“It’s okay,” Macy said. Once Ellis had dried her eyes and appeared a little more in control, Macy added, “Just speak at your own pace.”

Nevada was silent, but she sensed he struggled to hide his rage. Most people didn’t realize that cases of rape rippled through a family, not only affecting the women but the men as well. A man like Nevada would be blaming himself because he’d not been there to help.

“What color were his eyes?” Macy asked.

Ellis clutched the tissue. “Blue.”

“Did he say anything?” Macy asked.

“He whispered to me to be quiet or he would snap my neck like a twig. My heart beat so hard in my chest, and I thought it would explode. Maybe I should have fought him. I’m strong, but I did what he told me to do. I wasn’t human to him, and that scared me the most.”

“You were a frightened fifteen-year-old,” Macy said. “You survived. You had no options.”

“Mother was out for the evening on a date. She warned me over and over to keep the back door locked, but after I took the trash out, I must have forgotten. I never forget anymore.”

“We all make mistakes.”

“Few mistakes are that costly,” Ellis replied.

Macy shifted in her chair. “I was working a case in Texas last year. I went out alone to investigate a lead. The interview went fine. I left and I dialed the Texas Rangers to report what I’d found. Only I wasn’t really paying attention when a truck came out of nowhere and hit me. The guy was actually trying to kill me and nearly did. I should have seen it coming.”

“You would’ve had no way of knowing he was out there,” Ellis offered.

“Sound counsel. Perhaps we should each listen to the other’s advice.”

Ellis studied her a beat, her brows drawing together. “Fair enough.”

“None of this was your fault. None of it.”

“There are days that I believe that.”

Macy leaned forward, needing Ellis to believe her. “You did nothing wrong.”

Ellis’s gaze locked on to Macy as she searched for any reason to doubt. “Anyway, he tied me up.”

“How did he tie you up?” Macy asked.

The question caused Ellis to pause. “He groped under my bed as if he were searching for something.”

“He didn’t bring restraints with him?” she asked.

Ellis cocked her head. “He acted frustrated when he pinned my arms above my head with his hands. Finally, he found a coil of red rope.” She shook her head. “I’d forgotten that detail until now.”

Macy made note of the observation on her pad. “Go on.”

“And then he, well, raped me. That part of the whole thing was quick. He didn’t seem interested in the sex.”

“What interested him?” Macy asked.

“His eyes sharpened when he wrapped his hands around my neck and squeezed. He started counting. One, two, three. And then I gagged, and I think that startled him. He let go of me right away. He sat on the edge of the bed and just stared at me. I thought maybe if I could get him talking, maybe he’d just leave. But I couldn’t get the rag out of my mouth. I whimpered, hoping he’d show mercy. But that made him upset.”

“How so?”

“He said it wasn’t his fault. He said he didn’t like being weak. He rose up off the bed and paced back and forth. He got more agitated as he mumbled to himself.”

“What did he say?”

“Something like, ‘I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry.’”

“Sorry for what?” Macy asked.

“I have no idea.”

“What happened next?”

“He got back on the bed and wrapped his fingers around my neck a second time and started counting. One, two, three, four, five. I thought he would crush my throat. And then he sprang off the bed and left.”

“Did he speak after that?”

“No.”

Bennett shifted her stance, reminding Macy she was in the room. “You told the responding officer that your assailant was in your house for about an hour. How can you be sure of the time?”

“I know I didn’t fall asleep until after two a.m., and I looked at the clock when he left. It read 3:33 a.m. I remember thinking how appropriate.”

“How so?” Macy asked.

“Halfway to hell: 333,” Ellis said.

“Nevada tells me you think this guy called you?” Macy asked.

“Yeah. Super creepy.”

“Nevada said you operate a hiking business?”

“That’s right. I run several expeditions a week.”

“Your business is service oriented. How do you know it wasn’t a disgruntled client or a guy you might have dated at one time?”

“Clients almost always show up on caller ID, and dates are few and far between for me.”

“What did the voice sound like?” Macy asked.

“He whispered, as if he were afraid someone would hear him.”

