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S heriff Taylor wasn’t what Zeke had been expecting when he met them at the small regional airport outside of town. Well over six feet and broad-chested, Taylor looked like a cross between Denzel Washington and a linebacker for a professional football team.

“Glad to have you all here.” Taylor told them. “Call me Patrick.”

“Thanks for picking us up.”

Patrick helped them stow their gear in the back of his cruiser.

“I took the liberty of renting you a couple of vehicles. They’ll be waiting for you at the station. I booked you all cabins at the Wind River Cabins.”

“Thanks for that.” Jack got in front while the rest of the team piled into the two rows of seats behind the driver’s.

“You’re welcome. I appreciate the help.” Patrick seemed to mean it. A lot of times when the FBI stepped into a case they were met with resistance from locals. “I had Inez, the woman who runs the Wind River Cabins along with her husband, check on your agent’s room. She said there was no sign of anyone being there recently. Her bed hadn’t been slept in. She didn’t come back here last night. Inez said she and Sierra spoke yesterday morning, which means she went missing sometime between then and now.”

Zeke’s iPhone announced the time as five a.m. That was an awful long time Sierra had been missing. They’d be playing catchup. “What about Dawn Collins?”

Patrick’s dark eyes met him in the rearview mirror. “She’s been missing for more than a week. No sign of her car. Her room was how she left it. It’s as if she simply disappeared into thin air.”

But people didn’t just disappear. Zeke believed someone from the past had taken her, and there was a ticking clock on Sierra’s and Dawn’s lives. “We’d like to see everything you have on this case and the past ones from twenty-five years ago.”

“Of course.” Patrick made a series of turns. “I can take you to the cabins to get settled, or we can go straight to the station.”

In Zeke’s mind there was no question. “Let’s get a look at those files.”

Jack shot Zeke a look to remind Zeke he was still the leader.

“Alright. Your people were involved in the cases before. I’ll show you what we have, but you’ll need to get the records from the FBI.”

“I’m on it.” Megan, seated beside Zeke, went to work on her laptop.

“Here we are.” Patrick parked and got out. “This time of morning it’s quiet. Just me and the dispatcher, who subs as a deputy. I have an additional deputy who works the day shift. We’re grossly short-staffed,” he said in way of an answer to Zeke’s quirked brow.

Patrick held the door open for them. “Deb? You here?” he called out. A Black woman who appeared to be around the same age as Patrick came into the room wearing a deputy’s uniform. Her raven hair was secured in a bun.

“Here, Sheriff.” She came over to where they stood.

“Deb is my wife. She and I moved here from Washington.” Patrick introduced them.

“Nice to meet you all. I have coffee ready. Want me to call the diner’s owner? They’ll be opening soon. We can have food delivered.” She glanced around at the faces of the team.

“That would be much appreciated, Deb,” Hannah told them. “Can I help you with anything?”

“Sure can. I could use a hand with the coffee.”

The two left.

“I’ve got the conference room set up for you. All the files we have on the cases are in there.” Patrick led them down the hall and opened the first door on the right. “Make yourselves at home.”

Zeke dropped his overnight bag out of the way and looked around. Typical conference room that could be found in any police station around the country. He’d spent enough time in them as a BAU agent.

“Do you have the files digitized?” Cooper asked.

“We do. I’ll get them sent to each of you right away.”

Deb and Hannah brought in coffee.

“Food’s on the way,” Deb told them. “What can I do to help?”

“How about you bring out the whiteboard? We’ll use it to outline the cases,” Patrick told his wife.

Zeke couldn’t sit and go over files. He needed to be out there looking for Sierra. He’d eat when they got back. “Jack, I’d like to speak with the cabin owner. Maybe take a look around Sierra’s room. See if I can spot something out of place.”

Jack looked up from his laptop. “Take Cooper with you.”

“You got it.” Zeke headed for the door, and then realized he didn’t have a vehicle.

“I’ve got the keys to your rentals at my station.” Deb rose and went out to her workspace. She retrieved a set of keys. “Here you go. This is to one of the SUVs out front. License number is on the keyring.”

Zeke smiled. “Thanks, Deb.”

“You got it. Inez is a nice woman. She’s owned the cabins for decades. And she has her hand on the pulse of the community. Inez knows everything.”

“I look forward to talking to her.” Zeke headed out the door with Cooper.

“You want to let me drive?” His brother-in-law voiced the thought as a question but Zeke knew differently.

Zeke tossed the keys to him and got into the passenger side.

Cooper got in and started the Tahoe. “Take a breath, buddy.”

