‘I don’t suppose you happened to see what kind of vehicle this girl drove, did you?’ Every cell in Alyssa’s body was beginning to vibrate. With each new discovery, they were close to getting answers; she could feel it.

‘A truck, that’s all I can tell you. I don’t even know what color. Sorry.’ With each response, Emilia’s voice grew heavier with concern.

‘That’s okay. You’ve been very helpful.’ Alyssa pulled a business card out of her pocket and started to hand it over before she noticed the way the Rottweiler’s body tensed as he growled low in warning. Thinking better of it, she set the card down on the railing and backed away. ‘Would you mind giving me a call if you see Adam, the girl, or the truck?’

‘Sure, no problem.’

Despite the horrifying implication that one of her cherished team members might somehow be involved, as well as the frustration at being unable to question Adam Campbell, Alyssa felt a zing of excitement. She sensed that they’d finally found the link that might break this case wide open.

‘I’m going to call Holly and see if the name Adam Campbell means anything to her or the others,’ she said as she climbed back into her Tahoe and pulled away from the curb. A tornado of emotions swirled through her – excitement that they may finally be getting closer to solving this case, as well as fear of what might be revealed when their questions were finally answered. When they found Addis and Emerson, would they still be alive? Or would her team be moving in to recover two more corpses?

Not caring that Cord and Joe were listening, she whispered, ‘Keep fighting, girls. Don’t give up. We’re going to find you.’ She refused to believe she was speaking to their ghosts.

Failure was not an option.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Tuesday, October 8

Like a crab evading the net, Addis scrambled backwards and away from the man as he fumbled in his knapsack. Through swollen eyes, she watched him waving something thin and black in front of her. His mouth moved, but the roaring in her ears turned his words into little more than a series of vibrations in the air.

She didn’t recognize this man, not like she’d recognized the kidnapper who’d taken them from her house. She desperately wanted to ask him what he’d done with Emerson because she knew he must’ve gone after her after knocking her unconscious. But she also knew she was terrified of the answer.

If she didn’t know, then she could pretend Em had escaped, that she was on her way to finding help. Of course, the possibility of Em ever being able to lead rescuers back to her was less than slim, especially since Em could get lost going around the block.

‘Come on, stand up.’