To Cord, Alyssa said, ‘It’s eight minutes after eleven right now. If Addis called Grace at five after ten, then the girls have been missing just over an hour.’ Alyssa’s stomach twisted itself into a knot. Even a minute in the hands of an obviously sadistic killer was too long for anyone, much less two teenage girls. She forced herself to stay focused, knowing she’d do no one any good if she allowed her mind to fixate on the vile kinds of things that could be happening even as she stood here.

She pointed at Tony who stood off to her left, waiting for her direction. ‘I need you to get Addis and Emerson entered into NCIC.’ The National Crime Information Center was a database that could be accessed by virtually every law enforcement agency nationwide, twenty-four hours a day, three hundred sixty-five days a year. ‘When you’re finished, head over to the Childress residence and notify Emerson’s parents about what’s going on. I’d say if we’re super lucky, both girls will be there, safe and sound, but I know that’s only wishful thinking on my part.’

As soon as Tony hurried away to do as she’d asked, Alyssa pulled Cord off to the side, knowing what she was about to propose was risky. ‘I’m going to call Hammond to request two Amber Alerts be issued immediately.’

Unsurprisingly, Cord’s eyebrows shot up. ‘You’re not worried that might be a little premature? We don’t even have a description of what the girls are wearing or who may have taken them.’ He hesitated a fraction of a second before adding, ‘Or even if they’re actually missing – though all signs certainly point in that direction.’

Alyssa was undeterred. ‘I understand that, but we can’t chance waiting or wasting another second because if we wait and something happens… Needless to say, I’d rather risk my own image – and the department’s – than gamble against the lives of two girls.’ She looked pointedly in the direction of the kitchen. ‘Especially in light of that grisly crime scene.’ Furthermore, she knew their captain, Guthrie Hammond, would back her decision since he’d always regretted hesitating when it had been her own son who’d gone missing six months ago, especially after discovering he’d been kidnapped by a serial killer with a personal vendetta.

Cord glanced at the carnage then back at her. From the look in his eye, Alyssa knew he, too, was remembering Isaac’s ordeal. ‘On the mantel in the living room, I noticed a photograph of the two girls impersonating Charlie’s Angels that looks recent. We can use that to base the description. If there’s fallout, we’ll field it together.’