Dani remembered the unspoken conversation the two had had the night before and wondered what was going on between them. She hoped it was something wonderful, because Troy and Quincy both seemed like nice guys.

“I didn’t come just to give the gifts, though,” Quincy said. “Well, not just for the kids anyway. I’ve got something for you, too.”

Diesel passed Troy’s phone to Dani. “Nursing home receptionist ID’d Scott King as Cade Kaiser. His father is a patient at the home.”

“Yeah,” Troy said sourly. “She went to the news first, not the cops.”

“And dressed to the nines for her interview,” Dani noted. She gave Troy his phone. “I hope she enjoys her fifteen minutes of fame.”

Diesel rolled his eyes. “I hope she realizes that King or Kaiser, or whoever the hell he is, is a serial killer and will probably go after her for outing him.”

“If she’d come to us first, we might have given her protection,” Troy said, then shrugged. “There’s more you need to know, though. Do you know an Evelyn Keys?”

Dani went still. “Yeah. She’s my dog groomer. I help her with her baby when he’s sick.” A new ball of dread formed in her belly. “Why?”

“She’s missing,” Troy said gently. “She didn’t show up for her first appointment and never dropped her son off at day care. Her grooming van was found abandoned near Mount Airy Forest.”

“Oh my God,” Dani whispered, physically swaying from the horror of the realization, grateful when Diesel wrapped his arm around her shoulders to hold her up. “He got away, didn’t he? Scott King or Cade Kaiser or whatever the hell his name is? He got away and he used Evelyn and Jimmy to do it.”

“That’s the way it looks,” Troy agreed. “We didn’t find any sign of violence. No blood. He may have taken them hostage, and if so, he won’t hurt them. He’ll need them as negotiating leverage.”

Diesel kissed her temple. “Breathe, honey. We’re going to find him.”

Dani nodded. He was right. So was Troy. But at the same time, they weren’t. “I’ve been a hostage before. He doesn’t have to physically hurt her to do harm.”

Diesel pulled her even tighter against him. “I know. But we will find him. We’re getting closer. Just focus on that.”

She closed her eyes. “I’ll try. I will. It’s just . . . Evelyn is so sweet. She wouldn’t hurt a fly. And she and Jimmy don’t have anyone.”

“They have you in their corner,” Diesel told her. “And they have the FBI. Which is almost as good as having you.”

She forced her lips to curve. “You’re right.” Straightening her spine, she gave Troy her full attention. “Anything else?”