking a hard line with her parents to answer for their daughter's whereabouts. We know that Doug Baker, Emily's father, has an attorney. The Bakers, we are told, were undergoing further questioning by the FBI when word came that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police found a recent footprint, consistent with the footwear worn by Paige Baker, a few yards inside the Canadian side of the park."

The governor's intercom buzzed again.

"It's CNN, sir."

"Not now. Tell them we'll make a statement later."

The intercom buzzed once more.

"No press, please," the governor said.

"It's the White House, sir."

The Attorney General was on his cell phone. Jackson turned the TV volume down.

"Put it through."

"Governor?" A man's voice.

"Yes."

"It's the Oval Office. Please stand by for the president."

The governor pursed his lips, knowing full well what this was all about.

"Governor," the famous voice was deeper over the phone. "Our hearts go out to everyone involved in the events in Montana."

"Thank you, Mr. President."

The governor rubbed his eyes, knowing the chief's iron-clad stance on the death penalty was legendary when he was governor of his state. Never blinked. Even under extreme political and international pressure.

"How are Cynthia and Ellen, Grayson?"

The president had the names right. Probably had executive staff pull up his Montana bio, he thought, touching the pictures of his wife and daughter.

"Fine. Thank you. We're appreciative no lives were lost and for your call, sir. Thank you."

"Now listen, if you need any more federal help to see this thing through--I mean this is a federal park and federal jurisdiction, except for the prison. But if I can provide you with any resources, do not hesitate to call me."

The governor swallowed. He knew the subtext of the call.

"Thank you, sir."

"Our thoughts and prayers are with you for a peaceful resolution."

"Yes, I really should be--"

The president cut him off, dropping his tone to a gut-tightening degree.

"You really should be reconsidering your national aspirations, Governor. You were supposed to be strapping this guy to a gurney, not giving him goddamned helicopter rides over the Rockies."

The line went dead in the governor's ear.

SEVENTY-FOUR.

Doug Baker's tears stained the print-out pages as he read the Internet copy of the San Francisco Star article his lawyer gave him that morning.

"It's important you see what the rest of the country sees, Doug." She left him in the small room of the command center where the FBI was holding him.

He read the story over and over: "Baker was responsible for her sister's death. It comes as the FBI searches in vain for Baker's 10-year-old daughter, Paige'"

Then from the count attorney's report, "She begged me to save her.... I will never forget her eyes staring into mine as she fell. God, please forgive me."

The horror hammered at Doug's heart, but he refused to succumb to it, composing himself, seeking strength from the mountains where Paige was. He ached to be out there searching for her.

He tossed the pages aside.

Concentrate. Concentrate on what you know.

Emily was psychologically chained to her tortured childhood. If she was present when her little sister was murdered by Isaiah Hood, naturally she would feel guilty. That is how he saw it.

But could you ever truly know what is in a person's heart?

Did he know Emily? Really know her? She kept so much hidden from him. What if she was sick? What if she was guilty?

Doug scanned the mountains, rubbing his eyes. What should he believe? Believe this. He did not kill his daughter. He was guilty of some terrible behavior, but he did not kill his daughter. And he did not believe Emily killed her.

"You sure about that?"

"Do you believe your wife could have harmed your daughter?"

Emily would give her life for Paige.

No.

They were guilty of being victims of horrible circumstances. Look at the awful wound on his hand. Tossing his ax as if hiding it. Arguing in front of that family. A New York detective, Crow had told him. Losing it in front of a New York cop the day before his daughter disappears and then he shows up with an ax-murderer's gash on his hand. Doug did not blame the FBI for their suspicions.

But everyone's thinking on this was dead wrong.

He heard more helicopters outside, the activity intensifying. He yearned to take part in the search. What was happening now? No one told him anything. No one updated him.

What if Paige is dead?

A gentle knock. The door opened. Agent Tracy Bowman and Maleena Crow with Emily. His eyes brightened.

"You'll have just a few moments with your wife," Bowman said.

"Then what? What is happening?"

"Just a few minutes. I'm sorry that's all I can tell you."

Crow touched his shoulder. "Doug, I am working on getting you released." Nodding to the Bakers, leaving with Bowman, closing the door.

Emily stood before him, looking broken; her hands were clenched in fists touching her lips, eyes brimming with tears.

"Doug, they think I--you--we, oh God..."

He took her in into his arms. Doug drew strength from holding her. "I know everything. Maleena gave me the article."

"I did not hurt anyone, Doug."

"I believe you. I did not harm her, Em."

She nodded and swallowed. "I know."

"You listen to me. We are going to get through this. She is not dead. We have to believe that."

"Doug, the police, they said so many horrible things. They take the truth and mix it up and then they showed me part of the search when we thought it was her b-b-body--"

"What was it? Did they find her?"

Emily shook her head. "An animal in a crevasse. So awful. It has been horrible. Then they said a student has accused you of some sort of violent act with her. They said your wound, your ax, her T-shirt--Oh God-- "I know. Emily. I know about that stuff. The student business is not true. A kid with problems at home. The ax, the blood and T-shirt. We know all of it. But I never hurt anyone. I can't blame the FBI. That is why I took the polygraph, to prove I have nothing to hide. We have to believe Paige is alive. Whatever we are going through, it is far worse for her out there. If we give up hope, it's over. She has to feel we are pulling for her against all the odds."

Emily nodded.

"Em, she has Kobee. She's a smart girl. I've been going over it. I think she had food and water in her pack--"

"She doesn't have her pack anymore, Doug."

"What?"

"They found it. In the crevasse, where there are bears. But they did not find her--Oh--I--God--"

A knock sounded.

It was Maleena Crow, breathless. "There's been a break."

"Oh Lord, what?"

"Just inside the Canadian border, the Mounties found a footprint matching her sneaker. It is very fresh. They also found an empty water bottle from San Francisco Airport."

"I bought her bottled water there before we boarded!" Emily said.

Doug looked hard at Maleena. "You're sure of this?"

"Elsie Temple, the park's superintendent, just told me."

Doug felt as if a mountain of pain had shifted.