While Nora left a voice mail for Carson, Alex headed for Old Camp Road, where his friends had found Nora’s car. Maybe one of them was still with the vehicle, or if nothing else, he could finally get a signal on his cell.

“Where are you going?” Nora gasped. “Please don’t take me back to my car. Not tonight.”

“Relax, Nora, please.” Mackenzie twisted in her seat to face her sister.

Alex adjusted the rearview mirror. “I need to let them know you’re okay.”

They would want to take her statement as well.

Mackenzie touched his arm. “You can call Terra and let her know. Please just take us back to . . .”

She didn’t finish. She didn’t have to. Nora was in a bad frame of mind, and she would be more upset if he took her back to the scene. His law enforcement friends would just have to be okay with it. He turned around and returned to Stone Wolf Ranch while he called Terra to let her know that Nora was safe and where they were headed.

One of the detectives planned to stop by the cabin to talk to Nora. Alex wasn’t sure how much Nora would share and how much she would hold close.

Relief washed over him when he steered the Mustang up the long drive to Stone Wolf Ranch, and as he took the short drive back to the cabins, he noticed the lights were off in the cabin across the way where Erin and her mother were staying. Alex was relieved Terra hadn’t woken Erin.

He stopped in front of the cabin and climbed out, then helped Mackenzie assist her sister. Nora’s jacket, blouse, and pants had a few smudges and one rip near the hem of her slacks, but she looked psychologically traumatized more than physically harmed. Still, one could be as bad as the other.

“What is this place?” She glanced at Mackenzie.

“I . . . uh . . .” Mackenzie looked to Alex for help. “I’m staying here. Nora, I’m sorry. I guess I didn’t mention that someone broke into Dad’s—I mean, Rowan’s—house. Alex took me there to gather my things after we were at Hanstech the night the elevator stalled. I hadn’t intended to stay, and while we were there, someone broke in.”

Nora speared Mackenzie with a look. “And you didn’t tell me?”

“Let’s have this conversation inside.” After what she’d been through, now probably wasn’t the best time to break that news to her. He ushered them forward toward the cabin.

“Why wasn’t I informed?”

“I’m sorry.” Mackenzie’s demeanor seemed to change when she was around her sister. “We’ll talk about everything once we get inside.”