“I’m not just a bartender,” O’Malley answered. “I own the bar. If my new bar opens, I’ll own a small chain.”
O’Brian laughed. “You always did have ambition. I always thought you would stay in the Army and work your way up through the ranks. You would have made a good commanding officer. I bet you are good to your staff.”
“I try.” O’Malley sighed, time to steer O’Brian back toward his meeting with Karl. “So Karl came here.”
“Yes. He stayed for three or four days. He liked the simple way of life. But when I told him about how I met Elvie, it was like he became obsessed. He thought that if he went on a pilgrimage, he would find his way forward and know what he was supposed to do with his life.” O’Brian glanced nervously at Hannah. “I am sorry for my part in this.”
“None of this is your fault,” she assured him. “I wish he’d opened up to me about where he was in his head.”
“It’s not your fault either,” O’Malley told her firmly.
“No one can take the blame for the actions of another if that other is acting of their own free will and are in a sound state of mind.” O’Brian grinned. “That is what my Elvie has told me many times.”
“She’s a wise woman.” O’Malley would love to spend time here with his old friend, but they really needed to leave.
“So Karl left. Which route did he take?” Hannah got up and went to her pack. When she returned, she had a map which she spread across the table. “Any information would be a great help.”
“As I told the search party that came looking for Karl, he took this route, heading for the cairn here.” O’Brian stuck his finger down on the map. “This is where the pilgrims go before they walk along this crest of rock here.” He moved his finger along the ridge that spanned the distance between two low peaks.
“Is it safe?” Hannah asked.
“Yes. As long as you stay sober and don’t do anything stupid. Unfortunately, I have no idea if Karl respected those two rules. Don’t worry, it’s nothing like trying to climb Mount Everest.” O’Brian sighed and leaned back in his seat. “But I should tell you, after I heard that Karl was missing, Elvie and I went out together and scoured the area. We didn’t find any sign of him.”
Hannah’s shoulders slumped forward. “I didn’t know that. Thank you.”
“Karl was a friend. I searched for him, we sent word to the other villages along the route. We did what we could.” O’Brian pressed his lips together, his eyes downturned. “I wish I could give you a glimmer of hope. But I have no idea what happened to Karl. No idea at all.”
“Thanks for your honesty.” O’Malley drained his coffee cup and stood up.
Hannah finished her coffee and placed her cup down on the table. “Thank you so much for your hospitality. Will you thank Elvie again for me, too, please?”
“I will and if you come back this way again, know that there is always room for you under my roof.” O’Brian stood up and cleared the breakfast things while O’Malley and Hannah collected their backpacks.
After another round of thank-yous, O’Malley was leaving town with his mate by his side. He wished they had more information to go on.
If O’Brian has already searched for Karl, we might be wasting our time. His cougar was right, but he was also wrong.
Hannah needs to do this. So until she tells us otherwise, we are going to follow the trail Karl took. O’Malley needed to prepare Hannah and help her accept that she might never find out what happened to her brother. It was a loss she might have to live with.
“Ah, I was hoping to catch you two before you left.” Elvie ran to meet them.
“Elvie, thanks so much for being so kind.” Hannah was in good spirits now that they were finally on their way to find Karl. Despite O’Brian’s warning that they might not find the trail, she seemed hopeful.
“You are more than welcome. O’Brian loves visits from old friends. So don’t be strangers.” She licked her lips and glanced at Hannah as she fell into step with them. “I told one of the mothers at school that you were here. Everyone knows about the search and rescue crew that came through here looking for Karl.”
“What did she say?” O’Malley was confident Elvie hadn’t run to catch up to them just to tell them that. There was more but she seemed reluctant to say.
“She said… I have no way of knowing if this is true or not.” Elvie leveled her gaze at Hannah and she stopped walking, her fingers playing with the fabric of the long woolen skirt she wore over sturdy leather boots. “She said that the trail we thought Karl took was blocked at the time he would have reached it. Both the search party and O’Brian and I took that usual route. The route the pilgrims take.”
“Which section of the trail?” O’Malley asked. This might be the breakthrough they were looking for. Something that someone else missed.
Hannah stuck her hand in her pack and drew out the map. “Can you pinpoint it on the map?”
“I can.” Elvie took the map and unfolded it, her eyes scanning the area until she found the location she was looking for. “Here.” She placed her finger on Hanta Pass. “It was impassable, there was a small landslide. The people from another village cleared it a couple of days later. It was only when I was talking to her this morning that she made the connection.”
“Thanks, Elvie.” Hannah hugged her new friend. “This could make all the difference.”
“It might not have been the exact time when Karl took the trail. I can’t say for sure. It might have been before or after.” Elvie shrugged apologetically. “We don’t live by the calendar here.”
“No, it’s fine, every piece of information helps us put together the facts of what happened to Karl.” Hannah gave a short laugh. “Knowing my brother, he might have decided to leave the pilgrim’s path anyway if he hadn’t found himself on the first day.”
Elvie grinned. “Men are not known for their patience, are they?”
“No, they are not,” Hannah agreed.
“Present company excluded.” O’Malley grinned as Elvie rolled her eyes.
“That remains to be seen.” She placed her hand on his upper arm. “But O’Brian thinks a lot of you. He spoke about you. Before you came. It was all good.”
“He’s a good man, too. A little hotheaded but O’Brian has the biggest heart.” O’Malley hugged Elvie. “I’m so happy he found you and found happiness.”
“Me, too. It was fate and I will not hear it said otherwise.” Elvie sniffed and stepped away from him. “Now go, you are wasting daylight.”
“Thanks again.” Hannah adjusted the straps on her backpack.
“Come back and tell us what happens,” Elvie called out. “Good or bad, let us know your news.”
“We will.” O’Malley raised his hand and waved as they resumed their journey back out of town.
“Do you think you might be able to pick up his trail after all this time?” Hannah asked. “If Karl did leave the pilgrim’s trail, would you be able to track him?”