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“T hanks, Shane.” Libby would have loved to stay nestled against Shane’s chest forever, but obviously, they needed to do something, anything to find her grandfather. Drawing a deep breath, she lifted her head and started to step back.

Shane didn’t release her. Instead, his mesmerizing blue gaze clung to hers. His voice was low and rough when he spoke. “I haven’t prayed like that in a long time.”

“Was that because of Rebecca?”

“Yes, that and losing my parents.” He cleared his throat. “My family has always attended church and prayed. So I was taught to believe from an early age. But it’s hard to keep that faith alive after suffering so much loss.”

“That’s true.” She tried to smile. “It wasn’t easy for me after losing my mother. It’s the knowing she’s in a better place that offers comfort.”

“Yes, that does help.” The corner of his mouth kicked up in a semblance of a smile. “And we’ve often talked about how good it is that our parents were together. We miss them, of course, but they had each other at the end.” His smile faded. “I only hope their death was quick and painless.”

She wasn’t familiar with the details of the plane crash that had taken his parents’ lives. Or Rebecca’s car crash either. “I’m sure they held on to each other until the end.”

He nodded. “Imagining them together like that helps.” He paused, then abruptly added, “I was supposed to be with Rebecca that night.”

She caught her breath. “You were?”

“Yeah. But I got hung up with a group at the dude ranch.” His gaze darkened. “I was doing a favor for my parents, taking a rich group of city slickers out on a ride. Supposedly they all had riding experience, but they came across as rookies to me. One of the women fell off her horse and broke her ankle. I had to place a splint, and our ride back to the ranch was slow.” He shook his head. “There wasn’t much I could do, stuff happens. But I remember Rebecca was upset with me about breaking our date. The next morning, her car was found at the bottom of a ravine. She died even though the airbags had deployed. The local sheriff’s deputy concluded that she’d swerved to avoid an elk or some other animal that likely had wandered out into the road. The truth is that if I had been there as promised, she’d still be alive today.”

Her heart ached for him. “I’m so sorry, Shane.” She didn’t necessarily agree with his conclusion, maybe things would have been different. Or maybe they would both have died that night.

He shrugged and looked away. “I’ve been told God has a plan for us, but sometimes it’s hard to understand why people have to die so young. Like why should that have to be a part of some master plan?”

“I don’t know. Keep in mind God doesn’t promise that we’ll never hurt or suffer while here on earth.” She tightened her grip around his waist. “God does promise us that if we believe in Him and accept Jesus as our savior, we will have everlasting life. That’s what really matters.”

He gathered her close in a tight hug, then released her. “Thanks, that helps. For now, it’s time for us to come up with a plan of our own. One related to finding your grandfather.”

She nodded. “I think we need to go back to Cody so I can get my laptop computer. Maybe if we can search on that headline from all those years ago, we’ll gain some insight as to who might have taken Grandpa.”

He grimaced. “I like that idea, but you need to be prepared for what we might find.”

“Prepared how?” She frowned. “What are you talking about?”

After a moment’s hesitation, he drew her to the living room sofa. Bryce jumped up to follow them, stretching out on the floor beside Shane. His shadow , she thought with a smile. The dog would clearly do anything for Shane. “Sit down for a minute, okay?” She did, and Shane dropped down next to her. “You mentioned the last two words on the headline you glimpsed were ‘At Large,’ right?”

“Yes. I remember seeing those words very clearly.” She wished again that she’d have taken a closer look the moment she’d found the box. Now it was gone, and she was afraid her grandfather would never get it back.

“I believe the headline might be referring to escaped criminals being at large,” Shane said, breaking into her thoughts. “Or maybe it’s that the suspects are at large.”

Suspects? She was glad she was sitting down. “No, I’m sure the headline wasn’t referring to my grandfather.”

“Then why did he keep it hidden away for so long?”

