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It was still just afternoon, though the blizzard continued to howl as the freezing wind whipped across the clearing, sending snow swirling into a frenzy of white. At least while they were navigating the woods, the winds hadn’t been as strong. But the snowstorm concealed her when she was out in the open as she dashed for the cabin.

Their visibility was reduced to only a few feet, and she figured she could make it to the building without being seen.

“Okay, if you’re ready, I will make a run for it.” She stood up. As high as the woodpile was on the back side, Denny couldn’t see her.

“All right. I’ll have your back.”

She helped Andy to stand, and then he leaned against a log poking out of the woodpile, his gun ready.

At least he was tall enough that he could do so. “I can see between the two logs and watch your progress. Be careful.”

“Yes, and you too.”

Monica pulledout her gun and moved around to the end of the woodpile. She watched the windows for what seemed like forever before she made a move.

“I don’t see anyone at the window. I’m going to make a run for it.” She prepared herself mentally for the maneuver.

“I’m watching the windows. I don’t see anyone.”

“Okay, good.” She hadn't seen anyone looking out the cabin windows either, and took off running as much as possible through the impossibly deep snow.

Her feet sank with each step, making it more like a slow trudge. She could feel the cold seeping through her boots, the wetness creeping into her socks, but she tried to ignore it.

She concentrated on finding a window through which she could peer while listening for any sounds inside the cabin. She needed to know where both the kidnapper and his ex-girlfriend were. Then she had an idea. If she could break a window and simulate that a branch had blown into it and broken it, that would get the kidnapper’s attention.

The problem was that she would have to return to the woods to find a sturdy enough branch and rip it off the tree while wearing her polar bear coat.

Then that gave her another idea. She began stripping off her clothes. Andy would probably think she was nuts. She quickly shifted into her polar bear, figuring if she peered into the windows and either of the people saw her, the kidnapper wouldn’t shoot, nor would he dare leave the cabin.

She padded through the snow, glad to be warm in her fur coat, her paws navigating the snow so much better. She approached the first window to the right of the front door at the end of the house and peered in. A light was on deep inside the house, and the door to the bedroom was open. No one was in there.

What if the window was unlocked? She shifted and pushed at it, but it didn’t budge. She shifted back into her bear form and headed to the next window, higher up, perhaps a much smaller bathroom window. She stood up on her hind legs and peered in. No one was there, the light was off, and the door was open.

She moved around to the back of the house until she reached another window, peered in, and found it was another bedroom. The man and woman must be in the living area, which would make sense since it wasn’t nighttime yet.

However, she realized she wouldn’t have her backup because Andy couldn’t see her. But also, her gun was with her clothes by the first bedroom at the end of the cabin.

She moved toward the patio deck, complete with several chairs and tables buried by snow. From her angle, she could see that the curtains were open. On one wall, an orange-flamed fire made the cabin appear warm and cozy, though she was perfectly comfortable in the snow while wearing her polar bear coat.

Then she inched toward the deck and climbed onto it. She peered in. She didn’t see anyone or hear anyone talking. She was worried Denny had killed Helen, and that was why no one was talking.

She took a deep breath and moved closer to the double-window doors. She could hear moaning inside and feared the worst.

Andy hadto move to the cabin to help Monica. He wasn’t doing her any good by staying by the woodpile. Besides, he was dying to know what she planned to do as a bear. After watching the cabin and seeing no one looking out the windows, he secured his gun, grabbed his walking stick, and made his way in Monica's tracks.

When she’d carved her path through the snow to the cabin, she hadn’t been in view of the front windows, but if someone looked out at the ones at the end of the cabin, they could see the narrow path she’d made. Though the snow was blowing so hard, it would soon fill it up.

Once he reached the cabin, he leaned against it and peered into the bedroom window. He moved to the next one, but the window was too high. He came around the corner of the back of the house and found Monica peering in through the glass doors at the back of the deck.

She must have heard him coming and jerked her bear head around to look at him.

Suddenly, a woman screamed, and he was ready to rush into the house to protect her, but Monica shook her head as if to say it was too late.

She left the deck and ran to her clothes at the end of the house, and he hurried after her. She had already shifted and was pulling on her boots and sweater as soon as he reached her. He helped her into her parka.

“They’re in collusion.”

“What?” he whispered.