Chapter One

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"Where did you get this?" Jake Cassin clutched the faded photograph, trying to maintain
his composure. Again, he reread the short paragraph under the baby girl's picture.
Missing.

The short paragraph detailed the newborn infant's abduction from her California home.
Someone had broken into the house, through a window and snatched the days old infant
from her crib. She hadn't been seen since. July 3, 2007. Six years ago. Right around the
exact same time he and Beth had adopted their Laney.

His gut clenched. Though a lot of babies look alike, the heart shaped birthmark on this
one's chin stopped him cold. Damned if the baby wasn't the spitting image of Laney when
she'd been that young, birthmark and all. How could that be? What did this mean?

Tina, one of the longtime waitresses at Sue's Catfish Hut, grimaced. "A woman named
Edie something or other has been passing these out all around town. Says this little girl is
her missing daughter Amy." Leaning in, she peered worriedly at him. "Jake, she says
she'd learned that her missing baby might be here in Anniversary."

Baby. Not any longer. The missing little girl would be six years old now, just like Laney.

Jake managed to nod, passing the picture back, hoping Tina didn't notice how his hand
shook. He also appreciated the way she didn't comment on the obvioushow much this
baby's birthmark resembled Laney's.

Behind him, the doorbell tinkled. Tina straightened, her heavily made up eyes going
wide. "Speak of the devil," she said under her breath, smoothing her short brown hair.
"It's her."

Jake had to fight to control the urge to whip around and stare.

"Afternoon, Ms. Edie," Tina drawled, hurrying out from behind the counter. "What can I
do for you?"

"I'd like to try your lunch special catfish." The low silvery voice made Jake's gut tighten.
Slowly, he turned to catch a glimpse of the woman whose very presence had the potential
to destroy his world.

His breath caught in his throat. Whatever he'd expected, it hadn't been this. Tall and lithe,
she stalked toward the counter with a self-assured confidence that gave her a sensual
appeal. With her long red-gold hair, exotic cheekbones, slightly tilted green eyes, and
generously curved lips, she was the kind of woman a guy like him only saw on television
or between the glossy pages of a magazine.
Breathtakingly gorgeous. He could scarcely believe that this was the woman claiming her
child had been stolen, a girl whose likeness as an infant bore an uncomfortably close
resemblance to his daughter.

Chapter Two
Jake wished he could shrug this off as sheer coincidence. But the timing made him
uneasy. That and the way he and Beth had been discouraged from asking any questions
about the birth mother. Since Beth had died shortly after the adoption had been finalized,
leaving a grieving Jake with a tiny infant to look after, he'd had so much to deal with at
the time that he'd never given the adoption a second thought.

Turns out maybe he should have.

"Large catfish platter or small?" Tina asked.

"Small please," Edie Beswick replied, sliding onto the stool next to him. Her scent drifted
over to him, a cross between peaches and vanilla, making his mouth water.

"Fries okay?" Tina asked her.

"Yes, please. And a Diet Coke."

Nodding, Tina refreshed Jake's coffee before bustling off. After a quick glance at Edie,
careful not to stare, he lifted the cup and took a deep swig. Should he greet her or pretend
she wasn't there? He wasn't sure whether to speak, only knew that if he did, he had to be
careful to deflect the conversation away from her missing child, at least until he had a
chance to investigate further.

"Good afternoon," she finally said, breaking the silence.

Giving her a cursory glance, he dipped his chin in a quick nod. "Afternoon."

Then, to his horror, she slid a photocopied paper across the counter. "Have you seen
this?" she asked. Although she was smiling, her green eyes were serious. "I've been
passing them out, all over town."

"A baby?" Picking up the paper, he pretended to only skim it, even though he'd already
memorized nearly every single word. "We don't have many newborns around here."

An expression of deep sadness darkened her gaze. "She's not a baby anymore. She'd be
six now, and in Kindergarten."

"First grade," he corrected, and then nearly cursed out loud. "I mean, most six-year-olds
are in first grade."
"Like Laney," Old Man Winn chimed in from the booth behind them, no doubt thinking
he was helping.

Tina bustled up, shooting the elderly man her best Be Quiet glare. "Here's your Diet
Coke."

"Thank you." Edie never took her gaze off Jake. "Who's Laney?"

She had cat's eyes, curving up at the tip. Framed by long, thick lashes, they drew his
gaze, made him want to scoot closer. He hated that he even felt even the tiniest tug of
attraction toward this woman, who might represent danger. "Laney's my daughter. She's
six."

Sadness flitted across her delicately carved face. "I'm hoping to find my little girl. I've
tracked a lead that seems to indicate she's here. But I've been in town two days and no
one has recognized her so far."

Nodding, Jake counted his blessings. He reminded himself that a lot of babies looked
alike, and the resemblance could mean nothing. Nothing at all.

Or it could mean everything. The complete and utter annihilation of his world.

Chapter Three
His food arrived, saving him from talking. Even though his appetite had vanished with
Edie's arrival, he dug in.

As soon as he'd scarfed down his meal, he paid his ticket, managing a pleasant smile and
a nod at Edie before hurrying outside. He'd had a late lunch and still needed to head to the
feed store and pick up supplies before meeting Laney at the school bus stop.

His friend Brock McCauley loaded up Jake's pickup, whistling happy. Brock had recently
married his former fiance Zoe Onella, and his happiness practically radiated off him.
Jake remembered feeling that way a couple of times, most notable on the day he and Beth
had received their newborn adopted daughter.

Beth's cancer diagnosis, followed by a slow decline and death, had leached all the joy out
of Jake's world. He'd clung to the one bright spot in his lifeLaneyand made it
through.

Once the sacks of feed were loaded and paid for, Jake thanked the other man and headed
toward home. Glancing at his watch, he realized he was running a tiny bit late, so he
accelerated. Laney knew to start walking toward home if he wasn't there to pick her up,
and since their ranch was a good ways out of town, traffic was minimal. He didn't have to
worry, but he did anyway.
When he pulled up to the designated bus stop at the intersection of FM1133 and Ranch
Road, he saw no sign of the school bus. Breathing a sigh of relief, he parked and waited,
watching for the yellow monster, as he and Laney called it, to come rumbling up the hill.

Instead, the bus headed toward him. Since it always turned around at the public boat
ramp on the lake, this would seem to indicate it had already come and gone.