She shook her head, her mind whirling. There was no way her grandfather could be involved in something criminal. The man she loved was a sweet, kind, and wonderful man. He’d doted on her, and they’d gotten close since her mother’s passing. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s something else. Something painful that he didn’t want to tell me about because it makes him sad.”

“I’m not saying your grandfather did anything wrong,” Shane hastened to reassure her. “Maybe he witnessed something he shouldn’t have. Or maybe there’s another explanation, bad memories as you suggested. I’m not sure what we’ll find, but I do think you need to be prepared in case...” He hesitated, then added, “In case you don’t like what we uncover.”

Hard to argue his point. Especially since it seemed as if her grandfather hadn’t bothered to show her any of the photos or articles in the box. Why would he keep something like that a secret? Especially the photographs? And why would that secret cause someone to come after him now, all these years later?

Realization dawned, and she wanted to kick herself for being so stupid. “The DNA report.”

“What about it?”

She stared at Shane, feeling sick to her stomach. Her grandfather’s disappearance was likely her fault. “I believe these guys tracked my grandfather here because I submitted his DNA into the system. Grandpa may have been staying off-grid on purpose—until I put him out there in the spotlight for these jerks to find.”

“We don’t know that’s how your grandfather was found,” Shane protested.

“How else?” She threw her arm out to encompass the cabin. “Grandpa has been living here for the past forty years. As far as I know, nobody has ever come looking for him, until now!”

“Forty years?” Shane looked surprised. “Way out here in the middle of nowhere? How did he support himself?”

“He lived off the land, hunting and fishing primarily. He worked in construction in the early years when my mother was growing up. I mostly remember him as doing guide work for a local outfitting company.” She frowned, trying to remember the name. “I think it was called O’Grady’s Hunting Outfitters or something like that. They were super busy in the spring and fall obviously. I remember as a kid I didn’t get to see Grandpa as much during those times of the year. But in summertime, I spent weeks here at the cabin while my mom worked.” Those were some of the best memories of her life.

“What about your grandmother?” Shane asked.

“She died when my mom was young. I never knew her.” She’d always wondered why her grandfather hadn’t remarried. “Her name was Lydia.”

“I’m sorry for your grandfather’s loss. But this is the first I’ve heard of this guy O’Grady. Did you ever meet him?” Shane asked. “I take it that’s his last name. Do you remember his first name?”

“His name was Michael O’Grady. I met him years ago, but I haven’t seen him recently. Not since Grandpa retired from doing guide work, which was probably six years ago or so?” She abruptly jumped off the sofa, unable to sit still. Bryce lifted his head, watching her with his intense dark eyes.

She didn’t pay much attention to the dog, her thoughts spinning. What if Shane was right about the criminal aspect of that headline? What if her grandfather had witnessed something or, worse, participated in something illegal all those years ago? Now that the possibility was out there, she was desperate to find the truth. “We need that computer.”

“Okay, we’ll drive back to Cody.” Shane rose to his feet. “Or we can stop in Greybull and buy a laptop.”

“Why on earth would I buy one if I have one at home?” She frowned, annoyed. “That’s wasteful.”

“Well, tell me this, does Greybull have a library? It’s closer, and we can use the computer there if needed.” He glanced down at Bryce. “I’m just thinking it’s better to stay close to the cabin, just in case your grandfather can return. Or if we hear from Paul or the sheriff’s department related to our perp and his dog bite. Going all the way to Cody and back will take a big chunk of our day.”

“You’re right. There is a library in Greybull. When I was a kid, I would participate in their young adult book clubs during the summer.” She smiled at the memory. “I like the idea of sticking close. Oh, and I’ll leave Grandpa a note.” She went around Bryce to find paper and a pencil. “I hope you’re right about his being able to get here. I’d like nothing more than to come back here to find Grandpa waiting for us.”

“Me too.” Shane shouldered his backpack. “Let’s go.”

Her note was brief. Grandpa, I’ll be back soon. Love, Libby.

