8

Disoriented, Tessa set down her phone and sat up on the couch. Still processing Logan’s call, she ran a hand through her hair. Her stitches burned under the bandage on her leg. Her gaze fell to the blanket that covered her, then to the laptop that was closed on the coffee table. She’d been working when she’d fallen asleep.

Who had brought her a blanket and closed her laptop?

A sick feeling stirred in her belly. There was only one other person in the house. The thought of her mother walking around, unsupervised, disturbed her. She stood and limped to the foyer. Moonlight shone through the front windows. Tessa turned the doorknob. Unlocked.

No.

After being awake the entire night before, Tessa must have been sleeping so soundly that her mother had covered her with a blanket and walked right out the front door without waking her.

She whirled and raced back to her mother’s bedroom. The door was open, the room empty.

“Mom!” Tessa ran through the rest of the house, calling for her mother, knowing she wouldn’t find her but needing to methodically check every room before she moved her search outside. Out of habit, Tessa grabbed her gun and off-duty holster from the gun safe as she passed her bedroom. She clipped the holster to the waistband of her jeans.

Noticing that her mother’s coat and boots were missing from the foyer, Tessa stepped into her own boots and grabbed her jacket. Outside, the temperature had dropped. Dampness on the wind and clouds overhead promised rain. Shivering, Tessa checked the chicken enclosure and barn.

But her mother wasn’t anywhere on the property. Maybe she hadn’t gotten far.

Panic twisted in Tessa’s belly and numbed the pain in her leg. She stood in the driveway, scanning the road in both directions. To the north, the left side of the road was lined with thick forest that eventually bordered the state park. To the south, the road led to Widow’s Walk. Which way to go?

Tessa’s mom had been headed north when Cate had found her the previous night. If dementia had proven one thing, it was that her mother was a creature of habit. Tessa jumped into her patrol vehicle and began driving north on Orcas Road.

She said a silent prayer that she’d made the right choice.

As she drove, she switched the phone to speaker and called Logan. “My mother slipped out of the house. Would you take Garcia to the station and have Bruce put him in the holding cell? I’ll question him after I find my mother.”

“I’ll drop him off and help you look for her.”

“Thank you.” If Tessa didn’t find her in twenty minutes, she was calling in additional reinforcements. The night was warm for December, but people could suffer from hypothermia in fifty-degree weather. She thought of her mother, dressed only in her nightgown, sitting at the table the night before, refusing to put on warmer clothing. Her coat and boots were missing, and Tessa hoped she was wearing them.

She called Bruce, who was the on-call deputy that night, and asked him to meet Logan at the station. Then she drove north, her gaze sweeping from one side of the road to the other. She lowered the window and called for her mother. Three miles later, with a leaden heart, she turned around and backtracked to the house. It was time to get help. She called Kurt and then Cate.

When she returned home, Logan’s Range Rover was pulling into the driveway. Logan got out and walked to the driver’s side. “Any sign of her?”

“No.” Tessa stared through the windshield at the road pointing south. “I went north because that’s where Cate picked her up last time. But what if she went south?” Tessa choked on the rest of the words—to Widow’s Walk and the cliff?

But Logan knew what she meant. His mouth tightened. “We need more people.”

Tessa breathed. “Cate and Henry are already on their way to Widow’s Walk.”

The walkway above the cliffs was the most dangerous place on the island. That’s where Sam had disappeared. But there were other places just as deadly for a confused older woman: lakes, streams, beaches, woods. Except for the quaint tourist areas, Widow’s Island was largely wild and rural. “Kurt is calling for volunteers and organizing a search.”

Considering the vast acreage surrounding them, desperation gathered in Tessa’s belly.

Where could she be?

“How long has she been gone?” Logan asked.

Tessa checked her watch. “It’s ten thirty now. I remember being awake and working past eight. I’d say the earliest she left was eight thirty.”

“We need a map of the area. Most lost people can travel about two miles per hour, so we’re looking at a maximum distance of four miles from the point last seen. But older people suffering from Alzheimer’s tend to be found closer to home, so it’s unlikely that she wandered too far away.” Logan scanned the woods on the other side of the road. “But we have to remember your mother’s illness. She might not think she’s lost. She could have a specific place she’s going. She might not recognize the people calling for her, even if she knows them. She might even hide from rescuers.”

