“Easier? What does that mean?”

“I figure it means what you just said about Besand. Light details, maybe get someone switched to a different prison. Like something closer to their home.”

“For a felon? Whittenhall couldn’t do that.”

Matt shrugged. “Maybe he thought he could. Enough to convince people to pay him. Maybe that’s the information he’s afraid Besand will spill.”

“Could be. Besand would need to have some pretty concrete proof though.” Alex stared out of the cockpit, faint memories pushing at his brain. “I knew something odd was up. Linus had been sucked into something. He’d said something a couple of years ago after a lot of beer that made me think he was in over his head with…I wasn’t sure what.”

“I know he got screwed on his mortgage in that lender debacle and was in danger of losing his house. And I think—” Matt abruptly stopped talking, shoving his hands back in his pockets.

“Think what?”

Matt spoke quietly. “I think he had a gambling problem.”

Alex thought hard. Linus had always been the one who hit the video poker terminals that sprouted in every bar in Oregon. And he loved to visit Vegas. He’d been going to the Indian casinos when Alex lost touch with him. More affordable. No airfare or hotel bills.

“I can see that.” And in hindsight he saw it clearly. Deep in debt with two kids? That would drive a man to do anything. Even something illegal if he needed the money badly enough. What had Whittenhall pulled Linus into?

Alex stopped in the snow. “Do you think Besand was supposed to escape during this particular transfer?”

Matt stopped beside him and their gazes locked. “Are you saying he crashed that plane on purpose? And took his chances in the middle of the Cascades? No one could pull that off.”

“No. I mean escape when he landed. If he landed. Hell, do you think Linus was supposed to let him get away? Hopefully, Linus wasn’t supposed to be collateral damage in some sort of twisted escape plan set up by Whittenhall and Besand. I wouldn’t be surprised if Whittenhall had arranged for Linus to be the fall guy. All I know is someone changed the flight plan for his return flight from Medford. I know because I was waiting at the damned Hillsdale airport because I wanted to check out what kind of detail he had and watch the killer walk by in cuffs.”

“That’s sick.”

Alex shrugged. “Gives my day a purpose.”

“Who’d change the flight plan? Who could do that?”

“I’d have to check, but I think anyone could call in a change. That small a plane, flying to smaller airports, no one is going to raise an eyebrow if the flight plan is changed.”

“Except the US Marshals’ office.”

“Not if the flight plan change came from them.”

“Maybe it was changed for a different perfectly legitimate reason.”

“I called around. I couldn’t find another airport in the closest five counties where that plane was scheduled to land.”

Matt’s brows deepened. “I don’t get it. Where were they going to land? They’d be missed eventually.”

“That’s the part I don’t know. But I plan to find out. Let’s get Thomas. We should get back to the plane.” Alex grimaced. “I’m gonna catch hell for not coming directly back after those shots. They’re probably worried sick.”

An hour ticked by. With each passing minute, Brynn felt her skin grow thinner, more sensitive, attuned to every word and movement by every man in the crowded plane. She was being stretched to the limit, and it felt like the wrong words could cause her guts to spill out.

Tyrone had been talking a bit. He wasn’t confused and had a pretty clear memory of the hours leading up to the crash. Brynn took that as a good sign and gave a silent prayer of thanks. He wouldn’t move his head, claiming the slightest movement caused his vision to blur and spikes to be driven into his brain.

She understood completely.

She changed position for the hundredth time on the floor next to Tyrone as he drifted off again, wishing she could fall asleep as easily as he did. Her body was exhausted, her muscles ached, but her mind spun with the high, surging energy of the sun, worrying about Alex.

“Hey, you awake?” Liam spoke softly, ducking into the cargo bay.

“Yeah.” How could she sleep?

He lay down next to her and pulled her close, spooning her against him. The way they’d slept a million times. Brynn closed her eyes and relaxed against him, her mind’s swirling slowing a bit. The physical intimacy felt good. Right now, she needed a comforting touch.

“I would have never let you go on this rescue.” Liam’s arm around her waist tightened, his voice a harsh whisper.

“I know.” Her semi-relaxed state evaporated.

“You should’ve woken me that morning.”

“So you could’ve stopped me?” she hissed. Not now, Liam. Please not now.

“Yes.”

“It was a plane crash, Liam. People could’ve needed medical help. I know what I’m doing out here. I’m not some idiot wandering lost in the woods,” she whispered, worried that Jim and Ryan, who were sitting in the seats, could overhear.

“But last year—”

“Anyone could’ve been hit in that rockslide. I was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Will he ever let that go?

“And this trip?” His question hung in the air.