As she followed Shane back outside to his specially designed K9 SUV, she prayed this trip to the library would help them learn something crucial about the men who’d taken her grandfather.

And more importantly? Figure out a way to get him back safely.

* * *

Shane opened the back hatch for Bryce. His K9 gracefully leaped inside the crate area. Bryce didn’t mind riding in the back, but he could tell his dog would rather be back on the scent trail.

Something he’d like too.

“Soon, boy,” he promised, then closed the hatch. He slid in behind the wheel, glancing at Libby. She was staring off in the distance, clearly lost in thought.

He couldn’t blame her for being concerned about what they’d find. The more he thought about it, the more he suspected that this was a secret Marvin had never planned to reveal to Libby.

Until his past had come back to haunt him.

“We should keep an eye out for a truck and trailer,” Libby murmured as he headed toward the highway. “Maybe we’ll catch a glimpse of these guys.”

“Sure.” He doubted these guys were still driving around with Marvin in the back seat. He felt certain they were holding him someplace close by.

Logically, he knew they could be anywhere. Yet one of them must not be too far away considering how he kept showing up at Marvin’s place to search for, what exactly? He had no idea. But he found it interesting the bad guy had taken the box of photos and newspaper clippings with him.

Maybe because the contents inside the box might incriminate him?

He found himself hoping that was the case because right now, they were fresh out of leads and ideas of where to search next. He had confidence in Bryce’s ability to find Marvin and the bad guy he’d chased, but narrowing down to a specific location would be helpful.

As he drove to Greybull, Shane kept a wary eye on the rearview mirror. Not so much looking for a truck pulling a trailer, but more to make sure they weren’t being followed.

So far, so good.

“I want to thank you again for everything you’re doing to help me find Grandpa,” Libby said.

“I don’t mind. This is what we’re trained to do. Besides”—he paused and waited for her to look over at him—“I have a vested interest in this too. You and your grandfather matter to me. I am not leaving until we find him.”

“That’s very sweet, Shane.” Her smile was sad. “I pray we find him very soon.”

He nodded and focused on driving. He couldn’t imagine why he’d confided in her about the circumstances around Rebecca’s death. Oddly, since spending time with Libby, he hadn’t given his life with Rebecca much consideration.

Until Libby had asked him to pray with her.

Maybe she was right that it wasn’t up to him to question God’s plan. His life had changed dramatically since losing his parents, and if he were honest, he couldn’t say for sure if his relationship with Rebecca would have lasted. He’d cared about her, hoped to someday marry her, but he’d been young back then.

He was older and wiser now. And being with Libby was a reminder of what he could have if he was willing to open his heart to love again.

The trip to Greybull didn’t take that long. Warm summer weather meant the town was teeming with people. Most were likely tourists, but he knew the locals would also be outside, taking advantage of the bright sunshine and mild temperatures.

Winters in Wyoming were long, cold, and hard.

“I think the library is right here along the main highway.” Libby leaned forward in her seat. “I remember it being a single-story building... there! That’s it. Turn here!”

He pressed on the brake and pulled into the parking lot. He opened the back hatch for Bryce, then killed the engine. “I hope these people aren’t too strict on the no dog rule.”

She grimaced. “I hope not too.”

Shane went around to get Bryce. The dog was still wearing his K9 vest, which might help. Just in case, he grabbed a leash. Bryce wasn’t a fan of the thing, but he would tolerate it if needed. “Be on your best behavior, okay?”

Bryce wagged his tail as if to say Aren’t I always?

Libby led the way inside, clearly familiar with the place. Shane gave Bryce the command to heel, and the dog fell into step beside him. A woman behind the main checkout counter frowned when they walked in. But then she noticed the Sullivan ranch logo on Bryce’s vest, and her expression softened.

To his surprise, she didn’t comment on Bryce being there but quickly returned to her computer screen as if pretending she never saw them.

