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help find J.T.’s daughter, she hadn’t realized how hard it was going to be to keep herself from becoming emotionally involved. Nearly impossible.
    â€œRachel. She’s good with the computer.”
    â€œI want both her lists when they are compiled.”
    After he put his mug next to hers on the sill, he rolled his shoulders then worked the kinks out of his neck. “Let her know. If the search doesn’t produce anything, that’s where I’ll be concentrating next.”
    â€œYou know, something is bothering me about this whole situation.”
    He slid his gaze to her, his head tilted. “What?”
    â€œFrom the gate at the back of your yard to the swing set is a good twenty feet. If a stranger had come into the yard, wouldn’t Ashley have reacted? Screamed or something? Which means Kim or a neighbor would have heard her.”
    His eyes widened. “You’ve got a point.” He glanced behind him at the throng of people in the large room, all waiting for the first rays of light. “That would mean the person who took her was someone she knew and possibly trusted.” The hand he pushed through his hair trembled.
    â€œIt’s something we need to consider.”
    â€œWhich would blow my theory out of the water. Because I know no one in this town has been in prison because of me. I grew up in Crystal Springs. I came back here five years ago and I know everyone. I have a hard time believing it could be someone I know. It’s more likely an ex-con.”
    â€œThe evidence says otherwise. Prove me wrong.”
    He straightened. “I will.”
    The door to the sheriff’s office opened and Colin, followed by Neil, came into the station. J.T.’s eighteen-year-old son looked almost as bad as his father. Dark circles under his eyes gave him a haunted look. And from Colin’s appearance, Madison surmised no one got any rest at the Fitzpatrick household.
    J.T. strode toward the pair and enveloped his son in a bear hug, patting him on the back. Madison stayed off to the side for a few seconds while father and son exchangedsome words. When she finally approached the threesome, both J.T. and Neil had their emotions under control.
    â€œDad, any news?”
    J.T. shook his head.
    â€œNo ransom demand?”
    â€œNo, son.”
    Neil perked up. “Then Ashley might just be missing.”
    â€œThat’s a possibility.”
    The way J.T. had said the sentence left no doubt in Madison’s mind that it was a distant possibility, and his son picked up on that fact. Last year during the murder investigation J.T. would never have allowed his tone of voice to give any hint of what he was thinking unless he had wanted it that way. Now however, exhaustion and a father’s love had stripped him of his usual defenses.
    â€œYou don’t think it is, do you, Dad?”
    â€œI’m not gonna lie to you. No, I don’t.”
    â€œBut if the person doesn’t want money, what…” All the color drained from Neil’s face. He collapsed back against the desk behind him and clutched its edge to keep himself upright. Tears sprang to his eyes.
    J.T. grasped his son’s shoulders and forced Neil to look him in the eye. “Nothing is going to happen to Ashley. I will bring her home alive and safe. I won’t lie to you and I won’t mince words with you. I think some felon from my past has taken Ashley to get back at me.”
    â€œThen she could be dead,” Neil said in a raw whisper.
    â€œNo!” J.T. pulled away and placed his fist over his heart. “I would know in here. She’s alive.”
    As J.T. talked with Neil in a low voice, their heads bowed in prayer, Madison moved to Colin’s side. Theemotional impact from the brief encounter between father and son left her reeling.
    â€œOkay?”
    The reverend’s question forced her to acknowledge what this case was doing to her. “No, I’m having a