All destroyed in the fire. All but...

But she hadn't told anyone about the journals.

"Avery?" Matt shook her lightly. "Avery, what-"

"You have to help me, Matt." She caught his hands. "You have to come with me now."

"Avery," Buddy said softly, "you're in shock. You need to rest. Come home with me and-"

"No!" She shook her head. "A friend. Gwen Lancaster, she's in trouble." Her voice rose. "You have to

help me!"

"Okay," Buddy said softly, tone soothing. "I'll help you. We'll go find this friend of yours. Everything will be fine."

"I'll go, Dad." Matt looked from Avery to her father. "You've got your hands full here."

Buddy looked as if he wanted to argue, then nodded. "Okay, but keep me posted. And bring her back to the ranch. Lilah and Cherry will get her fixed up for the night." Matt agreed and they walked to his cruiser. He helped her into the vehicle, went around and climbed behind the wheel. He looked at her. "Where are we going?" "The Guesthouse. I think there might have been another murder."

CHAPTER 49 Matt flipped on the vehicle's cherry lights and siren and threw the cruiser into gear. He flew through the streets, handling the vehicle like a professional driver, the only indication of his distress the muscle that jumped in his jaw. "What the hell's going on, Avery?" He didn't take his eyes from the road. "How do you know Gwen Lancaster?"

"It's a long story." She wrapped her arms around her middle. "Do you know her?"

"Yes, because of her brother. I worked on the investigation." He paused. "I felt real bad for her. She

seemed like a nice person."

"And now she's dead, too."

"We don't know that."

"Then where is she?" Her voice rose, hysteria pulling at her. "We were supposed to talk. She didn't call.

She wouldn't have left without-"

"Stop it," he said sharply. "We don't know she's dead. Until there's a body, we'll presume she's alive.

Okay?"

They arrived at The Guesthouse. He screamed to a stop; they piled out and hurried up the walk. Unlike

earlier, Laurie sat at the front desk. She stood as they entered. "Matt, Avery, what-"

"Have you seen Gwen Lancaster today?"

Her gaze moved between them. "No, I-"

"Mind if we go upstairs?" She shook her head. "We may need you to open the door."

It was only the second time Avery had seen Matt acting in an official capacity and she acknowledged

being impressed. And a bit taken aback. Gone was the aw-shucks small-town sheriff, replaced by a determined lawman whose tone left no doubt he meant business. The three hurried up the stairs. Matt rapped on Gwen's door. "Sheriff, Ms. Lancaster." When he repeated the process without answer, he turned to Laurie. "Open it, please."

Laurie nodded, face deathly pale. She took out a master key, unlocked the door and stepped back.

"Wait downstairs for now. But don't leave the premises, I may need to question you." He softened his

tone. "Please, Laurie."

The woman hesitated for a fraction of a moment, then backed toward the stairs. Avery watched her, frowning. She looked frightened.

Did she know more than she was telling ? Had she played some part in Gwen's disappearance?

Matt unsheathed his service weapon. "Stay put, Avery." He stepped across the threshold, Colt .45 out.

"Sheriff!" he called.

He disappeared into the unit, reappearing several moments later, features tight.

"Is she-"

"No."

Avery brought a hand to her chest, relieved. "Thank God. I was so worried."

"I'd like you to look around. You might see something I missed." He paused. "But don't touch anything.

Take as few steps as possible."

"I don't understand."

"The fewer people through a crime scene the better."

"But you said she...wasn't dead. You said you didn't find evidence of..."

Her words trailed off. He hadn't said either of those things, she realized.

"Until we find a body, we presume she's alive."

Obviously, he hadn't found a body.

But he had found something else.

She stepped inside. Moved her gaze over the room. "She's cleaned up. The last time I was here, the

place had been ransacked."

"Ransacked?" he repeated, scowling at her. "Just how much haven't you told me?"

She met his eyes, feeling like an idiot. "A lot."

His mouth thinned, but he didn't comment. Instead, he motioned to the room. "Anything else?"

She carefully studied the interior. The unmade bed, robe thrown over the foot. Blinds open, Gwen's

running shoes on the floor by the bed.

Her gaze stopped at what appeared to be a puddle. "The floor's wet."

"Excuse me?"

"Look."

She pointed. He crossed to the spot, squatted, dipped his middle and index fingers into the liquid and

brought his fingers to his nose. "Water."

He shifted his gaze toward the bathroom. "There's another."

In all they found three in what appeared to be a line from the bathroom to the bed.

"What do you think it means?" she asked.

"Don't know yet." He touched her arm. "I need you to take a look at this."

He led her to the bathroom. A circular-shaped bloodstain marred the white wooden door. Splatters

radiated from the circle, drips from the bottom of the stain.

Avery stared at the mark, pinpoints of lights dancing in front of her gaze.

"Blood's dry." He leaned close, examining the mark but not touching it. "A few strands of hair," he

murmured. "Maybe some tissue."

"I don't feel so good," she said, swaying slightly.

He caught her arm, steadying her. "Are you okay?"

"No."

He led her out of the unit and into the hall. He ordered her to sit.

She did, lowering her head to her knees. She breathed deeply through her nose until she felt steady

enough to lift her head.

"My note's gone," she said.

"You left a note?"

"Slid it under her door. Around noon." She realized what that meant and brought a hand to her chest,

relieved. "If she picked it up, she's alive."

"If she picked it up. Someone else may have."

"But who? The door was locked." She shook her head, refusing to acknowledge he had a point. "No,