“What if that’s a body?” I ask Theo, nauseated by the thought. Before I’ve turned to him, he’s out the passenger’s door and crossing the road. Swearing under my breath, I spring from my car and run to catch up.

  “Sir, that bag looks heavy,” Theo calls out from the edge of the sidewalk. “We were walking by and saw you struggling. Can I help you lift it into your trunk?”

  The man’s eyes glisten with a sweet smile, producing a network of wrinkles that deepen across his face. “That would be mighty kind of you, young man. Thank you.” He shuffles away from the trunk and starts for the passenger’s door. “I’ll pop the trunk.”

  It’s difficult to envision the elderly minister as anything other than a caring man, especially considering how many times he’d offered to help Jackie. I’m beginning to sense Theo’s prior aversion to him had more to do with the fact that Theo was simply weary of religion as a kid.

  Exchanging a similar look of doubt, Theo and I advance inside the garage. Garden tools hang from an organizer beside the vehicle and a few plastic tubs are piled on the far end, otherwise the space is barren. It’s immaculate with floors so shiny that I’m surprised the minister parks his crossover inside.

  The trunk releases with with a dull click as Theo bends to retrieve the bag, massaging the contents with both hands.

  “My sister came over and helped me go through my wife’s things,” the minister explains as he comes back around to join us. “I’ve been putting off a trip to the salvation store.”

  Theo throws me a look that promises nothing sinister is inside the bag when he drops it into the spotless trunk. “Wait for them to come help you unload this at the store. Must be several dozen books in here.”

  “My sweet Tabby was an avid reader,” the minister digresses with another fond smile. “She mostly enjoyed religious non-fiction, but there were a few romance novels sprinkled among them.”

  The minister shades his eyes with a liver-spotted hand to watch the helicopter whiz past again. “What on earth are they doing? They’ve been buzzing around for hours.”

  “They’re searching for a missing young girl,” I say, stopping to gauge his reaction.

  The wrinkles on his face stretch with his frown. “Another local girl is missing?”

  “My mom’s pretty upset over it,” I tell him with a sullen nod. “She said it reminds her of when she was young and Jackie Tanner went missing.”

  After a moment, he covers his face with his hands before a loud sob slips from his lips. “I’m sorry…I’m so, so sorry! I can only hope God will forgive me!”

  There’s no way, I think with a bolt of shock. He couldn’t have kidnapped that girl last night. I doubt he could carry a gallon of milk. Theo’s eyes widen on mine as if he’s thinking the same thing.

  “I should’ve insisted on giving that poor Tanner girl a ride that night!” the old man cries. “I’m a mandated reporter! I should’ve called law enforcement and let them know something was amiss! Had I done something, she would’ve been safe and sound!”

  I wrap my arm around him in a side embrace, partially relieved yet mostly unsurprised. He’s too feeble to have recently overpowered a 12-year-old, and he’s clearly still distraught about Jackie. He may have been a bit strange back in the day, but he’s no killer.

  “I’m sorry to have upset you,” I say, giving his geriatric bones a light squeeze before releasing him. “It sounds like a lot of people who knew Jackie are upset they couldn’t have done more to save her.” I eye Theo with a sympathetic smile. “You’re certainly not alone in feeling that way.”

  The minister removes his glasses to wipe his wet eyes on his sweater sleeve. “That’s alright, child. I imagine Jackie’s in the Lord’s loving hands by now.” He sets his glasses back on his nose before he pats Theo’s elbow. “Thank you again for your kindness. I hope you both have a lovely day.”

  We both tell him goodbye before Theo takes my hand. As we descend the driveway and re-enter the quiet street, I release a heavy breath and slip my hand out from his. “That went the way I imagined. There’s no way he’s involved. At least not with the newest abduction.”

  Theo gives me an agreeable nod. “We should meet up with K.C., see if she’s had any luck.” He gently nudges my arm. “Give me the keys. I’ll drive.”

  I pass the fob over and slip into the passenger’s side, grabbing my phone before securing my seatbelt. The website from Theodore, Sr.’s reunion is still up when I wake the screen. I scroll through it again, freezing with the sight of a familiar name.

