“It’s the strangest thing,” Maria Parsons said. “Just popped up outta the blue.”
Jake gave Ella a scowl and a stare. “Let’s get Mrs. Parsons home safely.”
He wanted them out of these woods, Ella realized. And he probably wanted to get a look at where this woman lived.
Because she might have just seen the Dead Drop Killer.
* * *
Jake’s heart seemed to be stuck against his ribs. He couldn’t say anything in front of their witness but he’d come across another note in the woods near the spot where he’d found Ella on that night five years ago.
“Is there something you’re not telling me?” Mrs. Parsons asked from the passenger’s-side seat. “If we’re in danger around here, we need to know.”
“No danger yet,” Ella said from her perch in the jump seat behind the woman. “We just have to follow every lead. You know how it is with the Rangers. They track people all over the state and they check every angle.”
“I get that,” the other woman replied. “But y’all are scaring me. What did this person do?”
“You don’t need to be scared,” Ella replied after Jake shot her a warning scowl through the rearview mirror. “But you do need to be aware. Carry pepper spray and always be alert by checking your surroundings. And stay off the trail for a few days.”
“I doubt I’ll ever feel safe here again,” Mrs. Parsons replied. “I love this place, though.”
“I love it, too,” Ella said. “You probably have nothing to worry about. I’ll make it a point to call you after we’ve checked around.”
“I’d appreciate that,” the woman said as she pointed to a long driveway. “This is my house.”
Jake pulled the truck up the lane to the simple brick structure. Had Ella passed this house the night she was taken?
“Do you live alone?” he asked, his heart pounding. Taking in a deep breath, he held his growing concern at bay. His daughter was out there with a madman and the longer they delayed, the worse things could become.
“Yes. Widowed. But I have an alarm.”
“Good,” Jake replied. “Be careful and be aware.”
“Thanks.” Mrs. Parsons got out of the truck then turned with a hand on the door. Her green eyes settled on Ella. “I thought you looked familiar. I remember you from the news reports. Are you Ella Terrell?”
Ella swallowed and nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
Maria Parsons’s green eyes went soft. “I heard the stories after I bought our house, but...I fell in love with this place. And...I understood...all of that was over.”
Jake glanced at Ella then got out the truck to hurry the woman into the house. “Thank you for your help.”
Maria Parsons kept her eyes on Ella. “Who are you looking for?”
Ella lowered her head. “I can’t comment on that.”
Mrs. Parsons gave her a knowing look. “I understand.” Then she reached out a hand to Ella. “Whoever it is, honey, I hope you find him. I sure won’t go back on that trail until you do.”
Ella nodded. “I’m only helping out. I’m not here in an official capacity.”
“If you’ve got a Ranger with you, it’s official,” the other woman replied, her expression full of compassion. “I’m sure it will all come out in the wash.”
“I hope so.” Ella gave Mrs. Parsons a direct glance. “We don’t want to scare anyone so I’d appreciate you keeping this quiet for now.”
Maria Parsons held her hands together, a serene expression covering her face. “I hardly ever see anyone out here.”
Jake took Mrs. Parsons by the elbow. “If you do see anyone who stands out or acts strange, you need to call me.” He handed her a card with his name and phone number.
Mrs. Parsons nodded and waved to Ella. Jake escorted her to the porch then checked inside the house. After reminding the woman to stay safe, he told her a whole team of investigators would soon be roaming these woods.
He couldn’t do this alone and he prayed Macey would be safe until he could find her.
When he got back to the truck, he sat there staring out into the woods for a minute. Ella got out and hopped up front, but she watched until the older woman was safe inside the house. Then Ella put her hands on the dashboard and laid her head against them.
Jake closed his eyes and kept his prayers open and urgent while Ella did her own quiet praying.
He didn’t know how he was going to do this without God’s help.
“Jake?”
He opened his eyes and looked over at Ella. He’d wanted to see her for so long now, but never under these circumstances. Not with his daughter out there somewhere, scared and cold and hurting.
“Did you see him?” she asked. “Did you find something?”
He cranked the truck and pulled out of Mrs. Parsons’s yard.
“I didn’t see him, no. But I did find the next clue.”
Ella inhaled a gasp. “What is it? A note? Something else?”
He pulled a clear square bag out of his jacket pocket. “He left this, already bagged for us.” Jake handed the baggie over to Ella.
She took it, stared down at it then glanced over at him.
“Precious Memories,” she read from the cutout lettering at the top of the piece of paper. Then she saw the newspaper article about her.
“It’s about my rescue,” she whispered, a hand going to her mouth. Local FBI Agent Found Barely Alive in Woods Near Caddo Lake. The headline went on to say that an alleged serial killer might still be at large.
She stopped reading out loud, her eyes moving over the yellowed article. “He kept this all those years.”
“He’s still obsessed with you,” Jake replied, anger fueling his need to find the man who’d taken his daughter. “You’re the one who got away and he doesn’t like that.”
They both sat silent, trying to absorb what this meant.
“Is this it? Just this article?” Ella finally asked, her blue eyes rivaling the clear sky. “This doesn’t tell us anything.”
“But it does,” Jake replied. “Precious Memories, remember?”
Ella put a hand to her mouth. “I sang a solo of that hymn in church one Sunday, back in high school. How did he know?”
Jake pulled up to the old park again and after shutting off the engine he turned to her. “It means he’s known you for a long time and...that he probably lived around here. He might still live somewhere nearby.”
“But how could he possibly be back here without someone seeing him?”
“He’s been hiding in plain sight,” Jake said. “No one ever saw his face. You’re the only one who can identify him and all you know is the same as what Mrs. Parsons told us. He wears all black and keeps his face covered.”
Ella lifted her gaze to the woods, terror washing her skin pale. “Do you think that was him out on the path?”
“Yes,” Jake said, his hands gripping the steering wheel. “I think he’s been watching that woman and he knew we’d show up here sooner or later. He used Maria Parsons as a distraction and as a teaser to draw us in.”
“Where