Alarm made his heart skip a beat. Slamming his truck into drive, he peeled out, cursing
the heavy bags of feed loading him down.

Spotting his car, the bus pulled over and stopped. Miz Maness, who'd just had her
thirtieth anniversary as a driver, opened the door so he could board.

"Thank goodness it's you." Expression agitated, she waved her cell phone at him. "I just
called the sheriff. I wanted to make sure you'd sent someone else to pick up Laney."

His heart stopped. "Someone else? What do you mean?"

"You weren't there as usual when she got out at her stop." The older woman frowned.
"She started walking toward home as I pulled away." Gasping for air, she fanned herself.
"Right before I turned the corner, I saw in my rearview mirror another car pull up. I
stopped, of course, but was too far away to do anything. I was hoping whoever picked her
up was a friend or relative of yours. She certainly got in happily enough."

"Got in?" Jake repeated, going numb. He'd told Laney a hundred times not to go with
strangers. He'd believed she'd understood.

Chapter Four
Jake's cell phone rang. Sheriff Giles. Jake answered tersely, letting the sheriff know it
appeared Laney had been abducted. "I'm heading to your office right now," he said.

"Bring Miz Maness. I'll need to question her."

When he told the bus driver this, she'd nodded. "Of course," she agreed quietly. "I need to
drop the bus off at the parking lot, but that's on the way. I'll take my own car and meet
you there."

He said a rushed goodbye before running back to his truck and breaking every speed limit
on his way to the station.

Agnes Caliburton manned the front desk. She jumped up the moment he blew through the
door, her brown eyes huge. "He's waiting for you in his office," she said.
Jerking his chin in thanks, he pushed past the waist-high gate. When he reached Roger
Giles's office, the sheriff was on the phone. He motioned to Jake to take a seat while he
concluded his call.

"I've issued an Amber alert," Roger said, leaning forward in his chair. His blond hair
looked as if he'd been dragging his hands through it.

Jake winced. "I appreciate that," he said, barely able to fathom that they were talking
about his daughter.

"This will give us a much better chance of finding her," Roger continued.

Again Jake nodded. He hated feeling so helpless; he'd felt the same way when the doctors
had told him Beth's cancer had spread. A man of action, he despised being powerless to
do something. Anything.

"We have to find her," he said.

"I agree." The sheriff hesitated. "I should let you know I've also contacted Edie Beswick
and asked for her help."

"Edie Beswick?" Confused, Jake could only stare. "The woman who's passing out
missing child flyers? What does she have to do with this?"

"She's former FBI. She still has contacts." Looking past him, Roger stood. "Miz Maness
is here."

Chapter Five
The older woman had clearly been crying, judging from her red eyes and nose. She
touched Jake's shoulder as she took a seat in the chair next to him. "I'm so sorry. I wish I
would have been able to do something."

"What year was the car?" Sheriff Giles asked gently.

"I don't know," she wailed. "I only saw it in my rearview mirror. It was beat-up, and
older. White, I think. Though maybe tan."

Jake bit back a groan. He hated the way he had to sit there, frozen, while some stranger
had his baby girl.

"Is there anyone you can think of who might have wanted to take Laney?" Roger directed
the next question to Jake.

Jaw clenched, Jake shook his head. "No."

"No neighbors who seemed overly interested in her?"

"Roger, we live on a horse farm. And before you ask, no. I haven't had any new
customers. All the people who board, train, or take riding lessons at my place are
regulars. None of them would have hurt Laney."

"Most likely this was a stranger." Edie Beswick's low voice came from the doorway. "I
need a list of registered sex offenders in the area."

"Sex offenders," Jake repeated, going numb, barely glancing at her. She'd just voiced his
worst fear.

"I've already printed off a list." Roger handed her the paper before turning again to Miz
Maness. "Is there anything else you can tell me? Were you able to get a good look at the
driver of the car?"

A tear slid down her plump cheek as she slowly shook her head. "No.I'm sorry. It was too
far away for me to tell."

"Go on home now, Miz Maness. You contact us if you think of anything else, you hear?"

With a shaky nod, the older woman got to her feet and left.

"I think you should go home, too." All professional courtesy, Edie Beswick gave Jake a
dispassionate look. "We'll take it from here."

"The hell I will." Jaw clenched, he impaled her with his gaze. "I don't know who the hell
you think you are, but"

"Easy, Jake. Edie's only trying to help."

"Actually, I was asked to help," she said coolly. "As a rule, frantic parents only get in the
way."

Fury fueled by fear had him pushing to his feet. "I want my little girl found."

"Which is why we all need to work together," Roger put in, glancing from one to the
other. "Edie, please sit down. And Jake stays."

Edie didn't argue, just took the seat next to him. "I take it you've activated the Amber
Alert."

"Of course." He glanced at Jake. "I used the photo from Piper Gregor's Facebook page.
The one that was taken last weekend at Suzanne's birthday party."

Jake nodded, fumbling with his wallet. "I have this year's school picture, too."
Accepting the photo, Roger scanned it before handing it to Edie. After a moment of study,
she passed it back to Jack, her expression blank.

"Roger, I'm guessing you also notified CARD?" Turning to Jake, she elaborated. "It's the
FBI's Child Abduction Rapid Deployment unit."

Jake nodded.

"I did," Roger confirmed.

"Good. The FBI makes this type of situation their highest priority. A specially trained
team of four to six agents should be here shortly." Gaze still locked on Jake's, she
swallowed. "Wetheyconsider abducted children to be in imminent danger."

Imminent danger. His chest felt tight.

Chapter Six
Now Edie turned to Roger. "The FBI will take over from here, though they will most
likely allow you to assist."

Roger nodded.

"That's it?" Jake wasn't satisfied. He needed to do something, anything. "I'm not going to
go home and wait. I want Laney found."

"As do we." Sympathy softened her expression. "I'm very sorry. I promise you, the
Bureau will do everything within its power to bring your daughter home safe."

"What else can we do? There must be something."

"We need to notify the community. Not just the Amber Alert, but tell people. Get the
word out. We don't have time to print up flyers like the one I've been passing out."

His blood turned to ice. "Don't have time? I remember reading something about time
limits."

She only nodded.