Fine by him.

Libby was already seated at one of the two computers. The other one housed an older woman who used one finger to type something into the screen.

“Lie down,” he told Bryce as he stood behind Libby. The dog stretched out on the floor, resting his head between his front paws. “Good boy,” he praised.

The older woman never looked over, and he wondered if she might be hard of hearing.

“Let’s see,” Libby murmured as she nimbly entered a series of search commands. He was surprised to see she entered the phrase: Suspects at large in case from 1975 to 1985.

The hits were numerous. He was surprised at how many cold-case murders were listed on the screen. He leaned forward. “Maybe you need to narrow the type of suspect. Murder versus robbery, that kind of thing.”

She glanced at him, then nodded. When she started with murder suspects, the links that popped up on the screen were mostly related to serial killers and old cold-case murders that had been solved using new and improved DNA testing. Libby’s shoulders were tense as she scrolled through the various sites.

“This could take a while,” she said with a sigh. “I’m not sure why I thought this would be easy.”

He shared her concern. He didn’t want to be there all day either. “Maybe enter unsolved cases where suspects are at large from that same time frame?”

She tried that, and again, murders were at the top of the list. She began opening the links one by one.

Bryce lifted his head and stared up at Shane. He didn’t bark or whine, but Shane belatedly realized the dog needed to go out. “I’ll be back in a few. Come, Bryce.”

The dog shot to his feet and trotted alongside him as they headed outside. Shane found a grassy area off to the side of the library building. He didn’t have to tell Bryce to get busy, the dog was sniffing the area with interest and then made a circle before deciding on the right spot to squat.

Shaking his head with amusement, he belatedly realized he’d left his baggies in the backpack. As soon as Bryce was finished, he headed to the SUV to grab them.

A large black truck rolled past the library. Shane frowned, thinking it looked similar to the one they saw yesterday, the one pulling a trailer. The vehicle moved too fast for him to get a good look at the license plate, though. Still, he pulled out his phone and looked at the picture.

Yep, same make and model. Then again, trucks were as common out here as elk roamed the forest. Without a license plate, or a good look at the driver, he couldn’t provide a positive ID.

He quickly cleaned up after Bryce. What did Paul Holland say the guy’s name was? Ward something. Eaton?

No, Engler. Ward Engler.

He was tempted to drive through town to check the guy’s license plate, despite the fact that Paul claimed the deputies had already crossed him off the list. What if Bryce alerted on the guy this time around?

It was worth a shot.

He sent Libby a text message as he opened the back hatch of the SUV. Running a quick errand. Will be back soon. S.

She responded with an okay sign.

Convinced Libby would be safe enough in the public library, he closed the hatch and quickly ran around to get into the driver’s seat. He backed up and pulled out onto the highway. He’d noticed the driver of the truck had taken a right-hand turn at the intersection, so he mirrored his movements.

Driving slowly, he scanned the area for the truck. He should have asked Paul for Ward Engle’s address. Did he even live in Greybull?

Or was this where the bad guys were keeping Marvin Tolliver?

Not the latter, he quickly decided. Small towns were notorious for gossips. Keeping an old man hidden away would likely draw unwanted attention.

Still, that didn’t mean Engler wasn’t involved. He hit the phone button on his dashboard. “Call Paul Holland.”

A moment later, the call was connected. Unfortunately, Paul didn’t pick up, forcing Shane to leave a message. “Paul, it’s Shane. I’d like to know where Ward Engler lives; you mentioned he’s a local resident. I just saw him in Greybull and was curious if this is where your deputies talked to him. Call me.” He ended the call, trying not to feel guilty over the white lie. He didn’t know for sure the guy driving the black truck was Engler.

He drove all the way through Greybull without running across the black truck. Was he making a big deal out of nothing?

Probably. At the far west side of town, he turned around and headed back toward the library. He was halfway back when the back end of a black truck caught his eye. He hit the brake, wincing as the car behind him came to a quick stop, too, then turned into the parking lot.