  I blink several times to make sure I’m truly seeing the teacher’s name and not imagining things. “Your father graduated with Jackie’s teacher, Elroy Kabe.” My eyes slide over to Theo. “Did you know that?”

  “He never mentioned it.” He leans back, frowning. “You sure?”

  “I found a website for your father’s upcoming reunion and both of their names are listed.”

  Before he can respond, my phone vibrates with a call from Chief Nielsen. I raise a finger to let Theo know I’ll be a minute.

  “Did you find her?” I ask the chief.

  “Not yet. I wanted to let you know the fire department received a call about a burning vehicle near the industrial parks downtown. It was a 2014 Acura, navy blue. I’m sending you a picture now.”

  Another vibration of my phone alerts me to a new text. I check the screen, dismissing the low battery warning, and find a picture of a half charred sedan. The earth drops beneath my feet. “That’s it,” I whisper. “That’s the car that was following me.”

  Theo grips my hand, his expression tight with concern.

  “Where’s Theo’s father?” Chief Nielsen asks.

  “I-I don’t know. We haven’t seen him since we left his hotel a few hours ago.”

  The chief lets out an exasperated grunt. “Seems awfully convenient he came in here, hellbent on pinning the abductions on the minister because of a car he drove all those years ago, and hours later the car you ID’d was destroyed. I don’t remember much about working with Detective Davies back in the day, but something is definitely off now. He seemed to have a hard time reeling in his anger, like you said. I looked into his dismissal with his last precinct and have a bad feeling overall about the guy.”

  I whimper in agreement as my stomach twists into knots. Theo may be the son of a serial killer.

  “Is Theo with you?” he asks.

  “Yes,” I say.

  “Is he carrying?” The two men had discussed protection after the break-in, and Theo had assured him that he had a permit to carry along with five years of training with the military.

  “Yes,” I confirm with fading trepidation.

  “Good. Go somewhere safe—somewhere Theo’s father wouldn’t think to look for you. I’m sending out an APB on him. I’ll let you know when we have him in custody.”

  A rush of anxiety tightens my spine. Will Theo’s father come after us because he knows we’re too close to the truth? “Okay.”

  “Sterling,” the chief says, his voice edged with a hint of reluctance, “I don’t know where you could’ve possibly been going with that strange conversation we had this morning about the things you witnessed firsthand, but I sense your theories are spot-on. We’re going to nail this asshole, and bring little Abigail home. Maybe we’ll finally give the others a chance to rest in peace, too.”

  Once he ends the call, I slowly lower my phone to my lap.

  “What’d he say?” Theo demands. “Did they figure out who broke into your house?”

  “Someone tried to destroy the car that’s been following me.” I link my fingers through his as I meet his hopeful expression. “Chief Nielsen is convinced your father is somehow involved.”

  His Adam’s apple rises and falls with a hard swallow. “I feel like a fool.” His eyes squeeze shut. “I believed he was only angry with me and didn’t have the traits of a killer.”

  He’s not the only one who feels like a fool. “Babe, you can’t shoulder the blame for his actions any more than you can accept responsibility for Jackie’s abduction.” I bring the back of his hand up to my mouth, pressing my lips firmly against it with remorse for once suspecting him spreading through my heart like cancer. If he finds out how much I doubted him, I might lose him forever.

  I add, “Besides, we could still be wrong.” What else could I possibly say? I’m convinced that Chief Nielsen is right, and we have our man cornered.

  Lowering his hand, I unsuccessfully attempt to muster a smile. “The chief wants us to lay low for a while until they bring your father in for questioning. Let’s regroup with K.C. and head somewhere to eat.”

  He responds with a doleful nod. As he steers my car onto the paved road, I call K.C. It rings straight into her voicemail, so I send a text.

  Chief Nielsen thinks Theo’s dad is the killer. They’re searching for him. Stay put, we’re coming to you.

  There’s a long pause before three dots appear, indicating she’s typing. As my phone vibrates with her reply, I become lightheaded.

