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opened the closet. There was nothing suspicious about the suits and shoes. Ryland’s suitcase was empty. Jason moved to the bed and searched underneath it and between the mattresses.
    Jeremy stepped out of the bathroom. “I didn’t find anything. Did you?”
    Jason shook his head. “No. Maybe he’s what he claims to be after all.”
    Jeremy snapped his fingers. “The briefcase. He had a briefcase earlier.”
    The door swung open. “You don’t mean
this
briefcase, do you?” Ryland stepped into the room holding a black case. Corky and Simms blocked the doorway behind him.
    “I guess you two think you’re pretty clever, don’t you?” Ryland looked thoughtful. “In a way, I suppose I do have to give you credit. Detectives in three different states haven’t caught on to us. You’ve actually come closer than anyone. Not that it’ll do you any good when Simms is through with you.”
    Jeremy inched back toward the bathroomdoor. When Jason saw what he was doing he tried to keep Ryland talking. “So where’s Lila? Your Broken Tree gang isn’t complete without her, is it?”
    Ryland laughed. “So you know about my darling wife. She was very useful in switching your grandfather’s medicine. In fact, Lila’s at the hospital right now, talking your grandmother into coming home. We need her signature to transfer ownership of Thunder Valley to our organization.”
    Jeremy was almost to the bathroom door. Jason went on talking. “I thought you said my grandfather already signed the papers.”
    “That was a forgery. An excellent one, I might add, done by your friend Corky. But a forgery nonetheless. We’re after the real thing. Our plan has always been to have the old lady sign the necessary papers. Of course she won’t know what she’s signing. But after all these terrible accidents, including the one you two are about to have, we think she’ll be glad to get rid of it.”
    Jeremy bolted into the bathroom and locked the door.
    “Get him, Simms!” Ryland yelled.
    Simms slammed his body into the door until it came off its hinges in splinters. The small window above the tub was open.
    The bathroom was empty.

C HAPTER 16
    Jeremy ran for the woods behind the lodge. He had to think, figure out what to do. They desperately needed help, but who could give it to them? If he could just get to a telephone, maybe there would be a deputy sheriff in the area.
    He stayed in the cover of the trees and crept toward the back porch. Silently he inched up the steps, opened the screen door, and listened. The house was quiet.
    Jeremy raced down the hall to his grandfather’sbedroom and dialed 911. A female dispatcher came on the line.
    “Calm down, son. Tell me the problem. Is anyone hurt?”
    Jeremy tried to catch his breath. “My brother … they have my brother … hurry.”
    “Who has your brother?”
    “Some people.” Jeremy’s mind raced. “Kidnappers. Come to the Thunder Valley Ski Lodge, and hurry.”
    He heard the sound of a telephone being quietly hung up in another part of the house. “Hurry!” he yelled. Dropping the receiver, he tore around the bed.
    “Not so fast.”
    Jeremy froze. Lila stood in the door pointing a small silver pistol at him. “Sounds like it’s a good thing I came back. You and your twin brother have caused enough trouble. We should have gotten rid of you a long time ago.”
    “Where’s my grandmother?” Jeremy demanded.
    “Oh, she’s on her way. But don’t worry, we’ll have you safely out of the picture before she gets here.”
    “Give me the gun, Mrs. Ryland.”
    Jeremy couldn’t believe his eyes. Tom Caplan, along with several other men, was standing behind Lila. The tall man moved up and took the gun out of her hand. “Put the cuffs on her, boys, and take her away.”
    Lila’s shoulders slumped. She gave up without a struggle. Jeremy stepped back to give Tom room. “Are you a cop?”
    Tom smiled. “Undercover. We’ve been after this group for years. They move in on