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“What happened?”

“One of the guys found him in back of the auto parts place. Don’t know how long he’d been there. Beaten all to hell. Fingernails missing. Left for dead and may not make it. It looks bad, Shaw, and I only know of one person who’d do that to him, for only one reason.”

“Fuck.” His hands had already started to shake. “What do?”

“We’ve already got a detail coming to your house. There’ll be somebody there ’round the clock. Got some guys coming up from Arkansas and some from Mississippi. We’re all determined that this is the last place this guy is going to see daylight.”

“What can I do?”

“Nothing. Keep them safe. That’s all you can do. We’ll take care of the rest. But they shouldn’t be alone at any time. Period.”

“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that.” Problem was, hewasworried. Cherilyn had gone to the store in her new car, and he was worried blind. “Aaron, I’m going to Majors Market to make sure Cherilyn is there. I’m headed that way now.”

“What’s she doing out by herself?”

“She insisted on going. Said she was taking Mom with her, but I don’t know if she did.”

“You’d better start finding out. Get on it.”

“I will. I am.” The phone went dead, and his first move was to call Cherilyn, but there was no answer. Not surprising. Cell reception around there was crap. Shaw only stood there for a few seconds before he yelled, “Girls!”

Candace appeared in the kitchen doorway. “What’s up, Dad?”

“I’ve got to go find Cherilyn. You stay here, all three of you, and don’t open the door for anybody. I taught you how to use my shotgun, so do it if you need to. There’s supposed to be a detail at the end of the driveway to watch the house.”

“What’s going on?” a frightened Maya asked as she slipped into the room.

“Nothing?yet. I’m going to find your mom and make sure she’s okay.”

“Did you call Gran?” Candace asked. “She said she was going to pick up Gran to go with her.”

“No. Call her, would you? Then call me.”

“Okay. Be careful, Dad. Please?”

“I will. Lock the doors and don’t let anybody in.”

“Yes, sir,” Maya answered, her voice weak.

“It’s gonna be okay, girls. Just stay put.” Shaw stormed out the door, then locked it behind him before he slipped behind the wheel of the truck. Cherilyn had to be at the store.

She just had to be.

He stopped at his mom and dad’s to see if she’d dropped Leslie off, but his mother met him at the door. “No, I couldn’t go. I had a guy here working on the drains. Clogged. Candace just called me. What’s going on, Shaw?”

“Nothing, Mom. Just a little worried, that’s all. It’s fine.” It wasn’t. He could feel the fear seeping through his skin, could almost taste it, and he had to find Cherilyn before something happened.

As he headed toward the store, he thought about calling Aaron, but he knew his friend was in the process of getting somebody to watch the house. That was all they really needed. Once that happened, they’d be all set, and everything would be fine.

But Cherilyn was nowhere to be found. She wasn’t at the store, and her car wasn’t in front of Maisey’s office either. He tried to call her again and got no answer, then tried Candace and Maya both, but they didn’t answer either. That struck him as odd. The reception at the house was usually pretty good. There was nothing for him to do but turn around and go home.

Sure enough, there was an unmarked car and a plainclothes sitting at the end of the driveway, and he felt better immediately. As he rolled up, he put down his window, but the guy didn’t look at him, so he tooted his horn. The officer still didn’t turn to look. Shaw slammed the truck into park and opened the door. That was when he saw it.

Blood dripped from the bottom of the car door, and he knew instantly what had happened. He needed to call Aaron, but first, he had to make sure they were okay, and he drew his handgun and pulled his rifle into the front seat with him, then let the truck roll quietly down the drive toward the house. And his heart sank.

The house was dark. And the car wasn’t in the driveway. Something had happened, something horrible, and fear exploded in his chest as he stepped out of the truck. With his weapon raised, he made his way up the steps to the front door. It was closed and locked, and he backed away from it slowly, then circled around to the back. That was when he saw it.

The back door was wide open.