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 did you find this?” Ella asked, her finger moving over the bag.
“I found another path leading back to the playground,” he told her. “And this was lying on a tree stump around the curve in the path.”
“He doubled back while we were with Maria Parsons?”
Jake nodded, his stomach churning with a sick, solid fear. “Possibly. Or he dropped this once he’d scared her into screaming. He obviously wants us to go to your church.”
Ella’s head shot up. “I’m glad we gathered the task force and you let them search for that old camp house.” Her eyes held a plea. “I know they’re doing everything they can behind the scenes, but we need a lot of investigators on this. It’s too much for just the two of us.”
Jake couldn’t argue with that. He was caught in a vise that squeezed from all directions. He wanted to find his daughter but trying to do so alone put her life in danger. But if he called in help, the killer would soon figure that out and...Jake didn’t want to think what might happen.
“I’ll call them,” he finally said. “But we’ll have to keep them at a distance while we keep following the clues.”
“He wants me,” Ella said. “So we have to let him think he has me.” She stared out into the sun-dappled woods. “Just like last time.”
Jake didn’t like that idea. He wouldn’t risk Ella being taken again. “I’m not letting you out of my sight. I shouldn’t have done that today.”
“I was with a harmless older lady,” Ella retorted. Then she touched his hand. “But it’s good to know you’ve got my back.”
Jake cranked the truck. “I won’t let him hurt you again and I won’t let him hurt Macey.”
“Then do what you have to do,” Ella retorted. “And I’ll do what I need to, to help you.”
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