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“ G o back to the cabin and get some rest,” Jack told him. “We’ll sleep in shifts. Megan and I will keep working on the case.”

Zeke started to protest when Jack held up a hand. “We’ll call if anything breaks. You’re running on fumes, Zeke. You’re no good to Sierra like this.” He looked at Cooper. “You and Hannah too.”

Cooper put his arm around his wife. “I’ll drive.” He eyed his partner as if daring him to argue.

Zeke knew when he was beaten. But sleep? He doubted that it would be possible again until they had Sierra safely home.

He grabbed his bag from where he’d left it and waited while Cooper and Hannah did the same.

Outside, darkness had descended on the town. His watch said the time was almost ten. Sierra had been missing more than a day. Zeke tried not to spiral at the thought.

He got in the back. Cooper backed out and drove through the deserted streets of Pinedale until they reached the Wind River Cabins.

Zeke realized they’d gone straight to the sheriff’s station. No one had keys to their rooms.

“Looks like the office is still open.” Zeke got out and went inside with Cooper and Hannah. “Hello? Anyone here?”

Inez, the owner of the establishment, appeared through a curtained space. She smiled as she drew near.

“Well, hello. I’ve been expecting you all.” Inez moved behind the counter. “I have your cabins ready. I was told there were two couples and one single.” She looked at Zeke. “That must be you.” She handed him a key on a wooden key holder without realizing her words sliced through his heart.

“Thanks.”

“Such an awful thing,” Inez muttered. “I hope you find those girls.”

Zeke couldn’t get words out. He nodded, and the three returned to their Tahoe. Cooper parked close to their adjoining cabins.

“Get some sleep, buddy. We need you sharp.” Cooper unlocked his and Hannah’s room.

Zeke waited until the two were inside before entering his cabin. He tossed his bag on the bed and took in the rustic setting. It was furnished simply with just a log-framed bed and nightstands.

As much as he wished he could fall into bed and sleep for hours, the case wouldn’t let him go. More importantly, his and Sierra’s relationship and the mistakes he’d made kept spiraling through his mind.

He stepped outside, intent to take a walk to hopefully release his pent-up energy. As he passed the office, he noticed Inez inside and went in.

“Well, hello there.” She skimmed his expression, her smile fading. “Can’t sleep?”

No need in denying it. “No. Too much going on up here.” He pointed to his head.

“I just put on some coffee. Come back through.” She started away without waiting for him to agree.

Zeke swiped his hand across his neck and followed. “Where’s your husband?” The scent of fresh-brewed coffee was inviting.

“He’s out on a run. The job keeps him busy. He’s gone a lot.”

This grabbed Zeke’s attention right away. Being a truck driver would supply the prefect alibi to his wife for being gone and cover up any nefarious activity such as kidnapping. Zeke made himself a mental note to ask Patrick about Inez’s husband.

“Here you go, young man.”

Young man? Zeke almost laughed at her description.

“Have a seat. Want a cookie?”

Zeke accepted the chocolate chip cookie she offered him and took a bite. “This is good.”

“Why, thank you. My mother’s recipe.”

He glanced around at the crowded sitting room. “Do you and Terrance live here at the cabins?” A door past the room had him wondering if this might be Inez’s private quarters.

“Mostly. I do have a house outside of town, but we like it here.” She looked around. “We like being close to our guests in case they need anything.”

Zeke finished off the cookie. “How long have you and Terrance been married?”

Inez offered him a second, but he declined. “Almost twenty-five years. We met here at the cabins believe it or not?”

“Really?” Zeke arched a brow, and she laughed.

“Yes. He was traveling through the area and stopped in for the night. We got to talking. He ended up staying for a week. Before you know it, we were married.”

He digested what she said. Terrance obviously traveled through the area a lot around the time of the first disappearances. Once more his thoughts turned to Sierra. “Did you get to talk to Sierra much?”

Her eyes locked onto his, sympathy softening the lines around her mouth. “I did. She’s a sweet girl. I suspect she was struggling with something, though.”

Him. She was struggling with what to do with him.

“Was that you?” Inez had guessed the truth.

He inclined his head. “That obvious?”

“A little,” she said gently. “I sensed she was way ahead of you in the relationship.”

Inez had succinctly nailed it.

“Sierra goes after what she wants. I guess I’m the type who wants to figure things out from all angles.”

She patted his arm. “Well, I think you have, haven’t you?”

“Yes.” He just hoped it wouldn’t be too late.

“What about Dawn? Did you know her at all?”

Inez nodded and sipped her coffee. “She was a lovely young woman too. So full of life.”

“Did you notice anything strange going on with her before her disappearance?” Zeke couldn’t help it. He couldn’t shut off the cop in him.

“Strange in what way?”

“Was she having any problems with anyone? Did she mention someone giving her undue attention?”

Inez shook her head. “No, not that I noticed. She wasn’t here all that long, but she seemed excited about her climbs each day. She’d tell me about her accomplishments over coffee in the morning. Sierra did the same.”

“What do you think happened to them?” Zeke wasn’t sure why he asked the question.

“Same thing that happened to those girls twenty-five years earlier, I’m afraid.”

