"What do you want me to do?"

"Stay put. Be ready to pick me up when I call you and get me out of here."

"Anything else?"

"No. Yes. After you hang up from me, call Chad Lincoln with MI6 and get a report on Devon Brady. She's the vet taking care of Ned."

"You think she's connected with Danner?"

"No, that's not why I want it."

Walt was silent for a moment. "A guardian?"

"Maybe. At any rate, I'm going to have to leave Ned in her hands for a while. I can't risk moving him, and I can't stay here with him. I have to be sure I can trust her to take care of him."

"You wouldn't be considering her for a guardian if you didn't believe that already."

"I trust my instincts only so far. I have to be sure. I want that report before I leave the island."

"You'll have it. Do you know when you'll be ready to be picked up? What's the plan?"

"I don't have a plan. I'm just going hunting, then I'm going to kill the son of a bitch." He hung up.

But he couldn't leave now. Not until he was sure Devon Brady was on her way back down the mountain. He had to be certain that Ned was going to be under her personal care. He moved over to the entrance of the tent and stared up at the mountain.

She'd had time to get on the other side by now and had probably joined the excavators at the site where he'd planted his flag. She'd said if she found anyone alive, she'd send up a flare, and a medical team would tear up the mountain. All he had to do was wait.

Ned gave a soft bark behind him.

He looked over his shoulder and smiled. "Hi, back with me again? Don't move. Okay?"

Ned tried to get up and fell back with a little yip of pain.