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In the hours that followed, the sheriff’s department, supported by Clear River police and DPS, began pulling together a joint-forces operation.

They set up a command post in the corner of the Clear River Mall parking lot, which was messy with tree limbs and debris scattered by the storm.

For her part, Lacey, who hadn’t been arrested, was helping investigators, but insisted her attorney be present.

Still, efforts to locate Clay—by his phone, by security cameras near the Baton Rouge swap meet, and by his bank or credit cards—had been unsuccessful. A check of the motel where he was supposed to have stayed turned up nothing. A check for new social media postings concerning Clay, or the swap meet, yielded nothing.

A bulletin identifying Clayton Smith as a person of interest had been issued, alerting law enforcement in Louisiana and Texas.

By midmorning an unmarked police vehicle, posing as a wireless repair truck cleaning up after the storm, was sent to watch the Smith residence. In Clear River County, investigators awaited the warrants needed to search the Smith property and seize any evidence. To expedite the process, they stressed a life-and-death situation, otherwise, exigent circumstances.

When the warrants came, the sheriff’s team, along with Clear River SWAT and DPS, started rolling in a convoy to the property. One of the vehicles at the rear was Ellerd’s, and he’d allowed Vern and Luke to observe and possibly assist.

Deputies and a nurse had been assigned to stay with Emily at Luke’s house.

As the police vehicles progressed through the edge of town, Luke saw how the storm’s strength was evinced in the aftermath of toppled trees, broken windshields and damaged roofs. Traffic was moderate. Along the way, they met pickups, some with fractured windshields; a flatbed tow truck transporting a vehicle; service trucks and the heavy equipment of road crews clearing downed branches.

Adrenaline pulsated through Luke. He hadn’t slept, his insides vibrating and nerves tingling. He was certain Carrie hadn’t killed anyone.

Now, as they neared the property where Clay and Lacey had welcomed them as a colleague and friends, he feared a looming horror.

Luke had no more answers.

All he had left were prayers.