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Mrs. Helen Carver agreed to take Eliza somewhere safe.

Collins inhaled sharply.

“My grandmother knew Helen Carver.”

Doris nodded.

“So did I.”

“Who was she?” I asked.

“A counselor,” Doris said.

“She worked with women and children leaving dangerous homes.”

Sheriff Tate picked up the newspaper clipping.

It was from a paper in Spokane, Washington.

The headline announced the retirement of a child-services advocate.

Helen Carver Retires After Thirty-Five Years of Service.

Mace looked at me.

“Washington.”

I nodded.

“Emily didn’t send Eliza to Alaska.”

“Then what was the Fairbanks connection?”

Collins opened the sealed envelope.

Inside was a single page.

Emily’s handwriting covered it.

I read aloud.

“Emma’s real name is Eliza Harper.”

“She came to camp with a woman who said she was her aunt.”

“She was not.”

Sheriff Tate’s face hardened.

I continued.

“Helen says Eliza’s mother disappeared in Alaska.”

“She believes the woman brought Eliza to Texas to hide her.”

“Not protect her.”

“Hide her.”