Once she was outside, Tess saw she was being watched. The man at the gate who had let her in was still standing there, staring at her as she walked toward her car.

A scream pierced the air, carried on the chill wind. A woman’s? A girl’s? Where? Could that be Gracie, screaming for her to come back? Someone in pain or in trouble?

It came again, shrill, sudden. Tess turned back and started to run in the direction of the sound. She heard the man at the gate running after her. What if these strange people took in extra children by force? What if Gracie’s rolling her eyes like that was some sort of signal? What if a woman or a child, maybe a young girl, kidnapped and new to this place, one who had not yet been brainwashed, was screaming for help?

“Wait! Hold it right there!” the man behind her shouted, but she kept going.

She heard no more screams, but she could see the building they must have come from. If she discovered an imprisoned child, wouldn’t that put her in danger too? Maybe she should get Gabe’s help, come back. But what if they had hidden or hurt the child by then?

This religious compound had not even been here when Tess was taken, though their leader, Brice Monson, had had a house here twenty years ago. She couldn’t recall much about him, except people thought he was weird. Had they ever looked at him as a possibility for the kidnapper? He seemed to take people in by seducing them mentally, not taking them physically.

The guard snagged her arm and spun her around.

“Let me go! I heard someone scream!”

He released her but blocked her way toward the house. “I know who you are,” he said, not yelling, but in a quiet, controlled tone she had not expected. “I’m Brother Silas. I can see why you’d react, but some children protest at first when disciplined.”

“Disciplined? She sounded like...like she was being tortured.”

“Look, this is none of your business. Chastisement is the only way to correct a wayward child, and it will deliver his or her soul from hell.”

Were they crazy here? Her own cousin Lee and her dear friend Gracie? As if she’d summoned him, Lee came running.

“Sorry, I was busy when you met with Grace and the kids,” he told her. He was out of breath; his face was red. “And don’t get all upset,” he said, throwing an arm around her shoulders and propelling her away from Silas and back toward the gate. “That child has stolen things, and she was spanked by her own father.”

Tess pulled away. “In front of others, to keep them in line?”

“Only in the presence of Bright Star, our leader and guide.”

“Did she supposedly steal things that maybe once were given to her and taken away by everyone else?” Tess challenged, hands on her hips. Even if Silas and Lee had spoken softly, she was still shouting.

“Tess, listen to me. It’s a good lesson, sharing. Caring for others. If we let kids run wild, they turn out wild.”

Blinking back tears, Tess headed back toward her car. The gate guard had backed off. It was almost as if Lee was her guard now. And, curse it, she was going to tell Gabe about this and come back here. After all, Lee wanted her help with dowsing. Of course, if she told Gabe everything—anything about today—he might not let her return. He and Vic Reingold might come in here with force, and the Hear Ye people might hide or punish her family—and maybe Sandy Kenton, if they had her.

“Okay,” she said to Lee. “You’re right about discipline for kids. Sorry I overreacted.”

“Sure. I understand your protective instincts—being a preschool teacher and all. So, can you help me with the dowsing while you’re here? The site is that knoll over there above the creek,” he said, pointing. “We can use my willow wand.”

That was her perfect excuse to stay right now or come back, and he’d set it up, she thought. “I have to leave, but I can come back later today,” she said. “Besides, I want to try one of my father’s old wands—and maybe yours too.”

“Great. Appreciate it, Tess, and so will everyone.”

Maybe not everyone, she thought as she waved and walked away, past Silas, through the gate to her car, hoping she hadn’t seemed to agree too easily. Too bad that knoll was not in the compound itself, but maybe she could convince Lee to let her dowse the grounds inside too.

Tess knew Gabe would have a fit if she tried to check out this place without telling him first. Besides, she wanted to go uptown to see how they were coming with Sandy’s case and whether she could learn the circumstances of Amanda Bell’s abduction. She had to find the key to unlock her memories, even if those might make things worse than not remembering at all.

10

Tess ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for an early lunch, then did something she knew she shouldn’t. While pacing from the kitchen to the living room as she had while she’d eaten, she poured herself a glass of wine and downed it fast. Then she realized Gabe would smell it on her breath, or if she drove erratically and he or his deputy picked her up—but no, they must be busy with the Kenton case.

She drove carefully, wondering whether to try the gift shop or the police station first. She should have called Gabe and let him come to her, but she didn’t want him to think she’d remembered something big. Maybe the books Miss Etta had left would trigger something.

About ten media people more or less camped out near the gazebo on the town square with two satellite trucks parked nearby. It was enough to make her turn back, but she only ducked her head and hurried into the station—unnoticed, she hoped.

She saw Ann on the front desk again. Three strapping men in jeans and flannel shirts waited nearby, talking among themselves. Had Gabe found a suspect, or arranged some sort of lineup? Not for her to view, she hoped, but then they were all too young to have had anything to do with her abduction.

Ann got off the phone and spoke to the men. “You’ll have to go without me, bros. Too much going on here. Hi, Tess. The sheriff’s in the conference room if you need to see him again. How was the waterfall? It’s one of Gabe’s and my favorite places.”

Tess could have fallen through the floor. Ann and Gabe—together—that way? She’d had no idea, but she could tell the three men did. Ann’s brothers might be triplets since they looked like clones of each other. She overheard a few teasing remarks about Ann and Gabe, including something about “the sheriff of Hot Creek.”

“I suppose,” Tess said, suddenly having trouble forming her thoughts. “Did the sheriff tell you about the graffiti we went to see? If you would tell him I’m here, I’d appreciate it.”

Ann nodded but narrowed her eyes. “These are my brothers, triple trouble. They work at the lumber mill just outside town, and they can’t get it through their wooden heads I’m totally tied up with this case right now and have to miss our weekly pub lunch. Just ignore them.”

Ann’s brothers resembled Paul Bunyan–type lumberjacks. They hardly seemed the type for the English pub, but then appearances were often deceiving.

Tess nodded, but she could hardly ignore what she’d just learned. Gabe and Ann were seeing each other. Yet he’d kissed her, held her. Some sort of magnetic force pulled them together. But—had that just been her imagination? Or had Gabe been cleverly coercing information from her?

Frowning, Ann punched a button and spoke into the phone. “Tess Lockwood’s here. Want me to send her back or have her wait? I figured. He’s coming out to get you,” Ann said even as Gabe appeared in the hall and gestured for her to come back. He met her partway and took her elbow.

“You okay?” he asked.

“I just wondered what you’d uncovered so far—if that might spark something in my molasses-thick thoughts. And Marian Bell’s friend Erika Petersen stopped by with a cash offer for my house—if I meet with Marian to help her find her daughter.”