Logan’s words hit Tessa like a steamroller. As a rural cop, she also knew search and rescue basics, but her brain felt short-circuited by fear. Her mother was emotionally and mentally fragile, and she was alone out there in the darkness.

Logan eyed the forest. “Do you have any idea where she would have gone? Does she like to walk in the woods?”

“When I was a kid, we used to hike in the state park, but she hasn’t hiked anywhere in years. Mostly she hangs around the house.” Or at least that’s what Tessa had thought.

“Well, you checked the road. The land to the south is open. If she’s out there, Cate and Henry will spot her.” Logan reached into the vehicle and put his hand on Tessa’s forearm. “Your mother isn’t the first older person to wander off. We’ll find her.”

“I know.” Tessa had participated in several searches in the past year and a half.

“We need supplies if we’re going into the woods.” Logan released her arm.

Tessa’s phone beeped. Kurt’s number displayed on the screen, and she answered the call.

“I have a dozen volunteers so far,” he said. “We’re going to set up a command center at your house. I’m on my way to you now.”

“Thanks, Kurt.”

The line went dead.

Tessa stared at the woods. There were trails all through the forest. Jerry used one to visit her mother on his mountain bike.

Suddenly she knew exactly where her mother had gone.

I need that painting.

Tessa waved to Logan. “We have to go. I’ll explain on the way.”

Logan rounded the vehicle and climbed into the passenger seat. Tessa pulled away while he was still closing the door.

Logan fastened his seat belt.

Tessa looked like she wanted to throw up as she white-knuckled the steering wheel. “I have an idea of a place to look for my mother.”

“Where?”

Tessa pressed the gas pedal down. “I think—I hope—she went to Dante’s barn to get her painting. If she’s not there, then I don’t know where else to look.”

“But the painting is at the station.”

“Mom doesn’t know that.” The vehicle lurched forward. Tessa filled him in on her discussion with her mother from the night before. “I told her the painting was safe, but she was so upset about Dante’s death and her not being able to have her painting right away. She didn’t hear anything else I said. Could you call Jerry and see if he’s seen Mom?”

“This is not your fault.” Logan made the call. “He’s not answering.”

Tessa shook her head, her expression grim. “I slept on the damned sofa so I’d hear her if she walked toward the door. I can’t believe I didn’t wake up.”

“You’d been awake for thirty-six hours. Of course you slept hard.” Logan couldn’t imagine the guilt Tessa was feeling right now. But then, as he well knew, sometimes you didn’t have to be at fault to carry guilt.

“I know.” But her face was strained and her voice tight.

“Take a deep breath. If you’re right, we’ll collect your mom and take her home,” Logan said, mostly to take Tessa’s mind off her lost mother. “You said she took her boots and coat?”

Tessa nodded.

“That’s a good sign.”

“And what if she’s not at Dante’s studio?”

“Then we’ll head into the woods. Kurt’s command center will be set up within the hour.” He reached over and squeezed Tessa’s hand. “We’re going to find her.”

If only he had half the gadgets that had been available to him as an army ranger. A heat detector and NVGs would be most useful tonight.

Tessa nodded again, her face tight with worry. Logan released his grip. To distract her, he filled her in on his conversation with Nick Garcia.

“Do you believe him?” Tessa asked.

“I don’t know.” But Logan was afraid that Garcia wasn’t the killer and that the true murderer was still out there.

The road straightened out, and Tessa accelerated. Jerry’s house and barn appeared on the right. Tessa pulled into the driveway and parked. She and Logan jumped out of the vehicle.

“Mom!” Tessa called, striding toward the barn. No one answered.

Logan reached for the doorknob and froze. Crime scene tape fluttered in the doorway, no longer fastened on both ends. Had the wind broken the seal, or had a person?

Tessa moved past him into the converted barn. Logan stayed close. He whispered, “Do you think your mom would cross the crime scene tape?”

“I don’t know. She does a lot of things I would never have expected.”

“Someone else could be inside.”

Tessa’s quiet steps indicated that she agreed with him. They walked through the living areas but saw no one. The rooms had already been ransacked. Logan couldn’t tell if they’d been searched again.

