“I’m afraid of Ice. He’s a scary guy when he’s mad. Livie says she has a safe place for me.” She shrugged, her eyes filled with tears. “I don’t know where else to go.”

In that second, looking at Chevy, Oliver understood Tess’s reckless, relentless drive. This young woman’s entire life had been shattered by a cruel victimizer, and she’d just been let down by the justice system in a huge way. While his heart broke for the girl, anger ramped up at Beck and the shadowy fellow, Ice.

Catch them, Tess, he thought. Catch them.

–––

Oliver’s car was long gone before Tess climbed out of her car and up the steps to the Coopers’ mobile home, the events of the day weighing her down—Chevy, Tami, Janie, Blakely, a madman called Ice. When it rained, it poured.

Gabe arrived with coffee and pizza. Tess went for the coffee first and drank half a cup before she looked at the pizza. When she did, she found her appetite had disappeared. As she continued to sip her coffee and watch Garrett pick at food, she observed that the young man was obviously distressed. His kids had been packed off with a family friend, and his older sister was with him, and Tess was glad for that.

She found guilt bubbling up again. If only she had paid attention to her instincts and not let Chevy be brought here. The regret was stifling, clouding her thinking. Oliver was right—she needed sleep, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave for rest until she was certain she’d done everything possible to find Janie.

“What now, Chief?” Garrett asked.

Tess told him everything, partly because he deserved to know and partly because she hoped that it would shake some information out of him.

He crumpled, his head hitting the table, and said over and over, “No. No.”

His sister came behind him and put her hand on his shoulders.

“Where would he take her?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know.”

Tess leaned toward him. “Think. Something he said, something you saw.”

He looked up at her, tears running down his face. “Oh, man, I wish I never had anything to do with Blakely. The money wasn’t worth it.”

There’s plenty of regret to go around for everyone, Tess thought. Just then Jonkey called to let Tess know the coroner had arrived.

“As soon as the coroner gives me the okay, I’ll tear that mobile home apart. But you have to help me, Garrett. Think, and think hard: where would Blakely hide Janie?”

He nodded weakly.

“Will you look after your brother, call me if he remembers anything?” she asked the sister.

“I will.”

“I’ll call you as soon as we have anything. Gabe, you’re with me.” With that, she and Bender headed back to the Nelson place.