“You were here back then?” Zeke asked in surprise.

“Yes. I bought the cabins from the previous owner thirty years ago.”

Zeke blew out a whistle. “Wow. I’d say you know just about everything there is to know about the place.”

She chuckled. “You could say that.”

He noticed a photo on the end table and pointed to it. “That you and your husband?”

Inez picked it up. “Yes.” She smiled down at the two of them. “That was taken a few years back over at the mountains. Terrance used to love to go there and climb.” She shrugged. “But I’m afraid at his age those days are behind him.”

Zeke’s shoulders tensed at the mention of her husband climbing. The man in the photo with Inez was tall and thin. Hair graying. Though he smiled, it didn’t reach his dark eyes.

“Anything wrong?” Inez asked.

Zeke shoved his misgivings aside. “No, nothing. What are your thoughts on Florence and her husband?”

Inez pursed her lips. “Well, I don’t like talking bad about people.”

Zeke set his cup down. “I’m just asking for your opinion. It won’t go any further.”

She sniffed. “To be honest, Florence is kind of gruff on the outside, but I believe she’s got a good heart. She attends the same church as I do. Irv’s a different story. Never saw him in church once.”

Zeke waited for her to continue. Going to church didn’t necessarily make you a Christian.

“I can’t prove it, but when he did some work for me on one of the cabins, I think he took some things from here.”

“What sort of things?” This definitely had his interest because it came close to what Florence said about Irv taking some of Flannigan’s possessions.

“A few pieces of my jewelry that I kept here. Some things from the lost-and-found box that I keep when guests leave possessions behind.” She rose and went over to a desk in the corner and brought a wooden box over. She showed him the contents. “The sad part was after some of the items went missing, a former patron called asking if I’d found them. I had to tell her I had but they were missing. I was so embarrassed. I don’t think they believed me.”

Something in the box caught his attention. He stuck his hand inside and brought out the silver necklace with the heart-shaped pendant he’d given Sierra for Christmas.

“You recognize it?” Inez saw the truth on his face.

“Yes. I gave it to Sierra.”

“Oh, honey, I had no idea. Terrance found it over near the mountains a few days ago and brought it back. He said he figured it belonged to one of the climbers. Take it. Give it to your girl when you bring her home.”

Zeke clasped the necklace in his hand. “I will.”

“More coffee?” Inez set the box beside her chair.

His mouth twisted. “I’d better not. It’s sort of defeating the purpose of trying to get some sleep.”

She laughed. “That it is.”

Zeke wasn’t ready to leave just yet despite the crushing exhaustion. “Did the women who went missing from earlier stay here?”

“Yes. If you don’t want to stay in a motel, I’m your only other choice.” She shrugged. “I hate that such ugliness is connected with our cabins. Terrance and I have worked hard to give travelers a place that feels safe and like home.”

Zeke felt bad for her. He wondered how the killer had known his victims were staying here. Did the cabins have anything to do with his selection at all? His thoughts kept returning to Terrance. He was gone a lot. Probably during the timeline when the victims went missing. He wanted to dig more into the man because something about him didn’t add up.

“The cabins are listed in a climber’s magazine as the place to stay for those climbing the Wind River Range,” Inez said proudly. “I’m sure that’s what brings the climbers here. I have both male and female climbers who return year after year.”

“That could be how he spots his victims, but I have a feeling he follows them to the climbing sites. I’m guessing he must somehow find a way to disable their cars so that he can pretend to assist them.”

“Really?” Inez seemed surprised. “What an awful person.” Her mouth thinned.

Zeke remembered their interview with Flannigan. “How well do you know Doctor Flannigan?”

“Doc?” she asked in surprise. “He’s a nice man. Why do you ask?”

Zeke couldn’t divulge too much. “I can’t go into specifics, just that his name came up in the investigation. Did you ever see him talking to Dawn or Sierra?”

Inez pressed her finger against her lips and considered the question. “You know, now that you mention it, I did see Doc talking to Dawn. It was the day before she went missing. She was going into the diner, and he was coming out. They spoke briefly.”

Flannigan had insisted he’d never met either Dawn or Sierra. He’d lied. Zeke rose. “Thanks for the coffee and cookie, Inez.”

She followed him out to the office. “Is everything okay?”

Zeke told her yes. “You actually might have given us a lead.” He stepped out. Zeke grabbed his phone as soon as he was away from the office and called Jack.

“I thought you were sleeping.”

“I couldn’t. I spoke to Inez, the owner of the cabins. She said she witnessed Flannigan speaking to Dawn, at least briefly, at the diner.”

“He claimed not to have seen her. We’ll get him back in here.”

“I’m coming back to the station.” Zeke started walking. It was several miles, but with the adrenaline rushing through his system now, he believed he could make it in record time.

“What about Cooper and Hannah?”

“I’ll let them sleep. See you soon.” He ended the call and hiked across the highway running in front of the cabins. As he walked, he thought about what Inez had said. Why would Flannigan lie about running into Dawn? Maybe he hadn’t expected anyone to notice. Was it simply a chance encounter, or had Flannigan been stalking Dawn. If so, he’d know she’d frequented the diner like Sierra. Like the others who had gone before them.