Alyssa’s eyes drifted over to the labyrinth of crime scene photos that now included the pictures delivered to Holly. ‘Same goes for Alexandra Greene. We need to find out what part she plays in all of this and where she is.’ Her gaze swung to the chart on the whiteboard. ‘Wherever she is, it can’t be far. Just because the truck wasn’t registered at all doesn’t mean it doesn’t belong to her or Adam.’

As frustrated as she was when Hal told her that whoever was driving the truck was doing so illegally, it was nothing compared to how she felt when Sandra then informed her that no one in the Kensington neighborhood recognized or recalled seeing the truck in the area, either on Thursday or in the days just before or after.

‘Keep me posted on anything you find out, and we’ll do the same.’ With that, Alyssa clapped her hands, and the team rolled out.

Despite the cold air, Alyssa’s skin was tight and clammy as the eeriness of yips and yelps from coyotes shimmered around them. By the time her team reached Glorieta, the search and rescue team were already circulating, and nighttime had swept dusk out and ushered in the absolutely impenetrable dark. With no city lights to break up the sinister shadows, she felt every inch of the chilling terror, knowing it paled in comparison to what the girls must be feeling, what they must’ve felt all along.

Squinting to see beyond the tree line, she made a vow to herself. One way or another, come hell, high water, or sudden torrential flooding of biblical proportions, she was bringing Addis and Emerson home tonight – even if it meant combing every inch of these woods alone.

Together, her team approached the tent SAR had assembled as a temporary home base. Half a dozen floodlights cast mystic shadows onto the ground where four men and three women hunched over a table. They were within a few feet of the congregants when one of the women straightened, said something to the man beside her, and then pumped Alyssa’s hand with one firm shake.

‘Alyssa?’

‘That’s me.’

‘Victoria. Nice to meet you. My team is scoping out the best way to go in. With the four of you, there’ll be eleven of us. Two of our guys will stay behind to man the station.’ She walked as she talked. ‘You have your radio units?’ When Alyssa nodded, Victoria continued. ‘Great.’

At the table, she pointed a finger and offered lightning-fast introductions. Already Alyssa liked this woman who didn’t feel the need to waste anyone’s time with idle chitchat that didn’t apply to the urgent situation at hand.