"How long?" He could barely force the words past the tightness in his throat. "How long
is the window?"

Now she hesitated. "Twenty-four hours."

A groan escaped him. "Then let's get moving."

When he stood, Edie stood too. "I'm going with you."

About to protest, when Roger nodded, Jake reconsidered. "Won't you be assisting the FBI
people?"

"I'm no longer with the Bureau."

Nearly at the doorway, Jake turned to glance at Roger. "What about you? What are you
going to do?"

"I've sent out every available squad car to canvass the area. I've got to wait here and meet
with the FBI people."

As they left Roger's office, Edie stopped him with a quick touch on his arm. "I'll help any
way I can."

Just like that, any hostility he felt toward her deflated. "Thank you," he said quietly. "I
appreciate that."

"Good." The softness vanished from her face. "Let's go put the word out. The more
people in town we can reach personally, the better."

Chapter Seven
When they reached the parking lot, Edie thought about offering to drive, but
reconsidered. The rugged cowboy might be shaken, but he lived here and knew his way
around better than she. Efficiency was of the utmost importance in getting the word out.
They had to find his daughter. Her heart clenched. A child who might actually be the
infant stolen from her six years ago.

The instant she'd seen Laney's first grade photo, a sense of recognition had nearly sent
her to her knees. She wasn't the type to second guess gut intuition. When she formed snap
opinions, she was rarely wrong.

And she had a strong hunch this missing little girl was hers.

Jake Cassin's daughter Laney looked exactly how Edie's baby Amy would look at age six.
She'd actually run facial recognition software on it while at the Bureau, so she'd have a
better idea of what her daughter would look like now. She kept that print out neatly
folded in a zippered compartment of her purse.

There in Roger Giles's office, she'd had to fight the urge to pull it out and compare it to
the school picture. Poor Jake Cassin had enough to worry about without her adding to it.

Right now, finding little Laney was the only thing that mattered.
"Tell me the truth." Jake's deep rumble of a voice pulled her from her thoughts. "How
good are our chances?"

She didn't have to ask what he meant. "More than ninety-nine percent of all missing
children in the United States are found alive."

When he didn't respond, she glanced at him, amazed at the unwelcome tug of attraction.
He had a stubborn, strong face, firm jaw and high cheekbones, the likes of which she'd
seen many times before during her time working for the Bureau. Law-enforcement types
were often cut from the same cloth.

But there was something different about Jake Cassin. He looked like he spent a lot of
time outdoors, with his sun-bleached, shaggy hair accentuating his tanned skin. His long
fingers looked capable, and she particularly admired the way his broad shoulders and
muscular chest filled out his western shirt.

"Missing," he finally said. "What about abducted?"

Surprised that he'd discerned the difference, she swallowed and gave him the truth.
"Fifty-seven percent come home alive, forty-percent are killed. The rest remain open
cases."

He nodded, a muscle working in the side of his cheek. "We've got to find her."

"We will." The words slipped from her, a promise made with a confidence she had to feel.
This had been her specialty once, working for the CARD unit. She'd been damned good
at her job, too, until she'd gone on maternity leave to have her baby, Skyping with her
husband in Afghanistan when she could, wishing he could be there when their child was
born.

Unfortunately, he couldn't and she'd had her baby with her best friend holding her hand.

She'd named her little girl Amy. They'd been home from the hospital two days when two
uniformed military personnelCasualty Notification Officershad shown up at her
front door.

With a newborn to take care of, Edie had tried hard not to let her grief overwhelm her.
But in the whirlwind of making arrangements for her husband's funeral, she'd somehow
failed her daughter. That night, a stranger broke in through the nursery window and took
Amy. Edie never even heard her cry.

Rousing herself from the past, she realized they were pulling into a parking space in the
downtown square.

Chapter Eight
"Here we are," Jake said, his expression grave, the lines around his eyes revealing his
worry. "What now?"

"We go around and notify everyone to keep an eye out." Exiting the truck, she waited on
the sidewalk for him to catch up. "We don't have time for long, drawn out conversations,
and I know how impossible it can be to avoid them. But the more people we tell, the
better chance we have of someone spotting either Laney or the car."

"I understand."

They made quick work of the shops on their side of the street. To Edie's surprise, Jake
had a knack for handling the townspeople. He spoke with a friendly respect, and almost
all of them seemed to understand.

To a one, they promised to keep their eyes open and notify the sheriff if they saw
anything out of the ordinary.

Once they'd finished the other side of the street, Jake crossed his arms and looked at Edie.
With the setting sun lighting his surfer-guy hair, she again felt that surprising pull of
attraction.

"Now what?" he asked, his voice gruff.

"I'd say you should go on home." A quick glance at her watch revealed it was nearly
seven. "Have something to eat and try and get some rest."

He looked at her as if she'd suggested he run down the street without clothing. "That's not
going to happen."

Trying to get the mental image of him naked out her mindreally, WTH?she sighed.
"I understand. But please, try and keep your strength up. Right now, you need to be on
your 'A' game."

As they pulled up to the sheriff's office and parked, she turned and placed her hand lightly
on his muscular forearm. "We'll get through this somehow. The agents who make up the
CARD team are specially trained. They'll find Laney. You have to believe that."

Though he didn't appear convinced, he nodded.

"What are you going to do now?" she asked, since he'd just told her he had no plans to
return home.

"Drive around and look for the car. If that son of a bitch is still in Anniversary, I'm going
to find him."
"I'd like to go with you." Spur of the moment, completely unlike her, but why not.
Otherwise, her choices were to go have a meal and a drink by herself and then return to
her empty hotel room.

He cast a sideways glance at her, his rugged features reflecting both weariness and
distrust. She could understand his exhaustion, but the mistrust surprised her. In her former
life, she'd been viewed with a lot of suspicion, but that had been by people with
something to hide.

It hit her like a ton of bricks. Did he know? Did Jake Cassin realize the child he called
Laney was actually her missing daughter Amy?

Chapter Nine
"Sure," Jake finally said, the flatness of his tone telling Edie he'd rather she not go.
Ignoring this, she nodded and stayed in the truck.

Without another word, he slammed the shifter into Reverse and backed out of the parking
lot. They turned left, heading away from town, toward the lake. She knew this because
her motel was out this way.

"There are campgrounds on the other side of the dam," he said. "Maybe this guy is
staying there."

