“Hey, Callahan!” Zander yelled from across the street. He glanced both ways and jogged across, his face hopeful.

“What happened?” Mason asked. Caution kept down his excitement.

“Ava’s phone from her purse rang a minute ago. It was her sister, wanting to know if Ava was all right. I took down her number and told her you’d call her right back since the phone was being processed.” He handed Mason a scrap of paper and Mason dialed, stress making his fingers shake.

“Hello?” answered a high voice.

“Jayne? This is Mason Callahan, Ava’s . . . friend. We met at the hospital.”

“Where is she?” Jayne begged. “Why isn’t she answering the phone?”

“Who was in the store with you?” Mason asked. “We saw the video of you and Derrick Snyder running away from another guy.”

“I don’t know! He just took Derrick! We were hiding and he found us. I got away, but he pulled a gun on Derrick and made him go with him!”

Mason’s muscles contracted. He wants Derrick? Is he on the killer’s list? “Where are you?”

Jayne paused. “Why?”

Mason wanted to shake her. “The man who took Derrick also has your sister. He grabbed her after you guys left. We need to find him and you’re the last person who saw him. Where are you?”

“How can you help me?”

“Ava didn’t tell you I’m with the Oregon State Police?”

“No. She never tells me anything.”

Mason closed his eyes. “I’m still at the store where he grabbed Ava. We’ve got dozens of police and FBI agents looking for this man. You were the last person to see him. Where did he grab Derrick?”

“No police,” Jayne whispered. “We can’t trust them. I didn’t know you were a cop. Why would she hide that from me? They’ll arrest Derrick if they find him.”

“They can’t arrest him if he’s dead!” He was talking to a brick wall. “He’s got your sister and we think he’s already killed three other guys. You can help us find him.”

Wet sobs sounded through the phone. “I don’t know what to do.”

Mason met Zander’s and Ray’s worried gazes. He could feel her slipping away. “Jayne,” he said in a calmer voice. “You’d be helping us. That has to be a good thing for Derrick’s situation. We don’t want him killed by this man. Our goal is to prevent any more deaths, not arrest some thief. Can you see the difference?”

She whispered the name of the intersection she was near. Mason passed the information to Zander, who ran back to the police at the convenience store. By Mason’s estimate, they were a good six blocks from her location. “Thank you, Jayne. That’ll help us find him. Maybe someone got a look at his vehicle or the plates while he was over there. We’ll get Derrick and Ava back before they’re hurt.”

I hope.

She continued to sob on the phone.

“I’ll stay on the line until the police get there. Are you hurt?” Mason asked.

“No,” she said in a shaky voice. “I’m just scared. And Derrick’s going to be angry with me. I wasn’t supposed to involve the police. He’s going to yell at me.”

“Why did Derrick believe the Bridge Killer was searching for him?”

“Derrick said he’d killed everyone else already. That he was the only one left.”

Mason blew out a breath. Derrick was to be the last victim? “How did Derrick know he was the only one left? Did he know the other victims?”

“That’s what I asked him. He said they’d been friends a long time ago but got in a big fight, and no one spoke to each other anymore.”

A long time ago. The task force had been on the right track. “Did he tell you this guy’s name?”

Jayne was quiet for a moment. “He called him Troy. He never mentioned a last name.”

Mason wanted to cheer. It was a good start. He covered the microphone of his phone and whispered to Ray, “She says the Bridge Killer’s name is Troy. No last name.” Ray gave him a thumbs-up and pulled out his phone to pass on the information.

“Derrick swore he saw Troy following us yesterday.”

“Did you see him?”

“No. I never saw anyone. Sometimes Derrick sees things. I just go along with what he wants to do.”

Mason bit his tongue. It wasn’t an appropriate time for a lecture on her taste in men. “Does he live in that area of town? Do you think he’s close by?”

Sirens started to wail through the line.

“They’re coming!” Her voice cracked and escalated into a shriek. “I can’t let them find me. Derrick will kill me!”

“Jayne!” Mason shouted. “They’re there to help you!”

“No! No, I can’t!” She ended the call.

“Shit!” Mason hit SEND to call her back, but got a message that the caller wasn’t available. She’s turned off her phone.

“She’s running?” Ray asked, worry on his face.

“Like a frightened rabbit.”

“They’ll find her.”

“I don’t know. She’s pretty good at crawling into a hole when she wants to disappear.”

“At least we’ve got the Bridge Killer’s possible last location. That’ll help.”

Mason nodded. “We need to get over there. Hopefully he hasn’t gone far.”