>> meredith's name was meredith hope emerson. we all hoped she was alive. but, you know, the longer these things carry on, as time passes, you continue to hope but it diminishes after time. >> as the manhunt continued, there was a glimmer of hope. friday morning, four days after meredith vanished, the u.s. marshal's rvice traced activity on meredith's bank cards. >> the card was used at a local bank, 15 miles from the abduction site, and then again 50 miles south of the abduction site and then the next day 80 miles. these were attempts, where no money was taken. >> which suggests what? >> suggested that meredith wouldn't give him the right p.i.n. >> which also suggests maybe she's still alive. >> that's right. >> investigators had been able to trace the phone gary hilton used earlier to call his old boss john tabor to set that trap