"Staying? You don't think he's local?"

"A local? No." Disgust filled his voice. "No one from around here would do something
like that."

There were hundreds of statistics she could spoutthe percentage of children abducted
by someone they knewbut she kept her mouth shut. This man was already going
through hell. She saw no reason to make it worse.

The light had nearly gone by the time they reached the turnoff to the campground. A large
sign proclaimed the name of the tree-lined park, which appeared well-lit and carefully
maintained.

Her cell phone rang. She answered with her last name, out of long habit. "Beswick here."

It was Roger Giles; he sounded worried. "One of our local teens just showed up here.
Says a stranger stopped her and gave her an envelope, asking her to bring it here. The car
matches the description of the perp in the Laney Cassin abduction."

Her breath caught. "Is the CARD team there?"

"Not yet."
"We're on our way," she said.

"Good. One more thing. The envelope this guy wanted brought here is addressed to you."

Roger Giles disconnected the call before Edie could respond. Tersely, she explained the
situation to Jake.

Though it must have been killing him, he kept to the speed limit until they reached the
park exit, a restraint she admired since there were children everywhere.

Once they hit the main road, they accelerated. He didn't ask any other questions, for
which she was grateful. She'd already told him everything she knew.

The second they pulled into the lot and parked, Jake jumped from the truck and hurried
toward the building, Edie close on his heels.

Roger stood just inside the door. Wordlessly, he led the way to his office. Once they were
inside, he closed the door.

"Take a seat."

"I'd rather stand." Legs spread, arms crossed, Jake appeared about to explode.

Edie nodded. "Me, too."

"What's this about?" Jake glanced from one to the other. Grimacing, Roger handed Edie a
large, manila envelope. The seal had already been broken.

"Take a look." The sheriff sounded grim.

Slowly, Edie withdrew a single sheet of typewritten paper.

Jake and she read it at the same time.

Karma's a bitch, Edie Beswick. You lost your husband, then your kid, and finally your
job, but you couldn't lose me. You put me away, but not forever. Since I got out, I've
studied everything I could find about you. I know your past, and your present. And now,
I've taken the only thing that means anything to youthe child you believe might be your
own.

So you lost her twice. And the last laugh's on me.

Signed, the Ice Cream Man.

Chapter Ten
Edie felt sick. She looked up from the paper to find both men watching her.

"Do you know who this is?" Roger asked quietly.

"The Ice Cream Man was a notorious predator I put away about ten years ago." Her voice
came out hollow. "His real name is Karl Kent. He worked out of an ice cream vending
truck, the kind that drives around neighborhoods playing tinny music."

Jake appeared stunned. "He used the very essence of summer to trick children?"

She nodded, bracing herself to tell him the worst of it. "We believed he'd murdered kids,
too, but we never could find proof of that. We got him on numerous other charges,
enough to send him away for a long time."

"Ten years?" Jake looked as if he wanted to punch something. "You call that a long
time?"

"Prisons are overcrowded. Most inmates don't serve even seventy-five percent of their
sentences," Roger said.

Edie could only nod.

Jake swung around to face her.

"You?" Accusation rang in his voice. "You did this? This is all your fault?"

Though she kept her head up, Edie felt each word like a blow.

"Come on now, Jake," Roger cautioned. "I wouldn't exactly put it like that."

"Really, then? How would you put it? This pervert is here because of her?" Jake's voice
rose. "My beautiful little daughter was taken because this woman came to our town."

"I didn't know." No excuse, not really. But it was all she had.

"You don't keep track of the criminals who are out to get you?"

"How could I possibly do that?" she fired right back. "I was an FBI agent for a long
time."

"People," Roger interrupted. "We're on the same side here. Please, calm down. Take a
seat and let's figure out where we go from here."

Without another word, Jake crossed to a chair and dropped into it. A moment later, Edie
forced herself to do the same. Guilt paralyzed her. Even though intellectually she knew
this wasn't her fault, she couldn't fathom she'd endangered any child, even unknowingly.
Any child? Hell, Laney Cassin might really be her own daughter, transported from
California to Texas. A chill ran through her at the thought that she might have actually
located her missing girl, only to have a deranged pedophile snatch her up. It would make
a truth more horrible than the worst kind of fiction.

Chapter Eleven
Edie remembered The Ice Cream Man. For months after catching him, her nightmares
had been full of the awful things he'd done to his victims. She couldn't imagine what
parole board would have been idiotic enough to set him free.

For now, none of that mattered. What was important was getting the little girl away from
The Ice Cream Man before she was harmed. Or worse.

She refused even to consider the latter possibility.

Glancing at his watch, Roger cursed. "Any idea what's taking those FBI people so long? I
thought you told me this unit made child abduction their highest priority."

Two hours had passed. "They should be here any moment. It's a bit of a drive here from
Dallas, plus we notified them right in the peak of rush hour traffic."

At her words, Jake pushed to his feet. "I'm not sitting here any longer waiting for
someone else to help us. I'm going back out. I won't stop looking until I find my
daughter."

Brushing past Edie, he stormed out the door.

"Go with him," Roger urged. "He's a man on the edge. Please. Help him any way you
can."

Jerking her head in a quick nod, she took off. She caught up with Jake at his truck.

"I'm going with you," she said, crossing to the passenger side door.

"No. I want you to stay away. Leave me the hell alone."

Ignoring him, she swung up into the seat. "What matters now is finding Laney. The
CARD team will be doing their own thing. You and I will do ours. Believe me, I have
experience in this area."

Jaw tight, he glared at her, his blue eyes narrowed. "Just like you have experience in
bringing predators to small towns to prey on other peoples' kids?"

"That was a low blow and you know it." Despite her awareness of his pain, his cruel
remarks made her angry. "Plus, your Laney might not just be someone else's kid."
About to turn the key in the ignition, he froze. "Now is not the time."

"Agreed. So let's get going."

He made no move to start the engine. "What's your plan?"

"I"

"You've got to have something? Do you?"

Though she didn't want to step on any toes, she knew the first thing the CARD team
would do. Since no one appeared to know their ETA, if they ended up crossing paths, she
could always apologize profusely and get out of their way.

"How well do you know the wooded area near the lake?" she asked, keeping her tone
brusque and professional and pretending not to notice the stark look of fear that flashed
across his chiseled features.

