“Her name is Alena Savard. She lives alone in the mountains above Endor. She’s the one people call ‘the witch.’”

Braden leaned forward in his chair. “The Witch of Endor? Danny told us about this woman—the one who found all the graves at the Patriot Center. Is she in some way connected to—”

“John. Please.” Victoria kept her eyes on Nick, but she could feel Chris tensing like a coiled spring beside her. “I’ve heard about this woman, but mostly through rumors—I doubt that much of what I’ve heard is true. I’ve never met her personally.”

“She was kidnapped a couple of hours ago—taken from her trailer by force.”

“How terrible. How can I help?”

Nick paused. “I thought you might have some idea where she is.”

“Me? How would I possibly know that?”

Nick glanced down at the scrapbook in her lap.

She nodded with her eyes. “Do you think this woman’s disappearance is related to the deaths of those other people?”

“I think Alena Savard was kidnapped for the same reason the others were killed—to keep something secret.”

“But you said the old librarian was responsible for all those deaths.”

“That’s right—and that’s what I can’t figure out. There was a fourth body discovered at the Patriot Center, remember? Only Agnes wasn’t responsible for that one—that body was two hundred years old. Something else is going on here, Mrs. Braden, and I was hoping you could help me understand what it is. Someone else besides Agnes has a secret to keep—a very old one. I need to know what—”

Nick suddenly stopped; he turned and looked down at the floor beside him, then quickly looked around the room.

“Is something wrong, Dr. Polchak?”

“My dog—where’s my dog?”

“Right here,” Chris said. The dog was stretched out on the carpet beside him; Chris slumped down low in his chair, allowing one arm to dangle down over the side, casually stroking the dog’s back.

Nick stared at the dog, then at Chris.

“Riddick!” the senator shouted. “Don’t you know any better than to touch a seeing-eye dog? You’re distracting the animal from its duties!”

Chris shoved at Trygg with his toe, but the dog refused to move. “I can’t help it—the old mutt just came over and flopped down beside me.”

“It’s okay,” Nick said. “She’s just friendly, that’s all.” He pulled off his glasses and began to rub at the bridge of his nose.

Victoria watched him. Something was wrong, but she had no idea what. Polchak suddenly seemed flustered, as if something unexpected had just taken place. He was covering his eyes, taking time to think; something was going on in that mind of his that he didn’t want to reveal.