Zeke looked his way. He slowly released the tension inside. “You’re right. I’m okay.”

Cooper didn’t respond as he backed away from the station and headed out. “So, which way to the cabins?”

Zeke punched in the name and got directions. “Turn left up ahead. It’ll put us on Main Street. The cabins are at the edge of town on the right.”

Zeke kept replaying those final moments with Sierra. He’d been frustrated because he didn’t know how to help her. He’d missed what she really needed. Him.

“We’ll get her back,” Cooper murmured. “Then you can tell her what you should have said.”

Zeke prayed he had that opportunity. Take care of her, God . “Why do you think the kidnapper,” he couldn’t bring himself to say killer, “has started up again after so long?”

Cooper slowed to a stop at one of the lights. “He could’ve been incarcerated, or in a mental hospital. Maybe he moved away.”

Those were the usual answers. Yet none of those felt right.

“There it is.” Cooper spotted the sign for the Wind River Cabins and turned off. “I wonder if she’s open yet.”

The Tahoe’s time said it was five-thirty.

“I’ll check.” Zeke got out and tried the office door. Locked. No sign up front to announce the business hours. He returned to the SUV and noticed the diner next door was open. “Why don’t we ask at the diner next door, where Deb ordered the food. They’re open.”

“Let’s walk. I feel like I’ve been cooped up long enough.” Cooper got out and locked the Tahoe.

Together they crossed the parking lot separating the two establishments. A full moon was descending in the sky.

“When did Sierra take up mountain climbing?” Cooper asked curiously.

“Six months ago. Like everything, she throws herself into anything full speed. She’s quite good.” Sierra had taken him out on several climbs. Zeke enjoyed the challenge. He could understand why she loved it so much.

Zeke opened the door for Cooper, who went ahead. The business was empty of patrons. He and Cooper went up to the cashier’s station. No one was around. Most of the interior lights were still off.

A little bell by the cash register had a note that read, “Use me,” and so he did.

“Be with you in a sec,” a man called out from the back.

While they waited, Zeke glanced around at the lost-in-time diner and tried not to laugh. These were the types of places Sierra loved. She said they were living history.

Cooper nudged him, drawing Zeke’s attention to the wall near the cash register. A Missing Person’s poster was there showing Dawn Collins.

“Help you?” An overweight man in a T-shirt with an apron over it came through from the kitchen. He was mostly bald. Short, he looked like he didn’t appreciate being interrupted.

“Agent London. This is Agent Delaney. We’re with the FBI.” Zeke rarely gave more details than they worked for the Bureau. Most people didn’t understand the BAU’s connection to the FBI, and it just added to the confusion.

“How can I help you?” The man who didn’t offer his name seemed to adjust his attitude slightly.

“For starters, what time does the office next door open? We’d like to have a word with the owner.”

“Soon. This about the missing girl?” He crooked a thumb behind him to the poster.

“Yes, it is,” Cooper told him. “Have you ever seen that girl before?”

He wiped his hands. “I did. She came in a few times. I’m the owner, by the way. Name’s Vernon.”

“Nice to meet you, Vernon.” Zeke extended a hand. “What can you tell us about her? Did she seem worried about anything? Anyone bothering her?”

He scratched his head. “To tell you the truth, I really didn’t pay much attention. Only that she was a pretty girl.” He grinned. “Florence would know more. She’s my afternoon and evening waitress. She pays attention. A gnat doesn’t fart without her knowing about it.”

Zeke arched a brow at the strange comment. “What time does Florence come in?”

“Around three.”

Zeke fished out his card. “Can you have her give us a call?”

He accepted the card and stuck it into his apron pocket. “Sure thing. I’ll ask Nancy too— she’s the morning waitress—and see if she remembers anything.”

“Thanks.” Zeke brought up a photo of Sierra. “What about this woman?”

The owner clearly recognized Sierra. “Oh, yes. She comes in quite often.” His eyes darted between them. “I saw her not last night but the night before. Is she missing too? Oh, man, it’s like before.”

Cooper shot Zeke a surprised look. “You remember the last time?”

“Sure do. I’d just bought this place from the previous owner. Couldn’t believe all those women went missing. They never did find them.”

Zeke made a note to check out Vernon. “What did you say your name was?”

“Vernon. Vernon Fritz.” He pointed out the window. “Looks like Inez is open.”

“Thanks for your help, Vernon,” Cooper said and headed for the door. “If you think of anything else, give us a call.”

“Be sure to have Florence call me.” Zeke waited for Vernon to nod before he followed his partner outside. “Boy, it feels like I’ve stepped back in time.”

