"Alex stepped forward. "Who is gone?" Both men turned, and Huey's eyes filled with surprise. And then fear. "Who is gone?" he repeated. Huey cleared his throat. "Samantha and the boy." Alex clutched his fists. "Where did they go?" "Across the river." Alex grabbed the man's collar, pushing him up against the wall. "What do you mean, they went across the river?" "I told her you wouldn't like it if she left." "Told her?" Alex raged. "Why didn't you stop her?" "I couldn't. She insisted on paddling herself across the river." He shook his head. Samantha had almost drowned on that river. Why would she insist on leaving on her own? He relaxed his grip on Huey's collar. "What did she say when you told her I wouldn't like it?" "She said it didn't matter, that you were leaving first."