“Sorry, can’t hear you. Signal’s fading. I’ll let you know if I find them.” He heard Carver curse as he ended the call. No way was he waiting. Not when Ellie and Billy’s lives could be in danger.

Smoke raced back to him, then turned and ran back along the trail. Kade followed. He wished he were armed. Everything inside him warned that Ellie and Billy were in serious trouble.

And if Ellie’s theory about the killer was correct, it was all his fault.

* * *

The gunman had forced them off the trail some distance back, taking a longer, more circuitous route through a stand of downed pines, a field of dry grass, then over some boulders, so they couldn’t be followed. The rain was falling steadily now, washing away their tracks. With every step farther away from the ranch, Ellie’s fear swelled.

Ahead through the trees, she spotted what appeared to be a vehicle, which had pulled off a dirt road into a knot of trees where it was mostly concealed. The car was a dark green color, and as they drew near, she saw it was a Hummer.

Her blood ran cold. This was the guy who had murdered Frank and Earl. She had no doubt that if she and Billy got in the car with him, they would be dead.

“Where are you taking us?” She needed to get him talking, draw things out, look for an opening.

“I’ve got a nice spot prepared for you. A place we can enjoy ourselves. And we won’t have to worry about anyone interrupting us.”

She started to ask about Billy, beg him to leave the boy and just take her. But Earl Dunstan was dead because he’d known too much. The only way they were going to survive was to escape.

Ellie kept walking. She’d been steadily working her hands free of the zip tie, twisting her wrists one way and then another, tugging the stiff loop up and down, looking for a way to pull her hands through the narrow nylon ring.

“I need to catch my breath,” she said, stumbling to a halt beneath a tree. Turning around, she flicked a glance at Billy. This is the place, she silently told him. It’s now or never.

The boy gave an almost imperceptible nod.

“I told you to keep going,” the gunman said.

“I just need a minute.” She dragged in a couple of deep breaths, as if the climb had been too much, and yanked on the plastic cuffs as hard as she could. A layer of skin came off with the plastic, but her hands were free, and so was she.