"I grew up here," he said. "I know as well as anyone, and better than some guy from out
of town would."

"Well, that's where we're going to go."

At this, he finally turned the key, but hesitated with his hand on the shifter. "Why?"

She took a deep breath, well aware he'd have to face the possibility of the awful truth.
"Because it sounds as if he's escalating. If we don't find him soon, he'll be looking for a
place to hide a body."

Chapter Twelve
At her words, Jake froze. A buzzing started in his ears, broken only by the slow thud of
his heartbeat. Somehow, he managed to find his voice."What are you trying to say? Are
you"He swallowed, struggling to unearth the right words."Are you saying you think
he's already killed her?"

The slow shake of her head did little to reassure him."Oh God, no." Grimacing, she
reached out and squeezed his shoulder. "She's still alive. She has to be. I meant we need
to try and think like him, figure out what he might do next."

He nodded, the action mechanical, still fighting the feeling of drowning. "I understand,"
he lied.

With her brown eyes full of sympathy, she lightly touched his arm. "I'm sorry, I should
have rephrased it."
"I told you, I understand." Voice breaking, he shook her off. "You're telling me if we don't
find her soon, he's going to kill her."

Not taking her too-serious eyes off him, she slowly nodded.

Raw anguish punched him in the gut, the feeling too powerful to manage unnoticed.

"Listen," she began.

Teeth clenched, he held up his hand. "I need a minute," he growled, hoping she'd
understand and get out of his truck and leave him the hell alone. The tenuous grip he had
on his emotions wouldn't hold too much longer, he could tell.

He wasn't the kind to lose control or shed tears. In fact, the only times he'd done so had
been once near the end of his wife's battle with cancer and again as he'd watched them
lower her coffin into the ground.

"I think you should leave."

Instead of leaving, Edie scooted closer. "We're going to find her," she said. "I promise."

He wanted to grab hold of the certainty in her voice and somehow take it into himself. If
anything happened to Laney

When he didn't respond, she placed both hands on his shoulders. "Look at me."

With panic roiling inside of him, he made one more attempt to warn her away. "Go.
Please. Just go."

She didn't appear to pick up on his desperation. Still gripping his shirt, she moved as if
she meant to gather him into her arms. "Jake," she began. "I really think"

Since it didn't appear she was going to stop talking, he silenced her the only way he could
think of. Channeling all his worry and frustration and anger and fear into the action, he
slanted his mouth across hers and kissed her. Hard and punishing. A warning to back off
and leave him the hell alone, if she had any sense at all.

Apparently she didn't. After one frozen moment of shock, she moved her lips and kissed
him back, with a kind of reckless fierceness that stunned him. The pressure of her mouth
was a match for his, equally urgent, as though her emotions mirrored his own.

Again the missing child poster flashed in his mind, making him realize, maybe they did.

The heat built between them slowly, like a low simmer of coals fanned by the slightest
breath. Heartbeat skyrocketing, Jake felt the rush of desire course through his veins, a
seductive poison.
Shocked at his own aroused response, he broke the kiss, unable to even look at her. "My
apologies. I don't know why"

"It's okay." Though she appeared as stunned as he, the steadiness of her silky voice
washed over him like a soothing rain. "Believe me, I understand. Emotions are running
high for all of us." She gestured toward the gear shifter. "Let's get going. We only have a
few hours left of daylight. The sooner we can get started searching, the better."

Numbly, he nodded. Then he put the truck in reverse, backed out of the parking spot, and
headed toward the dense area of undeveloped woods on the west side of the lake.

Chapter Thirteen
Edie lifted her hand to her still burning lips. She didn't know how to react to the blaze of
desire Jake's kiss ignited in her. While she understood what had driven himit was less
of he found her irresistible and more of an outlet for the flood of emotions he was trying
to handleher own feverish response stunned her.

Even worse, she couldn't understand how badly she ached for more. Much more. She'd
never been a flighty person. Why him and why now? In the midst of a crisis that made
everything else completely unimportant.

"We'll use every second of daylight that we can." Thinking out loud could lead to trouble,
but it had always been the way she processed information. Over the years, she'd stumbled
across many intuitive ideas, merely by voicing her thoughts.

"Agreed." His deep voice sounded steady again, letting her know he'd gotten his act
together once more. "I'm guessing this special team the FBI is sending will do this also?"

"Depends when they get here. If it's too late, they'll probably wait and start at the crack of
dawn."

"I'll feel much better if we get started immediately."

She nodded. "Me, too. How much farther?"

"A couple of miles."

Feeling betterthey were back on track nowshe inhaled. "How big are these woods,
exactly?"

When he glanced at her, his blue eyes appeared nearly black. "Pretty big. Most of it's
private land. I'd say a couple hundred acres."

"Uninhabited?"
He jerked his head in a nod. "Yep. I'm assuming you know a really efficient way to
search?"

About to respond in the affirmative, she reconsidered. The methods she'd spent years
perfecting involved a well-trained team and sophisticated equipment. "We'll manage," she
said instead.

Once they'd parked, she briefly tried to explain the method of organized searching. But
cordoning off areas and working on quadrants really applied to large groups of searchers.
Since there were only the two of them, they'd have to do the best they could.

As the sun traveled toward the horizon, they tromped through the wooded park area,
placing a small x as a mark on the stone picnic tables. "That way we'll at least knowas
will the CARD teamthat we've checked this area."

He nodded, a glint of desperation shining in his eyes. They continued, beating back the
underbrush, swatting at large mosquitoes, and trying to wring every last second that they
could out of the waning light.

Chapter Fourteen
Finally, the inky night settled around them like a shroud.

"Jake." Edie touched his arm, pretending not to notice the way he swung around as if he'd
like to put his fist through a tree. "We've got to stop for the night."

"No. I'm not leaving here until I find my daughter."

"I understand." Swallowing, she tried to find the right words. "But we could do more
damage stumbling around in the darkness. Obscuring clues, etc. Plus," she rushed on
when he cocked his head. "We need to get our rest so we can be sharp for a fresh search
at daybreak."

Finally, he nodded. "Let's go. I'll drop you off at the Sheriff's office so you can get your
car."

