“And the files say his DNA’s been compared with the Hydra’s DNA,” McDade said. “Let’s run it again, just to double-check. And let’s locate this couple and talk to them again, with the aim of getting a warrant to search their vehicle, and all their property.”

At that moment, their attention shifted to a trooper who had approached them holding a single slip of note paper.

“Yes, Carrie,” Noble said.

“Rod, Agent McDade, we’ve just got a call from a woman in Newport. Seems she was helping her daughter go door-to-door in Orleans selling cookies for a school trip when she saw something disturbing related to the Moore case.”

CHAPTER 42

Lucifer’s Notch in The Northeast Kingdom

Cass was asleep in her chair, her Bible open on her chest, when a shadow fell over her.

A boot nudged her foot.

She opened her eyes to Gibby.

“Why did you tell that reporter how to find me?”

Blinking to full consciousness and then sighing, Cass sat up, took her Bible, and slid out two twenties from the pages.

“He paid me to talk to him and to find you. I saw it as a sign, because Lord knows, we need the money.”

Gibby shook his head slowly.

“I can get us money. You know that.” He looked off. “We don’t need people sticking their nose into our business, Cass. You know that, too.”

“But this was different. He paid.”

“What did you tell him?”

“Nothing we didn’t already tell police. And I told him you didn’t like to talk to people. But I knew he was going to look for you, Gibby. That’s why I made sure he paid us a little something.”

Gibby bit back on his anger.

Then he moved quickly, gathering things.

“It don’t matter. We gotta pack up.”

“Why?”

“We gotta leave.”

“Why? I like it here. This is a good place.”

“It’s no good now. Not after that reporter.”

“It’s just the one, and he was harmless.”

“No, now others will come. Other people will come.”

“But we managed to stay out of it last time, with the Lord’s help.”

“This time is different. Now get packin’, Cass.”

“Different? I don’t understand.”

“I’m telling you it’s different. We gotta pack up and load the camper onto the truck and leave, like we was never here.”

“That’s gonna take time. I don’t see the need. Why should we go?”

“Stop carryin’ on like you don’t know.”

“Gibby? Answer me. Why do we have to leave?”

Cass followed his gaze as he looked in the direction of hills and ruins. His face was taut; his eyes were distant, seeing something she couldn’t.

“Because I did things out there, terrible things I never shoulda done.”

CHAPTER 43

Northeast Kingdom, Vermont

Sam stared at the skull.

Oh God!