Cooper smiled. “I know what you mean.”

They reached the cabins’ office and stepped inside.

A woman in her sixties was busy putting out donuts and apple fritters. She turned as they came in.

“Can I help you gentlemen?”

In Zeke’s mind, Inez could have been an old-fashioned schoolteacher. She wore a buttoned-up blouse with polyester slacks. Her hair was gathered into a bun at the back of her head. Glasses hung from a chain around her neck. And her perfume seemed as dated as the interior of the place. She wore a gold wedding band on her left hand. He recalled that she and her husband ran the place. Zeke glanced around while wondering where the husband was now.

Cooper introduced them.

“Oh, dear. You must be here about Sierra. Sheriff Taylor called earlier. I checked her room. Everything’s still there. The same for Dawn.”

Zeke asked if they could see Sierra’s room. They’d need to do the same for Dawn, but right now all he could think about was Sierra.

“Of course.” She stepped behind the counter. “Excuse the mess. Terrance, my husband is usually the one who keeps things in order back here. He’s out on a run.” She rummaged through a pile of papers. “Terrance is a truck driver. Oh, there it is.” Inez brought out an actual key. “Here you go. Please return it when you’re finished. Do you need me to go with you?” She looked between them.

Zeke told her it wasn’t necessary. “We’d like to ask you some questions once we’ve finished.”

Inez nodded quickly. “I’d be happy to help any way I can. It’s awful what’s happened to Dawn and now Sierra. They are such good girls. Sierra’s cabin is around the corner, second one.”

“Thanks.” Zeke stepped outside along with Cooper. “We need to treat this as a possible crime scene.”

Cooper agreed. “Here.” He brought out gloves from his pocket. Cooper was always prepared. Hannah called him her Boy Scout.

“Got any booties in that pocket?” Zeke joked.

“Right here.” Cooper dove into his second pocket and brought out two sets of booties.

“I don’t know why I ever doubt you.” Once they reached Sierra’s room, Zeke gloved up and then slipped the key into the door. He dragged in a breath and braced for what he’d see.

Opening the door, Zeke went in first. The room was chaotic. Anyone who didn’t know Sierra might think something awful had happened here. But that was Sierra. She thrived in chaos.

“Looks like Hurricane Sierra’s been here,” Cooper joked to lighten the moment.

Zeke smiled. She’d gotten the nickname not only because of the mess, but because that’s how she dealt with cases. Like a hurricane approaching. Sweeping up everything in her way, Sierra got to the truth whether the perp wanted it or not.

“I’ll take the closet and bathroom,” Cooper told him and moved away.

Zeke needed a minute. He glanced around at the clothes hanging on the back of a chair. The bed—made by housekeeping—certainly not Sierra. Her suitcase lay open on the floor. Something caught his attention. Her laptop case. She must have her laptop with her.

“Cooper.”

Cooper turned from examining the empty closet. “What? You got something?”

He pointed to the empty laptop bag. “She has it with her. We can use it to track her location.” Unless it was turned off like her phone.

Cooper nodded. “Good thinking. I’m calling it in now.” He stepped outside while Zeke went over to the sweater draped over the chair. He’d gotten it for her after she’d admired it on one of their trips. He lifted it to his face. He loved that scent. Even though he’d given her a hard time about wearing something called Obsession, it would always remind him of her.

Stop it.

He was talking and thinking negatively. They’d get her back. He shifted through the suitcase. Nothing out of the ordinary.

He opened the drawer. An old Gideon Bible lay inside. After searching the rest of the cabin, he couldn’t find anything out of place.

Zeke stepped outside to where Cooper was speaking to their team.

He raised a brow as if to ask if Zeke had found anything.

Zeke shook his head.

“We’ll take a look through Dawn’s room next,” Cooper said. “First, I want to pick Inez’s brain. She seems to keep a close eye on what’s happening around the area. I’ll let you know if we find anything.” Cooper ended the call. “Let’s take the key back to Inez and have a talk with her.”

Zeke nodded, disappointed, that answers they so needed weren’t found in Sierra’s cabin.

“She probably had no idea she was being targeted,” Cooper told him.

Possibly, but Zeke had no doubt Sierra would have seen the missing person’s poster in the diner. She’d understand there was a possible threat in the area.

Inez was straightening brochures near the counter when they returned. “Anything?”

“Nothing yet.” Zeke handed her the key. “Before we take a look at Dawn’s room, do you mind if we ask you some questions?”

Inez didn’t hesitate. “No, not at all. I want to bring those young women home to their families. After what happened in the past, we can’t let them wait that long to get answers.”