The lot was packed with cars, including a large black truck. He drove past it, checking the rear plate to see if it matched the one he’d taken a picture of.

It was!

The only empty parking spot was way off in the back. Shane quickly pulled in and released the back. He’d take Bryce inside and see if the dog alerted on Bad Guy’s scent.

A long shot? Maybe. But it was better than doing nothing.

Grabbing his pack, he poured some water into a bowl for Bryce. The dog lapped at it, then stared up at him expectantly. He loved knowing Bryce was eager to get to work.

“This is Bad Guy.” He offered Bryce the scent bag. “Search! Search for Bad Guy!”

Bryce sniffed the scrap of denim, then wheeled and lowered his head to sniff the parking lot. Shane stayed back, giving Bryce room to roam. K9s loved to please their handlers, so it was important to make sure he didn’t lead Bryce to a forgone conclusion in any way.

He wanted Bryce to alert only if the bad guy had left his scent anywhere near the black truck. If not, that was fine too.

Although he’d already decided to take Bryce inside the restaurant to have him sniff around Ward Engler. That may prove more useful than hoping the guy had been in or around the truck.

Bryce moved all around the parking lot but never alerted. When his K9 went past the black truck, he sighed.

Of course, it couldn’t be that easy.

“Search,” he called encouragingly. “Search Bad Guy.”

Bryce made a complete loop of the parking lot, coming back to stand near Shane. He bent and ran his fingers over the dog’s fur. “You’re a good boy. We’re going to try one more thing, okay? Come.”

He stood and walked to the main entrance. Before he opened the door, he repeated the command in a low voice. “Search Bad Guy.”

The restaurant was packed. Shane stood for a moment, trying to spot the man he’d run into the previous evening. Those who were facing him didn’t look familiar, but several people sat with their backs facing the door. Bryce was sniffed with interest at the people sitting closest to the door.

Shane didn’t see a single empty table, and from the harried expressions of the two servers, it appeared they were so busy it wouldn’t pay to stick around if there was one available. His stomach rumbled with hunger at the scent of bacon, burgers, and fries.

A movement toward the back of the restaurant caught his eye. Bryce hadn’t alerted, but Shane quickly moved through the restaurant. He saw an empty seat at the old-fashioned counter along with a half-empty plate of food and cash left behind.

Had Ward Engler taken off?

Shane headed toward what he now realized was a rear entrance. He pushed open the door but didn’t see anything at first.

Then the black truck backed out of the parking spot and drove away.

“Bryce!” He turned to go back inside. His K9 was sniffing near the empty stool but still didn’t alert.

He frowned, wondering if he was on the wrong track. But if so, why had Ward Engler taken off so fast?

Most people in these parts didn’t waste food.

“Come, Bryce.” He headed outside using the same back exit. Maybe he could follow Engler.

Bryce trotted beside him, still sniffing. He winced. “It’s okay, Bryce. Stand down.”

The dog looked disappointed.

As he opened the back hatch, his phone rang. Expecting Paul, he was surprised to see Libby’s name on the screen. “Hi, Libby.”

“Shane?” Her voice sounded choked as if she’d been crying. “I think I found it.”

His gut clenched as he slammed the hatch and hurried to get behind the wheel. “What did you find?”

“An unsolved Colorado bank robbery from forty-eight years ago.” She sniffled loudly. “One of the robbers was killed at the scene, along with a local police officer. Another man was arrested, but the third man got away.”

He could easily imagine the headline “Bank Robbery Suspect At Large.” He started the car and backed out of the space. “Does it mention your grandfather by name?”

“No.” She sniffed loudly again. “It says that a man wearing a face mask suspected to be a Wellington Fox Security truck driver by the name of Maxwell Tucker was the one who got away with the cash. I—I think that’s my grandfather.”

Oh yeah. He thought so too.