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knew anyone else staying at the motel. No one heard loud voices or saw others coming or going from the room.” Jackie broke the seal on a bottle of cold water and took a long drink. “The last time anyone saw Frank around the motel was just after 10 p.m. yesterday. One of the guests reported seeing him get into the passenger side of a van.”
    She pointed to the end of the parking lot. “The van was parked down by the Dumpster next to the Pontiac; the guest remembers its slot because he would have thrown away some empty liquor bottles but for having to pass by Frank. He says the van was light colored, white, maybe beige, a cargo or panel type without windows. He’s certain there were no logos or writing on the side.”
    â€œSo someone picked Frank up. Do we know anyone in his circle of family or friends who drives a white van?” Luke asked.
    Jackie flipped through her notes. “A friend has a black SUV, and there’s a pickup truck registered to his father,” she said. “Nothing close to a light-colored van. Officers are interviewing the other guests to see if anyone else saw the van arrive or leave.”
    Luke looked at Taylor. “Anything useful you can add about the van?”
    â€œStatewide, none have been reported stolen in the last two weeks. I’m hoping the driver filled up at one of the gas stations at this interchange or the next ones along these interstates. There are only so many places to stop if he stayed on major roads. I’ve got officers getting whatever security tapes are available, but it may take a while. We’ll have a lot of white vans to eliminate.”
    Luke looked around the parking lot. “Frank knows that we keep track of his friends; he’s been staying out of state for the last several months. He came back now for a reason. If he was on his way into Atlanta, why stay this far out of town for over a week?”
    â€œHe needs cash to stay on the run . . . He’s hired muscle . . . He came back for a job in this area?” Jackie proposed.
    â€œIt fits his profile,” Luke agreed. “If he’s been here over a week, there’s a chance he’s been out canvassing the location of his next job. A newspaper, a fast-food receipt—maybe he left us some marker so we can figure out which town he’s been visiting along these interstates. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover.”
    â€œI’m just surprised he didn’t leave our phone number written on the mirror for the arriving cops like he did last time.”
    â€œSo am I. And I’m tired of being taunted by this guy.” Luke pulled out his keys. “I’ll get the call center spun up and information out to the media on the van, Frank’s and Karen’s photos, and reminders about the existing reward. Half of the state is traveling this weekend. We need someone to spot him. If he’s still in the area, he’s got to be sleeping somewhere.”
    Luke was tired of standing over Frank Hardin’s victims. The man had to be stopped, and this time they might have a chance to catch him. It would mean Luke’s weekend off would be spent working, but it couldn’t be helped. The leads were hot and they had to be run to ground before Frank disappeared again.
    Caroline was getting shortchanged again, and Benjamin would be disappointed when he missed the Braves game. Both reactions were coming and both were deserved; work’s toll on his personal life was getting steep. But some cases had to be solved, no matter what the personal cost. This was one of them.
    * * *
    School would be dismissing early for the holiday weekend, and Caroline didn’t even try to teach for the last half period. She needed a break as much as her students did. The crossword puzzle sketched on the board at the front of the classroom had the easy questions answered. “How about five down? Does anyone have an idea?” Caroline stepped