Danny filled him in. There was no one he’d rather have his back than Conor. “We’re headed to Lake Walker.”

“Don’t waste any time, Danny. Whatever is going down is happening tonight.”

“What did you find out? And say it fast. I only have one bar of cell reception, and we’re headed out of town.”

“Have you ever heard of Beltane?”

The duck boat slid into the glassy water of Lake Walker. Mandy held the bow line as Jed drove the truck and trailer away from the lake and parked. They piled into the bobbing craft. The dog claimed the bow, sticking her nose in the air and sniffing the air. Mandy sat up front with Honey.

“We’ll start where you found the camera.” Jed started the motor and followed the shoreline. “We’re about a half hour from the end of the trail the girls were hiking.”

Mandy hadn’t spoken in the hour since they’d left the inn. Danny and Jed had conferred on the search, but no one had mentioned her big revelation. Waves of anger and hurt wafted from both men, but Mandy shut them down. Every ounce of energy inside her was reserved for keeping her head on straight so she could find her brother.

Keeping panic at bay was her full-time occupation. She had nothing left to give.

She checked her watch. According to Danny’s brother, whatever Nathan was planning would happen tonight.

Bill was afraid of the dark.

It took another thirty precious minutes to motor over to the North River Trail exit. Jed tilted the motor, and they dragged the bow onto the shore and tied it to a tree. Honey leaped out. Whining, she ran up and down the weedy shoreline.

“She smells something she doesn’t like,” Jed said.

The dog darted up the slope toward the trees.

“So do I.” With a worried frown, Danny started after the retriever. Mandy and Jed fanned out twenty yards on each side of him.

Over the organic smells of soil and pine, a cloying scent lingered. Mandy stepped into the forest and walked past the little yellow ribbon that indicated the camera’s original position. The buzz of insects drew her deeper into the woods. Her steps were quiet on the bed of wet pine needles underfoot. Both the smell and the buzzing intensified.

Flies. There were too many flies.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Something scuffled outside the barn. Kevin startled from a doze. The double doors across from his cage slid open. He squinted against the bright light until his eyes adjusted. A dry, clean breeze swept through the barn. Kevin got his first good look outside in days. The barnyard was a large cleared square the size of an infield, made up of mostly dirt and weeds. Beyond it, a meadow rolled out for about a hundred yards before the forest took over.