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This couldn’t be good.
    “Brody, we’re at the scene interviewing the cashier now. She said the younger boy called the other one Kyle, not Will.”
    A tense second passed. “So, he could have assumed another name?”
    “Yes. It’snot uncommon for kidnappers to do that to their victims.” She hesitated. “I just wanted to warn you.”
    “Warn me what?” Brody asked. “That whoever kidnapped him may have made him change his name?”
    “Yes,” Julie said. “There’s no telling what Will has been through in the past seven years. When you see him, you have to remember that.”
    She shuddered at the thought as a dozen differentscenarios raced through her head. None of which she wanted to share with Brody.
    * * *
    B RODY ’ S LUNGS tightened as he realized the implications of what she’d said. Even if this was Will, he might not want to come home.
    Hell, Will might not remember him at all.
    “I’ve seen the stories about other abductions,” Brody said. “Where some kidnappers brainwash their captives, force themto forget their pasts. And in some cases, the kidnapper actually made them believe they were someone else.”
    Her throat clogged with emotions. “That’s true,” Julie said. “So just be prepared.”
    No...Brody didn’t believe it. Will would remember him. And he’d want to come back home.
    “You asked for my help before,” Brody said. “Just tell me what you need, Julie. I’ll do whatever it takesto bring Will in.”
    It was the only way to find out the truth about what had happened and save his little brother.
    But would Will come with him when he did?
    * * *
    K YLE USHERED RJ into the old house. But as soon as he stepped inside, Father grabbed him and gave him a hard knock across the face. He staggered back, tasting blood, then his father cursed as he lunged for him again.
    “You stupid little jerk, your face is all over TV.”
    Kyle’s stomach lurched as he remembered what had happened to the last kid who’d gotten caught.
    They had all paid for it.
    And the boy—he’d ended up dead.
    Of course his father had told him the boy had run off.
    But he’d lied.
    Kyle had seen Father bury him in the backyard that night. He’d seen another grave there,too. He didn’t know who was in it.
    But Father would bury him back there, too, if he didn’t behave.

Chapter Four
    Brody had never been to the TBI office, and was surprised at the interesting architecture and modern touches in the building’s design.
    The inside looked spotless, with office spaces on various floors. But even though the building was sleekly designed, an ugliness permeated the rooms.
    Bulletin boards were clogged with photos of various ongoing cases. Mostof the agents wore dark suits and even darker expressions that made him wonder why Julie chose to stay in this world.
    As a teenager, she’d loved animals and had worked on a ranch during the summers, grooming and exercising horses, and giving riding lessons to children. She’d also trailed after the local veterinarian and had talked about attending vet school.
    But sometime after they’dparted she’d changed her mind.
    It had to do with Will, he realized as the receptionist led him into the conference room where Julie sat with two other agents, both of whom were studying a wall of mug shots of young boys. The sight made his skin crawl.
    And made him realize what he’d done to Julie by blaming her for his brother’s disappearance. Heaping that guilt on her had been unfair,but she’d obviously used it to inspire her to work in law enforcement just as he’d used his own guilt to inspire the BBL.
    “Special Agent Whitehead,” the receptionist said. “Mr. Bloodworth is here.”
    Julie glanced up, her face drawn, and emotions clogged his throat. God, he’d been wrong to lash out at her. To lay guilt on her for his wrongdoing.
    She should have been taking care ofanimals, living on the ranch, not here in this world of constant misery and crime.
    “Come in, Brody,”