  Shows how little you know. You should’ve kept your nose out of this like I told you.

  26

  STERLING - 2018

  Although Theo exceeds the speed limit by double digits, the drive to the southwest edge of the city where Darrel Heinrich lives feels agonizingly slow. “It can’t be K.C.,” I tell Theo for what must be the third or fourth time as I check to ensure I haven’t received any new messages from her. My phone beeps with an alert, letting me know less than 5% of the battery life remains. “She’s been advocating for those girls forever. Someone must’ve done something to her and taken her phone.”

  “You don’t have to convince me, sweetheart,” Theo seethes, cutting off a mini van at our final turn. “But they want us to think it isn’t my old man. Who else could it be?”

  “It has to be Heinrich. She was sitting outside his house.”

  Why else would Jackie’s memories keep returning to the man from the skating rink? I refuse to believe I was meant to relive her final days on repeat for nothing. She must’ve known her killer. Whether she’s channeling me because I was her in another life, or she’s sending me a message some other way, I have to believe it’s my purpose in life to solve her murder.

  Theo points out the windshield to where K.C.’s empty vehicle is parked in the grass ditch beside a corn field. “There’s her Bronco.”

  My heart sinks when noticing the driver’s door was left ajar. Was she ambushed while sitting inside?

  We’re essentially in the middle of nowhere on a gravel road a few miles off Highway 169, near a yard overtaken by scrub oaks and weeds. In the thick of it, I spot a worn-down farmhouse that I would guess was built in the prior century. One of its widows on the second floor is broken in shards, and the front screen door hangs from one hinge. The house is a mottled gray with spots of chipped white paint clinging with abandon. It emits serious horror movie vibes that I’m unable to shake.

  “Is this seriously the address?” I ask Theo, certain K.C. had parked in the wrong place.

  He shows me the map on his phone. “I guess so.” Then his eyes drift over to the house. “You really think Heinrich lives here?”

  “Maybe he got spooked when the police suspected him, and decided to live off the grid.” I open the passenger’s door of my car. “I’m going to check in K.C.’s Bronco to see if her phone is still in there.”

  As Theo parks the car behind me, I jog over to the classic SUV, alarmed to discover the keys nestled beneath the driver’s door in the ankle-deep grass. I bend to retrieve them and the cup of coffee I had for breakfast nearly comes back up.

  Blood covers the sharp tip protruding from a metal ring attached to the keychain—something I’d almost purchased once in a self-defense store in L.A.

  What has happened to our friend? My mind races with the possibilities. What if it’s her blood on the ring?

  Sliding my phone from my pocket, I send Chief Nielsen a pin of my location, then a text.

  I know you told us to lay low, but we had to check on K.C. first. We have valid reasons to believe someone took her.

  There’s only a brief pause before he replies.

  What in the hell was she doing there?

  I quickly type out my response while eyeing the red battery on the corner of my screen.

  Theo’s father gave us this address, said it’s where Heinrich lives. But I’m not so sure. House looks abandoned.

  Seconds after I’ve hit the sent button, my phone’s screen turns black. “Shit,” I huff, slipping the dead phone into my pocket. I can only hope the message sent in time.

  As Theo heads my way, I hold K.C.’s bloodied little weapon out for him to see. “I found this discarded in the grass. She must’ve put up a fight.”

  “Dammit!” He fists his hair and spins around slowly, eyes sweeping across the landscape. Beyond the vibrant green fields of flourishing crops, there isn’t another acreage for miles. “Wait a minute, I know this area. I sometimes go cross-country skiing through this field. We aren’t too far from Minneopa park.”

  Visions of Darrel Heinrich kidnapping those girls at the park and disposing of their bodies somewhere nearby has my bladder threatening to let loose. If this truly is his property, how long has he owned it? Does he still own the house in town? I try to imagine Jackie standing in this same spot, or maybe even being carried inside, and a tear slips down my cheek. If only my dreams had gone beyond her capture…we wouldn’t be plagued with so many questions and uncertainties.