Squaring her shoulders, she waited until they were once again inside the cab of his truck
before speaking. "I'm staying with you," she said, the flat finality of her words leaving
little room for arguing. "Neither of us needs to be alone right now."

He glanced at her, his expressionless face giving nothing away.

So she played her trump card, aware how badly she needed to be with him, against all
reason. "Plus, if we're together, it will save time getting organized in the morning."

Glancing at her watch, she silently prayed daybreak wouldn't be too late.
They drove a few miles in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. From the way Jake's
frown created agonized lines in his handsome face, Edie suspected he was trying very
hard not to picture what the Ice Cream Man might be doing to his daughter.

As was she. Even allowing the thought to creep in for a second made her feel furious and
nauseated.

They had to find him. They simply had to. But how?

Chapter Fifteen
"I've got it." Jake snapped his fingers, his voice ringing with suppressed excitement.

Confused, Edie glanced at him. "What do you mean?"

"I know how we'll locate her. We have a dog, Laney and I. A Boxer named Bexar. He's
spent many an afternoon playing hide-and-seek with Laney. If anyone can find her, Bexar
can."

Relief flooded her. "Perfect," she said. "We'll take him with us in the morning."

He only nodded, his expression once again turned to granite.

A few minutes later, they turned down a rutted gravel road, past a sign reading "Green
Cloud Farms." Soon, white painted wooden pole fencing and a neat, red and white barn
appeared.

"Yours?" she asked, impressed and slightly envious. The idyllic setting made her long for
roots, even though she knew she could never settle down anywhere until she found her
daughter. Whom she might have finally located, only to have her snatched away by a
crazed predator.

Instead of replying, he simply nodded.

As he parked, she took in the low-slung ranch house, an appealing combination of pale
yellow wood and aged limestone.

"Come on," he said, climbing from the truck and heading toward the house at a brisk
pace.

Hurrying after him, she caught up just as he unlocked the front door.

A booming bark greeted them. After a quick pat on the head of the large dog standing just
inside, Jake hurried past.

"I'll be right back," he said, leaving Edie alone with his pet.
Eyeing the large dog, which easily weighed seventy pounds, she prepared to be bowled.
Instead, the animal simply watched her, massive head cocked. "I hope you're friendly,
Bexar," she said, keeping her voice light and friendly.

Instantly, the animal came closer, his entire rear end wiggling, as he contorted into a
kidney bean shape and leaned against her.

Relieved and amazed, she crouched down and scratched his neck. Bexar rewarded her
with a swipe of his long tongue, appearing to grin as he licked her neck.

Delighted, she began crooning to the dog, keeping her voice low and feeling slightly
ridiculous.

Chapter Sixteen
Jake reappeared. "Follow me," he said curtly. "I've cleared out the spare bedroom. You
can spend the night there."

His clamped mouth and flat eyes told Edie he'd shut down. She'd seen it happen before,
from shock.

"That's ok," she said, keeping her tone light and easy. "I'll check it out later, when I'm
ready to sleep. I think we both need to try and eat something."

He shot her a distracted glare. "I'm not hungry."

Ignoring this, she headed for the kitchen which, since the house had an open floor plan,
wasn't hard to find. Though she never in a million years would normally have been so
pushy, she sensed how close Jake stood on the edge and knew she had to take care of
him. "Eating will give you strength for the search tomorrow."

Even the word strength made him blanch.

"Sit," she ordered. "Let me see what you have in your fridge."

To her surprise, he pulled out one of the barstools at the breakfast bar and took a seat.
"Make yourself at home." His voice rang with a mocking sort of irony, which she also
ignored.

As she surveyed the contents of the refrigerator, it was clear a little girl lived here. She
found a bowl of leftover hamburger and noodles, the cheesy kind beloved of children
everywhere. "Perfect," she muttered, locating the microwave.

Once the food was hot, she rummaged in his cupboards for plates, and then carried it over
to the counter.
His face fell as she handed him his plate. "That's Laney's favorite thing," he managed, his
voice gruff.

From somewhere, she found a reassuring smile. "You can make it for her again, once
she's back home."

Raw anguish deepened his eyes to the color of a stormy sky. "I don't know what I'd do
if" His voice broke and his mouth twisted.

Instinctively, she moved to soothe him. "Don't even think that. You can't."

He turned to her, food clearly forgotten. Somehow, she ended up with her arms wrapped
around him, inhaling his scent. His masculine beauty, now torn and broken, called to her,
a visual reminder of the way she felt inside. What little comfort she had to give, she
would offer. And in doing so, maybe she could find solace of her own.

A shudder passed through him. Knot in her throat, heart hammering against her ribs, she
pressed against him, cupped her hands around his impossibly handsome face, and kissed
him. Mouth open, no holds barred.

Chapter Seventeen
At this, Jake pulled her roughly, violently against him. One hand at the small of her back,
he kept her close while his mouth plundered hers, shattering her world. Though Edie
knew adrenaline fueled him, well aware he channeled his fear and frustration into desire,
she wound her arms around his neck and used her body to urge him on.

Trembling, she clung to him, awed and aroused at the strength of his desire pressing
against her belly.

When he tugged at her shirt, she helped him, sucking in her breath as she brought her
shaking fingers against the waistband of his jeans. Once unbutton, she freed him, closing
her hand around his thick and rigid flesh.

"No," he growled, staying her hand with his. "Not like that."

Half dragging, half carrying her, he took her to a room that was obviously his bedroom.
Once there, they fell onto the bed. Hands rough, he removed her bra and then the final
barrier of cloth between them, her panties.

"Wait." Fumbling with the nightstand drawer, he removed a condom, sliding it over his
erect flesh before rejoining her.

Already wet and ready, she arched her back as he pushed himself into her. A cry escaped
her at the sheer size of him, and then as he began to move, his hard and muscular body on
top of hers, all rational thought fled. Only sensation remained, imprisoning her in bonds
of arousal.

His hands weren't gentle as they explored her body, nor were hers as she reciprocated. As
he increased his movements, his tormented groan, part pleasure, part pain, pushed her
over the pinnacle. She cried out as the fiery sensation claimed her, her body shuddering
over and over again. Her climax had her seeing stars and then, an instant later as she
clenched around him, he reached his own.

