Henley stirred in the Forest Service worker’s arms. “Mommy?”

Mason caught up to the pair. “We’re gonna take you to your mom, Henley.” Blue-veined lids fluttered again, and brown eyes peered at him for a split second. “Hey, do you know who I am?” Mason asked.

The child blinked, her head resting on the shoulder of the man carrying her.

“Henley,” Mason said. “I’m Jake’s dad, Mason.”

Her eyes flew open, and she stared at him. She started to squirm in the man’s arms. “Hey!” he said, nearly dropping his suddenly active load. She stopped, exhausted, and her eyes fell shut, her head flopping back on his shoulder.

“What was that?” Ava asked.

Mason was stunned. “I don’t know. She looked scared to see me.”

“Maybe it’s because you’re a man. I wonder if Brynn or I should be carrying her,” Ava worried.

“She looks fine now,” Mason muttered. “That was freaky.”

“Does she know you?” Ava pressed.

Mason shrugged. “I’ve only met her a few times. I barely remember it. I figured she’d have a clearer idea of who I am if I told her I was Jake’s dad.”

They hiked on in silence for a few more moments. Mason kept stealing looks at the sleeping child ahead of him. Her blond hair was messy and greasy under the hat. He’d noticed earlier that she’d been wearing a man’s socks, not little-girl socks. They were baggy above her shoes like they were ten sizes too big. No pink sweatshirt, but she was wearing an old brown coat that also appeared to belong to a man. Her hands had disappeared inside the long sleeves. The Forest Service worker handed her off to one of the FBI agents for a turn. Mason thought Henley seemed small for an eleven-year-old, but carrying her up the rough slope was still a hard job.

He stepped carefully around some rocks and looked up to see wide eyes staring at him over the agent’s shoulder.

“You know who I am now, Henley?” Mason asked. A small nod answered him. Relief flowed through him. She squirmed in the agent’s arms, trying to find her hands in the too-big coat she was wearing.

“Hold on there,” the startled agent said as he stopped and adjusted his grip. Henley found one hand and dug at the neck of her jacket.

Mason stepped closer, not wanting to scare her again. “You okay, honey? What’s the matter?”

She pawed at the zipper, but her fingers wouldn’t function right.

“Your coat bugging you?” Mason reached over the agent’s shoulder and tugged Henley’s zipper a few inches. “I don’t want you to get cold.”

Henley plunged her hand under her coat and felt around. Mason heard the crinkle of paper as she pulled a folded note from a pocket inside the jacket. She thrust it at Mason. He took it, his heart racing. Had she gotten away from her kidnapper with something that would identify him? Mason unfolded the paper.

Hello, Mason. Now it’s my turn to destroy something precious of yours.

Mason’s hands shook, making the paper quiver.

“What does that mean?” Ava asked, reading beside him. She looked at Henley. “Did someone tell you to give that to Mason?” The girl nodded and laid her head back on the agent’s shoulder. Her eyes closed in exhaustion. “That’s why she was thrashing around when you said your name. She’d been instructed to deliver the note.” Ava’s voice cracked. “Poor little thing. She took her duty very seriously. I wonder if he threatened her?”

“Ava. I need to call Jake.” Panic ricocheted through his nerves. Nothing else was precious to Mason. They could burn his house, wreck his vehicle, and destroy his health. His son was everything, and someone knew it.

He pulled out his cell. No reception. “Anyone else have cell reception yet?” he yelled.

Everyone in their party checked their phones. No luck.

“We’re not far from the vehicles,” Brynn said.

Mason wanted to run up the hill. He didn’t care if he left his team behind. Sweat dripped down his back, and Ava put a hand on his arm. “Hey,” she said. “A few more minutes.”

“Something’s wrong. I can feel it.”

“We left Jake safe at home.”

“And a big chunk of the FBI is up here to rescue Henley,” Mason pointed out. “There were just a few Clackamas County deputies outside the house when we left. Something could have happened.”

“No one has Jake,” Ava said, but her gaze faltered.

23

His team reached the top of the road, and Mason jogged ahead. The other teams had beat them back and were waiting at the vehicles. Mason checked his phone. No service.

Jake.

“Anyone have service?” he shouted at the other group as he ran to join them. The agents dutifully checked their phones and shook their heads.

“I’ve radioed the ranger station and asked them to call the number you gave Brynn. I haven’t heard back yet,” Wolf told him. “The little girl okay?”

“Brynn says she looks good. Just cold,” Mason replied. “I need to head back to town.”

Sanford caught up with him. Ava had shown him the note Henley had been carrying. “We’re heading there, too. We may have Henley back, but it sounds like this isn’t over.”

“I’ll drive,” Ava said, holding her palm out for Mason’s keys. He handed them over. It was his turn to be on his cell as they drove. He was about to climb in his passenger seat, but turned and dashed over to where Brynn was buckling Henley into the back seat of an Explorer.