“Where are you taking Henley?” he asked. The little girl looked calmly at him as she let Brynn fuss over her. Her eyes were tired and glassy, but she was awake and sitting up on her own. Brynn slid into the seat next to her.

“Emanuel Hospital. We’ll get her checked out.” She met Mason’s gaze, and Mason realized she was concerned about a sexual assault. His heart dropped. “I’ll keep trying to reach her parents,” Brynn continued. “If you get ahold of them first, tell them to meet us there.”

“Right.” Mason took one of Henley’s mittened hands. “You ready to see your mom?”

She nodded, and her eyes lit up.

“Good. She’s missed you something terrible. We all have. Jake’s gonna be happy to know you’re okay.”

She leaned over to look past him. “Dog,” she whispered and held out her hands. Mason’s dog jumped past him into the SUV and sat on the floor at Henley’s feet, his tongue hanging out as he gazed at Mason. The dog was taking his sentry duty very seriously. Mason rubbed his ears. “Good boy.”

“What’s his name?” Henley asked in a soft voice.

“He doesn’t have a name,” Mason answered. “Do you want to give him one?”

The girl nodded and screwed up her face in thought. “Bingo.”

“That’s a good name. Bingo.” The dog tilted its head at the name and held Mason’s gaze. “I think he likes it.”

He nodded at Brynn and slammed the door.

He went back to his truck and climbed in. Ava gave him a questioning glance.

“They’re taking her to the hospital to get checked out. Let’s go,” he stated.

Ava guided them down the service road while Mason kept an eye on his phone, waiting for the service indicator to grow some bars.

It flickered, and he hit Robin’s cell number.

“Mason?” Robin answered.

“You heard?” he asked.

“Yes, we got a call from the Forest Service station. They said your group radioed in that Henley is fine. Is that true? Is she really okay?”

“Yes, she’s sitting up and talking. She seems good.”

Robin burst into tears, and Lucas came on the line. “They’re taking her to Emanuel? Is that right? Was she hurt?”

“She seems okay, Lucas. She really does. I talked to her for a bit. I think it’s just a precaution. Is Lilian all right?”

Mason heard Lucas relaying his information and female voices answering.

“Yes, Lilian knows and is ecstatic. We’re leaving for the hospital in a minute.”

“Can I talk to Jake?” Mason’s heart sped up.

“Hold on.”

Mason heard Lucas giving instructions and then he returned to the call. “Robin’s getting him. We’d almost forgotten about him since the Forest Service called a minute ago.” His voice cracked. “I still can’t believe Henley’s okay. Dear God, Mason. There are so many different ways this could have ended.”

“I know, Lucas. I know. Believe me, I’ve thought through every one of them.”

“Me too.” Lucas sucked in a deep breath. “I can’t believe it,” he repeated.

Mason heard Robin’s voice in the background.

“What do you mean he’s not there?” Lucas asked, his mouth away from the receiver. “He went where?”

Mason closed his eyes. Jake.

“Robin says he left a note on his bed saying he was going to McKenzie’s house for a while. He didn’t tell us he was leaving. I’m gonna strangle that kid!”

“I’ve got to call him.” Mason could barely speak. He looked away from the road, the blacktop they were speeding over making him dizzy. What was Jake thinking?

“Robin’s already calling,” said Lucas. “Hang on.”

Ava shot Mason a worried glance from the driver’s seat. “What’s going on?”

“Jake left a note that he went to his girlfriend’s house.”

“What?” said Ava. “I told him this morning that he had to take someone with him.”

“You aren’t the only one,” answered Mason. Nerves twisted in his stomach.

“Robin left him a message on his phone,” said Lucas. “He didn’t pick up.”

“Shit. Those two Clackamas County deputies still there?” Mason asked. “Tell them to haul ass to McKenzie’s house.”

“What’s going on?” Lucas’s voice dropped. “Henley’s safe. Why—”

“He’s going after Jake now,” Mason spit out. Hysteria sank its fingers into his brain. “He left a note for me with Henley, saying that what’s precious to me is next. That’d be Jake.”

“Holy shit,” Lucas breathed.

Mason heard him shouting at someone in the background as he laid the phone on the seat. The curves of the road and the stress of the morning caught up with him. “Pull over,” he muttered to Ava. “I’m going to be sick.”

She yanked the steering wheel to the right, and Mason had the door open before the SUV had even come to a halt.

Minutes later, Mason and Ava were speeding down the twisting highway. Mason’s brain spun as he tried not to think about Jake at the mercy of the same person who’d held Henley captive for three days.

“He didn’t harm Henley,” Ava stated, her focus on the road.