‘And I want someone digging into Beau Cambridge and his father’s background. I want cell phone records. Go over the missing person report Sergeant Bordeaux emailed and see if any of the witness statements include a description of persons in the area matching Beau Cambridge. If he was there when Meghan Jessup disappeared, we’ll have probable cause for a search.’ Her eyes caught and held Cord’s whose jaw had tightened at the mention of Jersey’s boyfriend. ‘Because Beau Cambridge is somehow involved,’ Alyssa continued. ‘It can’t just be coincidental that he was tied to two of our missing girls.’

Tony cleared his throat. ‘Allegedly tied to two,’ he corrected. ‘Technically speaking, we only know for certain he’s connected to Jersey Andrews. While his general description fits that of the boy Meghan Jessup was secretly hooking up with, he’s not the only one who does, and we need to keep in mind that Santa Fe is fifty miles away…’ He let his voice trail off.

‘You’re right, and I promise I’m keeping an open mind,’ Alyssa assured everyone, ‘but my gut is telling me he’s involved. And if he is, we need to bring him in sooner rather than later. Because even if he is part of it, he’s not the one in charge – he’s not smart enough to pull off something this sophisticated. He’s answering to someone else.’ She jerked her thumb to the wall where the camera footage was still running. ‘Let’s find out who that someone is.’

Chapter Thirty-One

Thursday, May 23

It was close to seven on Thursday night, and Alyssa, Cord, and Hal were still in the conference room. Captain Hammond had gone home after approving the surveillance for Hotel Camino, as well as overtime for Joe and Tony, who were right this minute posted outside the hotel.

A throbbing headache bloomed behind Alyssa’s eyes as images of Katelyn, Jersey, Rachel, and Meghan’s battered body flashed through her mind. Each second that passed was another second these girls were in danger. She refused to accept that they could already be dead.

‘I think we found that Dodge Viper.’ Officer Hermosa, one of the responding officers who’d arrived at her house when Isaac had been kidnapped, came rushing in. Bent at the waist, hands on his knees, he panted for breath as if he’d just run a half marathon.

Hal wheeled his chair around, Cord shoved back from the table, and Alyssa jolted out of her chair, a loud pop echoing throughout the room as her spine cracked back into place. ‘What?’ she demanded.

‘Dispatch got a call. Sounds like a group of high school kids were off-roading in the mesa when they spotted a fancy red sports car across one of the ravines. They were impressed a car like that would be out there, so they decided to wind their way back around to check it out. They’d been backtracking less than five minutes when they heard a huge Boom and saw a plume of dirt explode out of the ravine. So, they turned around again, and headed back. They had to hike over to the edge of the ravine, but when they did, they saw the Viper on its side at the bottom. They were worried someone might still be in there, so they called nine-one-one right away. One of the guys drove back to the road to guide searchers in.’