Linx couldn’t believe the text message she received from Grady promising to work things out with her. She glanced at the voice mail icon and missed call from him, but her heart couldn’t take it to hear his voice, pleading for her to return.

Once he found out he was unable to gain custody of Jessie, he would regret everything about her. His only chance was for her to leave and admit her guilt. That way, he could work out a deal with the Pattersons.

Perhaps they would feel sorry for him that he’d been cheated out of having a say on the adoption.

Or maybe the court would side with him, and Grady and Jessie would live happily ever after—as long as Linx wasn’t around to screw things up.

So much like her batshit crazy mother.

She had to make a clean break—no looking back. Grady deserved to have a home in Colson’s Corner with his daughter. Eventually, he’d find another woman—one who wasn’t nuts—to settle down with. He could take over the Mountain Dog Rescue Center, and she was sure her father would let Jessie have her horse.

They would live a good life, one they deserved, while Linx would disappear into the fire lines, fighting forest fires until the flames finally caught up to her, like they did for Salem, and she would simply disappear without a trace.

She should shut off her phone, but text messages came in fast and furious like popcorn over a hot campfire.

Cedar nuzzled her thigh and whined, wondering why they hadn’t moved from the parking area.

“I need to see if Nessa will agree to take care of the rest of the dogs,” Linx said. “Sorry you’ll never see them again, especially little Ginger.”

The tip of Cedar’s tail wagged, and Linx rubbed her furry neck, knowing that she’d selfishly kept Cedar from Grady.

She scanned the messages and swallowed as she realized she’d never see her siblings and father again. They were all texting her, including Grady’s sister, Cait, pleading with her to come back.

One message flashed at her like a hot branding iron on bare skin. Call me, my daughter. I can help.

From Minx.

Why was she texting her now, of all times?

A while ago, Becca had tracked their mother down, using her attorney skills, and had called her for Christmas. Linx hadn’t wanted to say ‘hi’ and had run away to the artist’s shed to hide out for the rest of the day.

When she’d returned, none of her siblings mentioned the phone call, and Becca had taken her phone and added Mom to the address book.

Linx had immediately changed “Mom” to “Minx” and debated deleting the number.

But every night for the next two weeks, she had instead pulled out the phone and stared at the number—never ginning up the courage to call.

Why should she?

Minx hated her.

What would she say to her?

Tips on how to elude the law?

Linx swallowed hard and closed her eyes. She should call Minx and let her know exactly how bad she was and how she’d turned out just like her.

Before she could change her mind, she hit the green call button and waited breathlessly as a woman answered.

“Hello?”

“It’s Linx.”

“Ah, Linx, I knew you’d call.” The woman’s voice was scratchy, as if she’d been chain smoking since the day she left.

“Why did you ask me to call?” Linx said. “Why now?”

“Wanted to help.”

“Because I screwed up my life? I’m on the run—just like you. Are you proud of me? Happy?”

“You finally stopped pretending to be a Colson.” Minx chuckled and then coughed.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“The Colsons are goody-two-shoes. The whole lot of them. The kind of people who won the West. Brave, courageous, honest, hard-working, and do-gooders. I always knew you couldn’t keep it up. What did you do now? Kill someone?”

“I, uh, no, of course not.” Linx’s voice trailed off. What had she expected from her mother? Apologies? Compassion? Maybe even a little motherly concern?

“Then what? Broken heart? You still chasing after that smokejumper?”

“How do you know?” Linx’s body tensed, causing Cedar to jump.

“I know a lot of things, and I’ve been waiting for you to call.”

“You have? Since when?”

“Since you refused to wish me a Merry Christmas. Now why would that be? Are you afraid of looking in the mirror? Afraid to see your ugly self?”

“I can’t be as ugly as you.” Linx spat, her voice deep and tight.

“Don’t be so sure. I know what you’re capable of, and you’re no better than me. You’re worse.”

“At least I don’t hate my own daughter.”

“Who says I hate you? Has your dad been lying to you?” Minx’s raspy voice scratched like fingernails on a chalkboard.

“I don’t know why I called you,” Linx choked on the lump in her throat, “but I’m not going to give you the satisfaction of turning out just like you.”

“Oh, but it’s too late. You already have. No one will ever trust you. No one will ever believe in you. You’re nuts, and your heart is black just like mine. I know you stole that man’s dog, and I know you stole his kid.”

