The guards at the checkpoint, startled when his tires screeched and his back end swung around far enough to almost clip the fence, stepped out.

“What is it, Sergeant?” Officer Bailey asked, obviously concerned by the lights and the noise as well as Amarok’s seemingly reckless driving. “What’s wrong?”

“Have you seen Evelyn today?” he asked without preamble.

“Not for several hours.” Bailey looked over at his younger counterpart, Officer Derby, who stood in the shade of the building. “You?”

Derby moved into the sunlight with Bailey. “She left after lunch. Must’ve been one or so. I’m not sure exactly, I can check the logbook—”

“No. I’ve spoken to Penny,” Amarok told them. “I know when she left. The bigger question is … has she come back?”

Bailey exchanged another glance with Derby. “No, sir.”

“Did she have anyone with her when she left? Did she seem upset or say where she was going?”

Both correctional officers looked utterly bewildered as they shook their heads. “No. Has something happened?”

“I think so.” What other answer was there? She wouldn’t stand him up, especially when they were planning their wedding, wouldn’t skip out on work when she was expected back, wouldn’t drop her purse in the front yard and walk away with only one shoe.

“What is it?” Bailey asked, wide-eyed.

“That’s what I’m here to find out. Can you tell me if Jasper Moore is still locked up?”

“Last I saw, he was,” Derby said. “I searched his cell yesterday when I searched the whole block.”

That was good news. Jasper getting his hands on Evelyn was the worst possible scenario. After being so terribly scarred and traumatized by what he did twenty-three years ago, she was finally beginning to conquer her fear of him. Amarok couldn’t remember the last time she’d come awake thrashing around and crying in bed due to another nightmare. It’d been months.

But it could be that someone just as bad was the culprit this time around—maybe even someone she’d dealt with before she moved to Alaska, which would mean he’d really be searching for a needle in a haystack. He’d have to go through all her old files and records before he could do anything else, and by then—

He cut off that thought. “Can you let me through?”

“Of course. One sec.”

Amarok gripped the steering wheel, squeezing tightly to keep his hands in place as Bailey circled the truck with the pole-mounted mirror to check the undercarriage. Such tight security felt like a waste of time. As far as Amarok was concerned, the worst had already happened. It was all he could do not to pull his gun and demand he be allowed to pass. And Makita could tell he was on edge. He barked, then gave a low growl to signify he was ready to fight, too, if necessary.

Fortunately, Bailey gestured the all clear and he was able to roll through only seconds later, without having to do anything that could cost him his badge.