Logan poked his head into the storage area. “She’s not in here either.”

Tessa checked a closet. There were no other hiding places large enough to conceal an adult. “She’s not here.” Her voice was disappointed.

“We’ll try the trail that leads back out to Orcas Road. Maybe she’s still on the trail.”

Tessa nodded and turned around. Her nose wrinkled. “Do you smell smoke?”

Logan sniffed. The pungent scent of gasoline penetrated his nostrils. Alarm and adrenaline shot through his bloodstream. “We need to get out of here.”

They hurried from the studio back into the living area. The heat hit Logan immediately. As they crossed the threshold into the living room, flames licked up the front wall of the barn. Logan turned away from the burning front door. “There has to be a back door.”

Smoke filled the room. Whoever had set the fire must have used a large quantity of gasoline for the flames to catch and spread that quickly. Tessa and Logan ran for the kitchen area in the back of the building.

“Wait!” Tessa darted back into the studio.

“Damn it!” Logan ran after her. What the hell is she doing?

She emerged a few seconds later, carrying a hissing and flailing orange tabby cat.

Wood creaked overhead.

“The roof!” Logan pointed upward.

A beam fell behind Tessa. Embers flew into the air and ignited the carpet. Flames rushed across the floor as another piece of wood fell from the ceiling. Smoke filled the space.

“Run!” Logan gave Tessa a push toward the windows.

Trying to hold on to the panicking, fighting cat, she staggered. Logan opened the window. The flames rushed toward the fresh oxygen—and them. He took off his jacket and wrapped it around the terrified animal, then took the wriggling bundle from Tessa. She slipped over the sill. After tucking the cat under his arm, Logan climbed out behind her.

They raced out into the night air as the roof caved in. Sparks showered around them. Logan stayed close to Tessa, shielding her as best he could.

Coughing, they ran around to the front of the barn and stopped short. Pam Rhodes was standing in the grass, holding a gas can and staring at the burning building. More cans littered the yard.

Logan stared at her. The cat howled, clawed its way over his shoulder, and took off for the woods.

Pam froze. Anger lowered her brow. “What are you doing here?”

Tessa pulled her weapon and aimed it at Pam. “Slowly put down the gas can, and raise your hands.”

Pam’s eyes caught the firelight, reflecting rage.

A door slammed. Jerry ran across the backyard clad in a pair of flannel pajamas and slippers. He grabbed the garden hose, turned it on with a squeak, and raced for the fire. He yelled, “I called the fire department. What the hell is going on?” Apparently, he hadn’t seen the gas can Pam was holding.

Widow’s Island’s fire company was made up of volunteers. Each man had to drive to the station and suit up before they could respond to the call. The barn would be beyond saving by the time they arrived.

Pam’s gaze was fixed on Tessa. Logan eased backward one step, moving slowly so he didn’t distract Pam, hoping he could circle around behind her. He shifted closer to the shadow of the burning barn. Heat seared his shoulder and face. Flames engulfed the corner of the barn, and the fire climbed up the side toward the roof. It wouldn’t be long before the entire structure burned.

“Pam!” Tessa’s voice hardened. She slowly stepped sideways, moving away from the flames. “Put down the gas can.”

“Not until this entire barn and everything inside it burns to the ground,” Pam snapped, but she mirrored Tessa’s movement, taking two steps away from the fire. Unfortunately, she also angled her movement backward, which put her closer to Jerry.

Pam lifted the can until it was in front of her chest. If Tessa shot at her, the can might explode, especially if it contained more fumes than liquid. Jerry was close enough to get caught in the explosion.

Tessa shouted, “Jerry, get away from the fire. You can’t save the barn.”

Either the roar of the fire drowned out Tessa’s command or Jerry was too focused to hear her.

Pam turned toward Jerry and lifted the gas can.

Logan read her intention in her body language. She was going to turn them both into human torches. But Logan was too far away to stop her.

“Don’t do it, Pam!” Tessa shouted.

“Fuck off.” Pam doused Jerry and herself with gasoline. She grabbed him by the sleeve, dropped the gas can, and held a lit lighter in front of their bodies.