Linx ended the call and turned off her cell phone.

She wanted to smash it, but all the pictures she took of Jessie were on the device. Instead, she turned her SUV due north. She would pay her dues and seek redemption on the fire lines—burn her sins and herself into white ash.

Maybe that was what Salem had done to atone for her wrongdoings.

Hellfire raged all through the northwest, Canada, and Alaska, burning millions of acres and scorching the entire earth. If she could do nothing right or bring happiness to nobody, she could at least consume herself in the fiery inferno, purify her soul and redeem her pitiful self.

* * *

“You’re wasting your time with me,” Grady said to Todd in the interrogation room. He was flanked by the deputy who took notes, and his temporary attorney, Becca Colson. “I’ve given you a timeline of my whereabouts, and I did not go near the church.”

“The pastor said there were a lot of tourists and visitors at the barbecue they held, and you could have easily gotten mixed up with them and lured Jessie away with promises of the puppy,” Todd said.

“Objection,” Becca said. “My client has told you everything he knows. You have no evidence he had anything to do with the child’s disappearance.”

“Other than your words, Counselor.” Todd glared at his sister. “Your first words were something to the effect that he should have waited for the paternity test.”

“I misspoke.” Becca rolled her eyes.

“Look, I don’t know what game you two are playing,” Grady said. “But there’s a little girl missing, and you’re wasting time playing cop and lawyer. If I’m not being charged, I demand you let me go.”

“He has a point,” Becca said. “Linx is also missing.”

“Right, I have an APB out for her and her vehicle,” Todd said. “But Linx wasn’t the one cleaning up the scene of the crime.”

“If I were cleaning up, why did I leave Jessie’s bandana on the fence?” Grady slapped his palms on the table and pushed himself back. “I’m out of here. You have something against me personally. I can’t help that, but right now, we need to find Jessie and Linx. Maybe they’re both in danger.”

Todd groaned and palmed his forehead. “What do you think happened?”

“I don’t know,” Grady said. “But every minute is critical. What if Linx came back to the center and the kidnapper held her at gunpoint and made her drive off with Jessie and Ginger? Her gun is missing from her nightstand.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Todd barked, snapping to his feet.

“You were too busy arresting me to listen to me.” Grady stood up to him. “Am I free to leave? I want to start the search, if you don’t mind.”

“We have men searching already. We’re interviewing witnesses and we’ve put out an Amber alert.” Todd huffed. “And yes, you’re free to leave.”

“Thanks,” Grady said. “Did you send any men to the pastor’s house to see if Betsy’s missing?”

“Who’s Betsy?” Todd asked.

“Jessie’s older dog. She’d gotten lost earlier this month and I found her wandering around my parents’ property after it was burned down.”

“We’ll check,” Todd said. “Although I don’t see the point. If the kidnapper nabbed her from church, he’d be stupid to go back and get the other dog.”

“So, let me get this straight,” Becca said. “You think the kidnapper broke into the center, took the missing puppy, and then went to the church and lured Jessie into his or her car?”

“That’s the most likely scenario, now that you spell it out,” Todd said, then turned to his deputy. “Any other ideas?”

“I know she’s your sister,” the deputy drawled. “But she could have come back to the center, taken the puppy, then opened the gates to make it seem as if there’d been a burglary, then lured Jessie into her car. It makes sense since Jessie knows and trusts her.”

“Linx would never do that,” Grady said hotly. “Unless the kidnapper forced her. No, she wouldn’t even do it at gunpoint. She’d take the shot and tell Jessie to run.”

The deputy shrugged. “Like I said, you won’t like my scenario, but I think it’s the most likely. Something caused your sister to crack. I don’t know what it is, but the entire town knows she’s Jessie’s biological mom. We think the pastor’s too naïve and kind-hearted to let Jessie get so close to Linx.”

“My sister would never hurt that little girl,” Todd said.

“Linx is not that underhanded,” Becca argued. “She’s friends with the Pattersons.”

“Like I said, I don’t know what kind of stress she’s been under,” the deputy said. “But you might want me to lead the investigation if you can’t be objective.”

“Hell no!” Todd stormed. “I’m a lawman and I’ll follow the trail wherever it leads. Let’s get out there and find my sister.”

“She could be in grave danger,” Grady warned. “Let’s not pin this on her without proof. Jessie must be so scared right now. Scared and lonely. We have to find her and bring her back to her parents, and we have to work together.”