She pulled out her phone and called Win Yarrow. It was after midnight, and she got his voice mail, so she explained the current situation, the search for Janie and the hope that the trail cams would be able to tell them something.

Then she drove back to the Cooper place. She dreaded telling Garrett about the note, but she had to, and maybe, just maybe, Garrett would have a guess as to where Blakely might have taken Janie. He had, after all, been working with the guy.

Lights were still blazing inside the mobile, so she knew Garrett was still awake. She got out and knocked on the door.

“Did you find her?” Garrett opened the door, face full of hope.

Tess had to dash the hope. “No, I’m sorry; we didn’t. But we know for certain now that Blakely was involved in her disappearance.”

Tess stepped inside. Garrett’s sister was curled up on the couch.

“How do you know?”

She told him about the note. Garrett paled and sat down hard in a kitchen chair.

“I think he was killed before he had a chance to give you the note, and I think that he’s hidden Janie somewhere, up near the Scaleses’ fence line. I have to ask again—do you have any idea where he’d take her?”

He looked at her with red-rimmed eyes, then ran a hand through his hair. “Ah, man, she could be anywhere. I . . . I, uh, never went with Ken when he poached. I’m no hunter, not even a hiker. I wouldn’t know any landmarks.”

Tess bit her tongue hoping that the caves would be the place and that, by some miracle, Janie would be alive.

“He’d be gone for days, hiding in tents while he waited for bears. He used tents, bushes, caves, anything he could to hide from people too.” He swallowed. “You think she’s dead?”

Tess didn’t answer right away. When Garrett said caves, she’d perked up.

“I’m not giving up on her. I don’t want you to either. Gabe went to get our ATV. We’ll head up the trail and look for her.” Tess heard the whine of the ATV motor. “Try and get some rest, Garrett. I’ll let you know the moment I have anything to tell you.”

He nodded, and she stepped outside to where Gabe waited with the ATV. She saw that he’d also brought some powerful flashlights.

“I called Yarrow, left a message, asked him to check the forest cams he installed. Do you think we should give him another try?”

“He’s a good guy to have along on a search in the forest.”

Tess was still tapping her phone when a fish and game vehicle came tearing into the lot, jerked to a stop in front of them, and Win Yarrow jumped out.

“I got your message and came as soon as I could.”