In the shadowy study, adorned with European-style furnishings, a bronze statue of Jesus with an integrated cross design took pride of place on a dark desk. Seated across from it, Riley Tillman, Fred's deputy, clutched a photograph. "Sir, tracking this guy down might be really tough—there's no cell service out in that area. But it's like this guy is onto us. We lost all our leads by the time our team got there—he'd vanished."

Fred reclined in an armchair, playing with a small, ornate dagger. The