Bodies slick with sweat, they lay together, breathing hard, still gripping each other as
though afraid to let go. Words were unnecessary. Finally, he rose. Moving quickly, she
slid out from under him, grabbing her discarded undergarments as she headed toward the
bathroom.

As she reached for the door, she cast one last look at him, only to see the flint-edged
expression had returned to his face.

"That shouldn't have happened."

"I know," she replied, and then closed the door behind her.

Chapter Eighteen
Jake barely slept. He spent much of the night pacing before forcing himself to go to his
bed, where he lay for hours, wide awake, gut churning. His daughter's name sounded a
litany in his head. Laney, Laney, Laney.

He'd never forgive himself if he didn't bring her home safe and alive. He would. They
would.

A sound from the other room had him cocking his head. Edie, the woman who might or
might not be Laney's birth mother. Muffled sobs, the anguished worry for a little girl
she'd never gotten a chance to know. No wonder he and Edie had grasped for solace in
each other's arms.

As soon as the inky sky began to lighten, he abandoned his pretend sleep and padded to
the kitchen barefoot to make coffee. To his surprise, Edie was already there at the table,
long legs curled under her, her red-gold hair wild, as if she'd merely combed her fingers
through. Bexar lay on his side at her feet.

"Morning," she said, unsmiling. "I was sitting in the darkness so I wouldn't wake you."

"I wasn't asleep." Glancing at her, then away, he headed toward the coffeepot. Even in the
dim light, her exotic beauty was startling. "I want to head out as soon as we can see."

"Agreed."
Unsure of what to do with himself while the coffee brewed, he murmured something
about taking a quick shower and made a fast exit. Bexar remained where he was,
apparently already devoted to Edie.

When he returned ten minutes later, the coffee was done. Edie hadn't moved, except to
get a cup. She appeared lost in thought, starting when he got a mug down from the
cupboard.

"How good's this dog of yours?" she asked, her clear green eyes meeting his as she
reached down and scratching Bexar under the collar.

"I don't know. When he and Laney play hide and seek, he always finds her. That will have
to be enough."

"Unless the FBI team brings a dog or two of their own."

He shrugged. "I hope they do. Anything that gives us a fighting chance of finding Laney."

Before it's too late. He didn't have to say it. They both knew.

Uncurling her legs, Edie sat up and took a long drink of her coffee."You know, we should
probably discuss"

"Not now." He cut her off.

"Not that." She waved his protest away. "Last night happened. I mean we should talk
about who Laney might be."

Her daughter.

"No." He shook his head. "Later.I don't want anything to get in the way of our focus. We
find her, get her home safe, and then we can figure out all the rest. Agreed?"

She considered him, her expression thoughtful. "All right," she finally said. Glancing at
the window and the gradually lightening sky, she stood. "Let's get going."

"Just one second." Turning, Jake hurried down the hall to Laney's room. The instant he
turned on the light, the bright pink and purple of her bedspread, still covered with the
numerous stuffed animals she painstakingly removed every single night at bedtime,
stopped him in his tracks.

Ignoring the sudden ache in his throat, he went to her closet and found the wicker hamper
where she put her clothes in need of washing. He removed the bright pink T-shirt she'd
worn two days ago and returned to the kitchen.
"Bexar," Jake crouched low, holding the tiny shirt close for the fawn colored dog to
smell. "Let's find Laney, boy. Find our Laney, now."

Chapter Nineteen
Sniffing deeply, at first Bexar didn't seem to understand. He looked around in confusion,
as if he expected his young playmate to spring from the shadows, giggling gleefully and
ready to romp.

When she didn't, the dog took another sniff at her T-shirt.

Teeth clenched as he tried not to betray the urgency of the command, Jake clipped a
retractable leash on Bexar's collar and opened the front door. "Bexar, we're going for a
ride in the car to find Laney. Find. Laney."

At last the animal appeared to get it. With a soft woof, he bounded out the door, looking
both left and right before putting his nose to the ground and sniffing.

Whistling, Jake opened the door to his truck. "Hop up," he commanded. Instantly, Bexar
jumped up in the front seat, leaving Edie to wedge between him and the door.

Drumming his fingers on the wheel, Jake motioned at her to hurry, barely able to contain
his impatience. As soon as she'd fastened her seat belt, he took off. He drove, heading for
the woods and marveling that his beloved pet, a dog he and Laney had rescued from
being euthanized at the shelter over in Kemp, might actually save his daughter's life.

Might? Scratch that. Would. He refused to consider any other alternative.

His cell phone rang as he pulled out onto the main road.

"The FBI people are here." Roger's voice boomed in his ear. "They've taken charge. They
really seem to know what they're doing."

"Good." Jake glanced at Edie, who nodded. "What's their plan?"

"They're organizing a search. Starting with the campgrounds on the west side of the
lake."

"We've already checked there." Jake didn't bother to conceal his frustration.

"These people are professionals," Roger said. "Let them do their job."

Muttering something he hoped sounded like agreement, Jake disconnected the call.

"Take it easy." Edie lightly touched his arm. She'd pulled her unruly hair back into a
ponytail, which somehow made her look even younger.
Swallowing, he relayed what the sheriff had said.

"That's good," she replied, surprising him. "They are pros, believe me. They might see
something we missed. And if they don't, they'll move on."

When she removed her hand, he glanced at her. He liked when she touched him, as
though the contact with her brought him strength.

Bexar chose that moment to poke his head over the seat between them. He painstakingly
gave Jake a long swipe of his tongue, and then turned to Edie and did the same.

Edie chuckled."See? Even your dog is confident. We'll find her, Jake. I can feel it."

He took the turn onto the gravel road a bit too fast, and his rear wheels spun. Easily, he
kept the truck under control.

When they reached the small clearing where he'd gone off the road to park, he pulled in,
killing the engine and opening his door with one fluid motion.

"Bexar, come on." He helped his dog down from the cab, keeping hold of the leash. As
soon as Edie crossed around the front of the truck, he held out the T-shirt. "Find Laney,
Bexar. Find Laney, now."

Sniffing deeply, Bexar raised his large brown eyes. His jowls trembled as he inhaled the
breeze, appearing to consider. Then, with a short woof, he took off into the woods,
tugging Jake along after him.

Chapter Twenty
Edie wasn't sure how or why, but Bexar seemed to instinctively understand the
seriousness of the situation. After inhaling the scent on the little pink T-shirt, he turned
away and began sniffing. First the ground, then the air.

