“Of course.” Zello paused as another patrol car slid to a stop. “You want our officers to start canvassing?”

“Yes.” She watched as Huck and Aeneas jogged up. The dog now wore a search and rescue vest, which told him what his job was today.

A Fish and Wildlife officer hurried out of the house to hand over a blouse. “It was in a dirty-clothes basket in the master bathroom,” the woman said.

Huck accepted the blouse and leaned down to press it to the dog’s nose. “I’m going to try to track Christine.” Then he straightened. “Monty? I want everyone on this, including air support. Let’s get choppers in the sky. Now.”

Monty reached for his radio, quickly calling in orders.

“We’ll have the locals canvass, and I’ve called for FBI crime techs to handle the scene,” Laurel said. She nodded at Officer Zello. “Nobody goes in or out until the scene is processed. Except me.”

“Understood,” Officer Zello said. “I’ll take care of it—we’ll start going door-to-door.”

Monty stood straight in the cold day, his hair starting to turn more white than gray. He had lost weight during the last month, but his eyes were clear. “I called Kate, and she’s going to the hospital. She’ll keep us updated.”

“Thank you,” Laurel said softly.

“Hunt, boy,” Huck said, taking the dog off the leash.

Aeneas immediately turned and took off between the emergency vehicles with Huck on his heels.

“If the guy kept her on foot, we’ll find her,” Monty said, glancing at his phone. “Copters are up in fifteen. We’ll spot them.”

Laurel nodded. “Can you have the state police track down Mayor Bearing and his son Tommy as well as Dr. Joseph Keyes? I want to know where they all are right this second.”

“Sure.” Monty reached for his radio. “The mayor and his kid should be easy to find. Keyes must be the heart doctor you were on the way to interview?”

“Affirmative.” Laurel walked by him. Officers headed in both directions to knock on doors, while Officer Zello remained at post.

He handed her a pair of rubber gloves. “I don’t have booties.”

“Thanks.” She stood next to him and looked beyond the emergency vehicles. The lots were so large she couldn’t see another house. Trees were plentiful, even across the street. Meager and weak, the sun nonetheless lit the entire area even as it failed to cut the cold. “Was the subdivision gate open or closed when you arrived?”

“Closed,” Officer Zello said. “We used emergency protocol to open it and left it open after we entered.”

She scanned the area across the road, seeing large footsteps in the snow. “Did Captain Rivers go that way?”

“Affirmative.”

“If the gate was down, either the shooter had the code or came in on foot.”