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“ I think I have something.” Hannah’s excitement grabbed Zeke’s attention right away.

After interviewing Derek, he couldn’t have felt more discouraged. In his opinion, there was no way the man had taken Lindsey and Dawn. Especially not Sierra. He confirmed he’d never driven a vehicle, and he’d suffered a work-related injury a few years back that affected both shoulders. There was no way he could have lifted those women into a vehicle or carried them anywhere.

Hannah turned her laptop around for the team to see. “It’s about a kidnapping that happened outside Pinedale almost forty-four years earlier.”

“You’re kidding?” Zeke couldn’t believe this was the first they were hearing of it.

Hannah brought the newsletter article up on the screen. “Fourteen-year-old Colleen Owens went missing from her family home outside Pinedale. Police had no clear leads. There were never any suspects mentioned. The police believed it was someone passing through the area. According to the parents, Colleen was walking to town like she had on numerous occasions.”

Zeke read further down. Colleen had never been found.

“Are the parents still around?” Zeke realized the likelihood of that was slim.

“No. They died twenty years ago within a few months of each other.” Patrick rose. “I remember hearing about that case when Deb and I first moved here. I’ll get the file.” He left the room.

“Are there any other family members alive?” Zeke asked.

His sister told him no. “Grandparents passed away before her parents. It doesn’t look like there are any living relatives around.”

“What about the house where the family lived?” Zeke wondered who currently owned it.

“The family moved away from the area a few years following Colleen’s disappearance. The ranch was sold a couple of times. Its current owner is George Underwood. He’s owned it for more than twenty-five years.”

Patrick came back. “Let’s see here.” He opened the folder. “Looks like Colleen told her parents she was meeting up with her friend Tillie. A neighbor girl. The two were in the same grade and hung out together. Tillie was interviewed but said she didn’t have any plans to meet up with Colleen. She believed Colleen had a secret boyfriend she was sneaking into town to meet.”

Zeke leaned his elbows on the table as he listened. “Any idea who this boy was?”

Patrick shook his head. “No one was ever identified. No one at school could corroborate what Tillie said, and the girl told police Colleen refused to share her boyfriend’s identity.”

Zeke’s exhilaration drained. “So the boyfriend angle was a bust.”

“Looks like it.” Patrick passed around pages from the file. “The stranger theory seemed to be the one that was most promising. Unfortunately, it never led to anything, and the case went cold.”

The photo of the teenage Colleen reached Zeke. He stared at the young woman’s smiling face and wondered what had happened to her. Was Colleen’s case just some strange coincidence and not related to Sierra’s disappearance, or had their suspect been active in the area for a long time?

*

There was only one thing Henry could think of to do. What he should have done long ago. He drove to the home he’d shared with Maggie, but the history of his ranch went much deeper than Maggie. His first love had once lived here. Until she’d fallen victim to T.

Henry bought the house later, after he moved back to the area. His goal was to bring some good back to the ranch. He’d bought horses because he knew Colleen loved them and wanted to have bunches of them. For a time, he’d succeeded . . . until T wrecked everything.

Henry reached the front of his house and parked. He knew without a doubt it was time to put an end to T’s dark legacy even if it meant T’s life.

Inside the house, images of his life with Maggie were everywhere. He walked around the living room weeping as he remembered those happier times.

“I’m sorry, my love. This can’t be helped.” He carried in the gas cans from his vehicle. Starting in the living room, Henry poured the strong-smelling liquid around the room then moved through the house until all the containers were empty. The basement he left untouched. He wanted his girls to be found. Wanted their truths to be known.

Henry tossed the final can aside and went through to the kitchen, his hand hovering over the doorknob leading to the basement. He had to do this before he lost his courage.

Henry purposely opened the door and stepped onto the landing. Gripping the railing, his labored steps reflected the weariness in his body and his heart.

Without a doubt, Henry knew Sierra and Dawn had gotten away. Truth be told, he was glad. They’d soon reach someone who could help them. It would be over for him and T by then.

He crossed the basement to the room that T referred to as a playground. The thought sickened Henry.

Henry unlocked the door. The young woman whose name he didn’t know cast terrified eyes his way.

“It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you.”

She didn’t believe him.

As he reached her side, she shrank away.

“I’m going to take the gag away.” Henry gently removed the scarf T had tied around her mouth.

The woman stared up at him. “Please, don’t hurt me.”

“I’m not going to. I’m setting you free.” Henry went to work on her wrist restraints. Once they were free, she rubbed her bruised skin. He stepped down the table to her ankles and removed the restraints there as well.

She jumped off the table. Her legs were so weak she hit the floor.

“Oh, no, no. Please, don’t be afraid. Let me help you up.” Henry went over to her and lifted her up. “I’m going to take you to the police station. I want you to tell them everything.”

She jerked free. “Why would you want to take me to the police? They’ll arrest you.”

“It’s what I deserve. What T deserves.”

Henry ushered her from the basement and upstairs, closing the door behind them.

Her eyes widened at the strong scent of gas that permeated everywhere.

At the front door, Henry reached inside his pocket and removed the lighter he’d picked up in town, lit the flame, and tossed it into the living room. He hurried the woman into his car.

Before he had the chance to get into the driver’s seat, the living room caught fire with a whoosh. Soon, room after room became engulfed.

He watched for a second longer before backing away from the fire.

The woman kept her distance from him, still not trusting him. He certainly understood.

“What is your name, my dear?” Henry asked as he pushed down on the gas pedal. He wanted to get her to town before the fire department became aware of what he’d done.

“L–Lindsey.”

Henry recognized the name. Law enforcement was looking for her along with the others.

He reached town and parked a block over from the station before turning to her. “The police station is over there.” He told her how to get to it. “Go ahead. It’s okay. Tell them everything.”

Lindsey got out slowly. She stood beside the car as if still not believing he had set her free.

Henry rolled the window down. “Tell them I’m sorry.” He put the car into Drive and drove away.

In the rearview mirror he saw her watch him leave before she crossed the street.

He’d done it. He’d done the right thing. Now, he had to apologize to Maggie before he did the final necessary thing.

He drove to the church where he and Maggie had attended religiously.

Reaching the cemetery, Henry parked the car near the row of headstones and got out. He weaved his way through the silent reminders of those who had once lived until he reached his wife’s grave.

Henry held onto the headstone and slowly lowered himself to the ground.

He kept his hand on Maggie’s headstone almost as if he were touching her hand. “I’m sorry about this. I should have done the right thing a long time ago.” But he’d been weak and had tried to protect T even when T continued to spiral after Colleen.

“I’m going to set things right because it’s what you would want me to do.” He smiled and wiped away tears. “You always did the right thing, my love. I wish I could believe what you did about salvation. I wish I knew without a doubt that God was real and when I die I’ll be there with you again. I want to, because I’ve done some awful things, Maggie, in the name of love. If God is real, He can’t forgive that.”

When no answers came, Henry touched his hand to his lips and then placed it on her carved name.

“Goodbye, my love. I hope you can forgive me.”

Henry lumbered to his feet. Waited until the world stopped spinning before he headed toward his car.

As he passed by the church, he noticed Betsy’s vehicle parked next to the pastor’s. It didn’t take her long to weasel her way into Maggie’s old job.

A jealous, bitter woman who had wormed her way into Maggie’s life to try and emulate Maggie.

As he passed by the police station, he wondered why Patrick and those FBI agents weren’t heading toward his house. By now, Lindsey should have reported him and T. Something was wrong. Something was terribly wrong.