“What did he say?” Macy asked.

“‘I’m sorry.’” She shook her head. “Jerk. I hung up and blocked the number.”

“Did you try to identify the number?” Macy asked.

“I searched it on the Web and got nothing. I also called it from a public phone a few weeks later. No one answered it.”

“Would you be willing to meet with a sketch artist?” Macy asked.

“It’s been fifteen years. And I didn’t see his face.”

“Assailants can be identified with all our senses. Sight is good, but smell, taste, touch, and sound can also create critical impressions. I made calls on my drive over this morning,” Macy said. “A talented colleague of mine from Quantico is an excellent forensic artist. She can be here tomorrow, if you’ll see her.”

“But it’s been fifteen years,” Ellis repeated.

“You’d be amazed what the mind keeps locked away. She’s very adept at exploring the subconscious.”

Ellis tapped her finger on the table just as her cousin had. “What time? I have a morning group hike, but I can cancel it if I need to.”

“No, don’t cancel it. When will you be back off the trail?”

“Noon. It’s short.”

“Then early afternoon. My friend’s name is Zoe Spencer.”

“Will you be there?” she asked Macy.

“I’ll be just outside the room,” Macy said softly.

“I can be there with you,” Nevada said.

“No,” Macy said. “Ellis and Zoe need to do this work alone. Family, cops, anyone who knows Ellis can alter her responses without even realizing it.”

Nevada, never a fan of hearing no, looked annoyed. Even though as a former agent he knew she was right, he still didn’t like it.

“I’ll be okay, Mike,” Ellis said. “I can talk to a forensic artist without melting.”

“I know.” Emotion deepened his voice.

“We’ll see you tomorrow,” Macy said.

“Yes.” As Ellis was leaving, she paused by the door. “Did they catch the guy who hit you?”

“They did,” Macy said.

“And did it make you feel better?” Ellis asked.

“He’s never going to hurt anyone else, so that makes me feel better.”

“I hear a but,” Ellis said.

Aware that Nevada was paying close attention, she was tempted to skirt the truth but opted not to. “It changes you. He took a piece of me I’ll never get back, and sometimes that pisses me off.”

Ellis studied her face for a long moment. “I want you to catch this guy.”

“Believe me, it’s all I think about,” Macy said.

CHAPTER NINE

Monday, November 18, 3:30 p.m.

Macy, Bennett, and Nevada were supposed to interview the third victim, Rebecca Kennedy, but Bennett reported that Rebecca had canceled because of last-minute work deadlines. When pressed for a new time, she would not commit to rescheduling.

“It’s disappointing,” Macy said to Bennett, “but understandable. If she doesn’t make an appointment tomorrow, I’ll pay her a visit.”

“What would you like to do next?” Bennett asked.

“I’d like to see the homes where these women lived,” Macy said. “I find it helps to see what the assailant saw.”

“I can take you,” Bennett said.

No sooner did she speak than the conference-room phone buzzed. The deputy picked it up, listened for just seconds before her frown deepened. “All right. I’ll be right there.” She replaced the receiver. “There’s a lead on our missing woman. My deputy thinks he might have found her.”

“Great. Happy endings are always a welcome change,” Macy said. “Give me the victims’ addresses. I’ll go alone.”

“I’ll take you,” Nevada said. “I know the area, and it’ll save you time.”

Bennett handed Macy a list of neatly typewritten addresses. She wasn’t keen on Nevada looking over her shoulder, but she was on a hard deadline and needed every minute she could get.

She flipped the pages of her legal pad and spotted Cindy Shaw’s name absently circled several times. “There was another girl who vanished about the time Tobi Turner did. Cindy Shaw. You ever hear about her?”

Bennett’s stoic demeanor softened with recognition. “I knew her from high school.”

“What did Greene think about her disappearance?” Macy asked.

“He probably believed what everyone else did. Cindy ran away.”

“Why assume that?” Macy asked.

“Cindy had a volatile personality, and I know her homelife wasn’t great. Looking back, she displayed all the signs of a runaway.”

“Okay.” Macy flicked the edge of the paper and then handed it to Nevada.