When he moved forward, Jake let the leash out, letting Bexar go ten or fifteen feet ahead
of him. "I don't usually use these leashes," he told Edie. "Too dangerous when walking.
But just right for this."

As they traveled deeper into the woods, following behind Bexar's determined path, Jake
held out his hand, shooting her a quick glance. Without hesitation, she took it, glad of the
steadiness of his large, warm, fingers.

In this, they were united. A team.

All of a sudden, Bexar stopped. He stood, frozen, only his nose working as he scented the
wind. Glancing back at Jake, he woofed once, low in his throat, and took off at a
lumbering gallop.
Still joined at the hands, Edie and Jake ran after him.

They went deeper and deeper into the trees. With no path and no signs of human
habitation, Edie soon lost all sense of direction. She'd never before understood how
people got lost in the woods. Now she did.

Finally, Bexar barreled into a clearing and skidded to a halt. Edie and Jake nearly
stumbled over himif not for Jake's firm grip on her hand, Edie would have fallen over
their sudden tangle of feet.

"Look." Jake's harsh whisper echoed her thoughts. "There."

A rusted out pop-up camper, top extended in the open position, sat in a clearing near the
stream.

"How the hell did he get that in here?" Edie turned, looking for a road.

"No idea. But from the looks of things, that tent trailer has been here awhile."

Pulling away from Jake, Edie drew her pistol. "Stay here," she hissed, moving forward,
using trees as cover.

"Like hell." Right behind her, even though unarmed, Jake clearly had no intention of
standing back from the potential rescue of his daughter.

Bexar barked a warning. A man emerged, tall and rail thin, the sickly cast to his pale skin
a testament to how long he'd been locked away.

Edie's blood ran cold. Karl Kent. The Ice Cream Man.

He spotted Bexar first. "Get out of here, dog," he snarled. When, instead of running away,
Bexar began slowly advancing on him, his stocky body in a low crouch, hackles raised,
the man cursed.

"Looks like I'm gonna have to shoot you, now." Reaching behind him, he swung up a
long shotgun, taking aim at the Boxer.

"No!" Jake shouted, leaping forward in a dead run, taking the other man by surprise.

Even so, Karl swung around his weapon to shoot at Jake, taking his attention off the dog.

First mistake. Growling ferociously, Bexar leapt at him, knocking him down. His gun
went off as it hit the ground, sending a shot harmlessly into the air.

Jake kicked the shotgun away, then went for it, while Karl was occupied trying to fend
off Bexar in full attack mode.
"Bexar!" Jake called him off. "Come."

Instantly, the Boxer jumped away.

Furious and bleeding, Karl went after him.

Second mistake. Stepping out from behind the tree, Edie fired a warning shot."Don't
move," she ordered.

"Or I'll blow your head off," Jake promised, the other man's shotgun in his hands.

Wisely, Karl chose to freeze.

"Where's Laney?" Jake advanced on him, shotgun still raised. "You'd better not have hurt
my girl."

Third mistake. Instead of answering, Karl laughed. Though no doubt that was his
intention, the sound sent a chill up Edie's spine.

"Grab that rope and tie him up," she said, pointing to a snarl of rope near the camper.
Both she and Jake kept their weapons trained on Karl while Jake tied both his hands and
his legs, before tying him to one of the large trees.

"Bexar, guard him." Jake ordered. Immediately, the dog advanced on the now-bound
man, teeth bared.

Ignoring Karl's muttered curses, Jake and Edie rushed to the camper. Jake yanked open
the door, Edie right behind him. Inside, curled up on a grimy bed, an unconscious Laney
slept, her wrists tied behind her.

Though she was filthy, with a series of bruises on her arms and face, Edie took heart in
the fact that she was fully clothed.

As Jake gathered his daughter in his arms, silent tears streaming down his rugged face,
Edie took out her cell phone and called it in.

Later, once Karl had been taken away in Federal Custody, and the CARD team had begun
to go over the crime scene, Edie followed Jake as Laney was taken out on a stretcher.
Though she'd clearly been drugged so deeply that she hadn't yet awakened, due to her
deep, regular breathing and strong heart rate, the EMTs believed she'd be fine. Once they
got out of the woods, she'd be transported to a nearby hospital.

As the little girl was loaded onto a waiting ambulance, Edie hung back, wanting to give
Jake his privacy. Though the issue of Laney's parentage would still have to be dealt with,
as far as Edie was concerned, Jake was and would always be Laney's father.
About to climb into the ambulance, Jake paused and turned back to Edie. "Aren't you
coming?" he asked.

Shocked, she could only nod and reach out to take the hand he offered.

Later at the small hospital in Athens, after a thorough examination, Laney had been
admitted to a room. A smiling doctor had told him they were working to flush the drug
from her system. A blood test had revealed the little girl had been given a sleeping pill,
adult dose. The doctor felt she'd wake soon. He gave them both reassuring smiles. "I
think if you sit by her bed for a little while, she'll wake up just fine on her own. And I
know she'll be glad to see her mommy and daddy when she does."

Winking at Edie, he smiled. "Her red hair is the exact same color as yours." He left.

Edie eyed Jake, her mouth suddenly dry. She wondered why he hadn't contradicted the
doctor. Evidently, Jake read the question in her eyes.

"You and I both know we've got to find out the truth," he said, his husky voice scratchy
with emotion. "My wife and I adopted Laney legally, though it's entirely possible we
were lied to about where she came from. Since Beth died shortly after the adoption was
finalized, I never questioned anything."

"I figured it was something like that." Edie nodded. "If she is my Amy, you should know
I don't want to try and take her away from you."

Blue gaze somber, he watched her. "Then what do you want, Edie?"

A hundred possibilities bloomed before her.

"I'd like you to be part of our lives," he continued.

Emotion clogging her throat, she managed a nod. For one brief and shining second, she
had hope for the future. She and Jake had begun a connection, so deep it had been more
than physical.

Laney made a sound, causing Jake reach for her and Edie to gasp. As the little girl stirred,
trying to open her eyes and wake up, Edie crossed to Jake's side and slid her hand into
his.

They stood that way together, tentatively forging a bond, as Laney opened her bright
green eyes and smiled.

THE END