We got a location on Nick Sanders. And, lucky us, it requires more driving through rural Virginia.

DeMarco said nothing, making her feelings about more car riding unclear. But the one thing Kate did see in DeMarco was an unwavering determination. In the steely expression DeMarco wore, Kate could see the foundations of a woman who was going to become an incredible agent, living out a grand career. But more important, she also saw the spark of a woman who was not going to rest until this case was solved. And there was no way a seemingly endless stream of Virginia back roads was going to derail her.

Kate could relate. It was exactly how she felt as she pulled her car back out onto the thin strip of road that would lead back to Highway 44 and the winding, waiting roads beyond.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

All of the rural Virginia back roads looked the same as far as Kate was concerned. Blacktopsome unmarked with signs or lines down the middleand expanses of woodlands that were slowly being decimated by local lumber companies. Over and over again. And Duck Branch was no different. It was a little hole in the wall town, nearly every business closed up like the echo of some better life from a decade or so ago.

About halfway through the sorry excuse for a town, Bills Tire and Auto Shop came up on the right. There wasnt even any real sign out frontjust an old piece of double-enforced plywood with the name of the business painted on in black. It was 5:25 when Kate pulled her car into the bumpy parking lot. There were several old beaten-up vehicles parked along the side of the building, clearly in need of repair. The only other two vehicles to be seen were a run-down old Ford truck and a police car with Carroll County Sheriff written down the side.

It was the Carroll County police that Kate had spoken to in Cornerstone Baptist Church after getting off of the phone with Duran. Shed called in an assist for an officer to detain Nick Sanders until she and DeMarco could arrive, and the fellow on the line had seemed pleased to help.

Kate and DeMarco got out of the car and walked over to the patrol car. A short and slightly overweight man got out, adjusting his pants as he walked toward them. Kate was rather ashamed of herself when she thought he looked like the stereotypical southern coppretty much like something straight out of The Dukes of Hazard.

Because the cop was scrutinizing them so heavily as they approached one another, Kate went ahead and pulled her badge and ID. The cop nodded and extended a meaty hand to be shaken.

Im Sheriff Jennings, he said. I got your boy Nick Sanders in the front seat of my car and let me tell you, hes pretty pissed.

Did you arrest him? Kate asked.