“Chevy also said that she recognized him as working for Beck. And the man we’re looking for—she called him Ice, says he works for Cyrus. Do you know anything about him?”

“I’d sure like to talk to that Ice. I think he’s the Piper I told you about. I’m sending an agent up there to help you with the search and to explain this turn of events to Chevy. Listen, I know you have your hands full . . .”

Tess got the drift. “I’ll call Bronwyn, see if she’ll hang on to Chevy at least until the second gunman is in custody.”

“Or until my agent is up there. We may have a place to move her by then. Are you okay with that?”

“I’ll have to be. When will your agent be here?”

“He’s on his way. Name’s Wally Ferguson. He’s sharp.”

They disconnected, and Tess told Oliver what he’d said.

Oliver brought a hand to his mouth in dismay. His breath appeared as puffs of vapor in the cold air. His concern was genuine—Tess knew him well enough to understand that. Pain rippled through her. In spite of the irritation and the bumps lately, she loved this guy, his heart, his commitment to people. Was there any hope for their relationship? Were they truly good for one another?

“At least they’re going to find another place for her,” Oliver said. “That’s something anyway.”

Tess nodded and swallowed her emotions about their relationship.

“I’ll call Bronwyn for you if that’s okay. You have a lot more pressing things to be concerned with.”

“Thank you.” Tess started to say something else—she so wanted to clear the air between them—but Bender asked for her on the radio.

“Curtis reviewed what he could of camera footage covering the parking lot and the entrance Janie always used. She never entered the store.”

“Is her car in camera range?”

“Yeah, she parks and gets out of it as another truck pulls next to her. The other driver stays out of camera range, probably says something to her. She climbs into the other truck and they’re gone out the north driveway.”

The phone felt cold in her hand. “Blakely?”

“I’d say yes, but there’s nothing clearly identifying him or the truck. It looks like his truck, but I don’t have to tell you how popular that model is around here. The license plate is obscured. He knew how to avoid the camera.”

Tess wanted to pound something. Janie leaving her children for another man—that made no sense to Tess. All her instincts screamed against it. But what would Blakely say to get Janie in the truck with him so easily? He could have threatened the kids.

“Find anything at the mobile?” Bender asked.

“Blakely, dead, execution-style.”

“He bought it in there?”

“Yes, I believe he was killed here.”