“She’s asking good questions, you know, about evil going on and on, seemingly with impunity. The question of unredeemable—I struggle with that myself.”

“I know you do. It’s okay to struggle and to even go to God with the struggle. Asking questions will get you answers.”

Tess said nothing, wondering if she’d ever be as sure on this subject as he was.

He held Tess’s gaze, worry on his brow. “Tess, I—”

The crackle of her radio interrupted him. It was her call sign, Curtis Pounder calling. He’d stayed on duty after being called in early to help with the perimeter. She frowned, thinking perhaps he was calling about that duty, certain that the perimeter had been broken down since it was obvious the suspect had made it outside the boundaries they’d set.

“Edward-1, I copy. Go ahead.”

“Chief, we have a problem—another missing woman.”

“What?” Tess said, exhaustion fading.

“Yeah, it’s Janie Cooper. She’s not answering her phone, seems to have vanished. Gabe is with Garrett at the mobile park. Garrett called Walmart to see if she was there on her day off for some reason. They said that she did have an appointment at the salon, the first one of the day, but she never showed up. But one of her coworkers said her truck is parked in the lot. I’m heading down to Walmart to check out her vehicle and review camera footage.”

37

Hearing the radio call made Oliver sick to his stomach. “Not again,” he said. A check of the clock said 5 p.m. Would this horrible day ever end?

Tess stood to leave. He could read the angst in her face, and he prayed this call was simply a misunderstanding.

“Wait.” Oliver put a hand on her arm. “I’ll go with you.” He hated the fatigue and tension on her face and wanted to insist that she let someone else handle this but knew she didn’t want to hear that.

She acknowledged that she heard him with a head tilt but said nothing.

Oliver wondered what was running through Tess’s mind. He thought he saw a little guilt and prayed she didn’t blame herself for all that was going on at the moment. He hoped for a minute or two to speak to her privately, clear the air, as he followed Tess to the trailer park, where Bender was waiting with Garrett Cooper. The man was pacing with his youngest in his arms. He hurried toward Tess when she stepped out of her car.

“Janie’s gone! She just disappeared!”

Garrett was as agitated as Oliver had ever seen him. A thought crossed his mind. Had Janie finally given up on Garrett and left him? Almost as quickly as he thought it, Oliver dismissed the notion. Janie would never leave her kids.

“Garrett, tell me what happened,” Tess said.