  Unease creeps down my spine with a new thought, making me shiver. I grip Theo’s arm as the earth wobbles beneath my feet. “What if your dad didn’t really write down Heinrich’s address? What if he tricked us into coming here for a different reason?”

  The troubled look Theo gives me when he wordlessly flicks my tear away with his knuckle only increases my growing discontent. “Stash those keys by the gas cap in case someone else comes along. Careful not to touch the blood—could be evidence. I’m gonna take a look inside the house.”

  “I’m coming with,” I say, although I secretly have no desire to enter the decrepit building to find out what diabolical things may be lurking if K.C.’s not inside. “I’m not going to sit here and wait to be taken next.”

  Theo nods firmly as he takes my hand. “Wouldn’t want you anywhere else.”

  As we approach the old house, my dress pants snag on cockleburs and my short heels dig into the soft earth. The thought of having to run from someone makes it harder to breath in the sweet aroma of weeds and the bitterness of dirt. When we climb the two front steps at the same time, the deck’s worn floorboards groan from the pressure, threatening to snap.

  Theo removes the handgun from his waistband with one hand and grips the side of my head with the other. His gaze is fiercely protective as it holds mine. “Stay right behind me…hold onto my shirt. If we hear anything unusual, hit the floor as fast as you can. Got it?”

  Fear of what we’re about to find prevents me from answering, so I simply nod. His lips press against mine, then we’re on the move. Despite his subtle efforts, the ancient screen door and the faded green door behind it squeal on their hinges when we enter.

  The interior of the house isn’t as shabby as I’d been expecting, and has quite obviously been lived in for some time. Beneath a yellowed mirror framed in chipped silver, an oak bench painted a cheery shade of yellow occupies a small parlor with a pair of men’s workbooks tucked underneath. I nudge Theo, pointing to the fresh dirt surrounding the boots. His jaw clenches when he nods.

  Motioning for me to follow, Theo grips his gun in both hands, aiming it straight ahead. We advance through a door opening on the left, finding a small kitchen where a dirty frying pan, plate, and fork wait to be washed beside a porcelain sink. The faint aroma of fried bacon causes my stomach to growl with envy. A folded newspaper occupies a small round table rimmed in metal with two chairs on either side. Other than the newspaper and dirty dishes, the kitchen is bare. I tug on Theo’s shirt, leading him over to the table.

  Today’s date is printed on The Free Press.

  Two paneled doors flank either side of the kitchen. Theo crosses over to the first with me hot on his tail and cracks it open enough to reveal a pantry with only a few boxed items and cans of soup. He turns back to face me right as there’s a loud thud somewhere behind us. I lean into him, clinging to his arm with all my strength.

  “Wait for me in there,” he whispers, nudging me toward the pantry door. “Stay low and don’t come out until I say it’s clear.”

  My limbs tremor with every rapid beat of my heart as I slip into the dark pantry. The heavy door creaks shut, blocking my view of Theo heading into the next room. Thick dust fills my lungs with every sharp, panic-ridden inhale. I fumble to retrieve my phone from my pocket for the flashlight, belatedly remembering it’s dead. My trembling fingers send it clattering down onto the rustic wooden floor. Wincing, I bend to retrieve it and inadvertently push my backside against the wall of shelves behind me.

  The wall moves.

  A warm golden light fills the pantry, revealing a set of rickety stairs behind me that descend into darkness.

  “That’s a whole lotta nope,” I decide quietly. There’s no way in hell I’m going down there without Theo.

  A racket comes from somewhere beyond the kitchen—possibly hurried steps and something or someone falling. I wrap my arms around my trembling body, terrified I’ll hear a gunshot next. Attempting to fight against a rush of tears, I hold my breath as I eagerly wait for Theo to return.

  The sound of a female whimpering drifts up from the stairway behind me.

  K.C.

  Adrenaline courses through my blood, sending me tiptoeing down the nefarious stairway without another thought. If my friend is in trouble, I have to act. With every step I take, it becomes a little harder to breathe in the musty air. When my foot comes into contact with a cement floor, I pause to let my eyesight adjust to the dim light.