It looked dark and cold, a lonely outpost in the middle of the white woods.

“We’re here,” Reyes said, shutting off the engine.

The silence of the forest immediately pressed in on the car.

Jake opened his door and stepped out into the snow, his boots sinking to his shins.

He came around to my side and helped me out, keeping his arm around my waist to steady me on the icy ground.

I carried Owen, who had finally fallen back asleep, his head resting on my shoulder.

Reyes grabbed his tablet and the bag containing the external drive.

We walked up the wooden steps of the cabin porch, our breath forming white clouds in the freezing air.

Jake reached above the door frame, his hand searching the dusty ledge until his fingers clicked against a brass key.

He fitted the key into the padlock and turned it.

The lock popped open with a metallic scrape.

Jake pushed the heavy wooden door open, revealing a dark interior that smelled of dry pine, old blankets, and woodsmoke.

“Get inside,” Jake said, ushering us in.