“This is Nathan’s SUV. Last week we pulled it out of the Long River about three miles north of Lake Walker. As you can see, it appears as if it’s been there all winter.”

“I assume he wasn’t in it?”

“No. No sign of a body in or around the vehicle, but with the temps of the water in winter, there’s no way he survived if he went in with the car.”

“The key word there is if,” Danny pointed out.

Rossi nodded. “True.” The cop wasn’t prone to bullshit. It was the only thing Danny liked about him. “Evidence techs pretty much came up empty, too.”

“How did the SUV get into the river?”

“Looks like it went off in front of a small bridge just before the beginning of the guardrail.”

“So maybe an accident. Maybe not.”

“Exactly.” The detective sighed.

“Do you think he’s dead?”

“I don’t know.” Rossi’s frown lines went Grand Canyon. “Officially, the case is still open. But Nathan Hall suffers from a genetic brain disease. The neurologist we consulted said he could live another eighteen months at the most. The condition is degenerative. His ability to function will deteriorate over time. In six months to a year, Nathan won’t be a threat to anyone no matter where he is.”

That was a long time for his sister to stew. Danny tensed. The ache in his arm intensified. A psycho could do a lot of damage in a year. “But you’re not actively looking for him anymore?”

“Nathan is still at the top of our Most Wanted list, and we will investigate any sightings, but unless new evidence comes in, I honestly don’t know where we’d look. We combed this state and came up with nothing.” Rossi crushed his Styrofoam cup and tossed it into the trash. “If he’s still alive, he’s probably far, far away.”

“But you don’t know that.”

“No, I don’t,” Rossi said. “But northern Maine is surrounded on three sides by six hundred miles of Canadian border. It’s impossible to secure the entire length of it, even with air patrols and sensors.”

“So, you’re giving up?” Danny’s mood and voice went flat. Damned cops. They always had plenty of time to chase down teenagers, but murderers? Too much effort. “What about the unknown girlfriend?”

“I told you we ran into a wall with her.” Rossi walked toward the exit. Danny had no choice but to follow. “This case is a very big deal to us, Mr. Sullivan. Maine has less than twenty-five murders annually, and we close ninety percent of those cases. We will keep it open, but the trail is ice-cold. If I get any more leads, I’ll let you know. Can I reach you at home?”

“I’ll be in Huntsville for a couple of weeks.” Danny gave the cop his cell number.